This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2014
A 1963 UK pressing of The Beatles debut album ‘Please Please Me’ that has been autographed on the reverse of the sleeve by the group in dark blue ballpoint pen. George Harrison has added the dedication ‘To Steve all the Best and a Happy Birthday from the BEATLES’ above his name. The autographs were obtained at the Granada Cinema, Tooting, London on June 1st 1963 when the Beatles performed at the venue with Roy Orbison.
The album comes with a letter from the original recipient that reads:
“I was given a signed copy of the Please Please Me album as a birthday present. My brother, Clive, met The Beatles on the Roy Orbison-Gerry and the Pacemakers tour of May 1963. When I asked my brother recently for his memories of his meeting with The Beatles he recalled the following: I saw The Beatles at the Granada Tooting on the 1st June 1963…I worked on the Balham and Tooting Mercury and went backstage with another reporter from the South London Press. We had to go through the back door and ask for the cinema manager, and one of the screaming girls tried to pinch my press pass. George and Paul were very chatty and George complained that he ‘an horrible headache after…John and Ringo didn’t say much, just signed the album, which JL threw on the floor. They sent out for food and ordered burgers – Paul wasn’t a veggie in those days. Of course, they smoked quite a lot too…Our paper used my piece in a diary column. I think maybe it needed a bigger show but I was still learning the business. George Harrison wrote the dedication ‘To Steve, All the best and a Happy Birthday from The Beatles’ and all four signed their names. The album has been in my possession since June 1963.”
All four blue ballpoint pen signatures are strong and project well. The sleeve has some light stains on the left side and some wear and stands in over very good condition. A centerpiece item for any collection with extensive provenance and history! Accompanied by additional Letters of Authenticity from Tracks UK and PSA/DNA.