This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/31/2022
One of the largest signed Beatles photographs known to exist Here is an exceptionally rare vintage large format black and white photograph of The Beatles which has been beautifully autographed in blue ballpoint pen by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. George Harrison has added the inscription ‘BEST WISHES FROM THE BEATLES’, at the top of the photograph. The image was captured by a local photographer named Alan Halkyard while backstage at the Co-operative Hall, Middleton, Manchester on 11th April 1963. On this same day, The Beatles released their first number one single, ‘From Me To You’. The photograph pictures The Beatles posing on a staircase with John Lennon holding his famous Rickenbacker 325 electric guitar. Standing between John and George is the show’s promoter Barry Chaytow. The original large format print was then hand-developed and later signed by The Beatles during their performance at Odeon Cinema, Manchester on 30th May 1963. This would be The Beatles’ only appearance at the Odeon Cinema on Manchester’s Oxford Street, and the twelfth date of their UK tour with Roy Orbison. Comes with a detailed letter from Barry Chaytow that reads, ‘The photograph of myself with the Beatles was taken at the Co-op Hall in Middleton Manchester on Thursday April 11th 1963. As a music promoter, this was my first meeting with the Beatles and it was taken after their one hour performance which included sixteen songs. Note that John Lennon was not wearing a tie. After the performance he was struggling to remove it, but in the end someone cut it off with a pair of scissors. The photograph was taken by a local photographer in Middleton called Alan Halkyard. Sometime later his daughter then took the photograph to one of the Beatles performances in Manchester where the photograph was signed by all four Beatles. Some years later I was approached by the daughter to see if I would be interested in buying this from her, which I agreed to do.’ Autographed photos of The Beatles are incredibly rare in this size and few have ever surfaced. Without question, this is one of the nicest signed large format Beatles photographs that we encountered! The photograph measures an incredible 30.5cm x 38cm (12 inches x 15 inches). There are two light horizontal creases running across the photograph. The condition is otherwise very good plus. A spectacular vintage signed Beatles photograph of the highest order.
Comes with a detailed letter of provenance, plus a Letter of Authenticity from Tracks Ltd., the world’s foremost Beatles dealer.