Signed Beatles LP set to sell for thousands
A long and winding road has led a Beatles album to Tyneside and a big money sale. Tony Henderson reports
An album signed by all four Beatles almost 60 years ago is estimated to fetch up to £12,000 in a sale on Tyneside.
The 1965 LP Help! is the star turn at Anderson & Garland’s music auction in Newcastle on Wednesday (October 23).
It is being sold by Mrs Annie Newby, of Durham, whose late husband was the owner of the record.
A letter from the original owner reads: “This Beatles record cover ‘Help’ was signed for myself in 1965 by all four members of the group, when they returned to Liverpool, of that year.
“Their close friend and also one of mine, Paddy Delaine (once doorman of The Cavern Club in Liverpool) took me to obtain their signature in the Liverpool Hotel Adelphi.
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“I was very shy in asking George for his signature, as he was in deep conversation with someone but as he put pen to cover he completed one of my dreams at the time, which was [to obtain] The Beatles autographs.
“John and Ringo have signed above themselves, both Paul and George below. All signatures were signed in black ball point pen. This is a sworn true statement by myself. [signed by the original owner].”
The autographs were purchased by music enthusiast Bob Todd in September 1989. When Bob was diagnosed with leukaemia in 1990, he gave the signed album to his close friend, Max Newby, who also had a love of music and particularly The Beatles.
Bob passed away just months later in February 1991. Now, eight years after Max’s own passing, Mrs Newby, has decided that the time is right to part with the album.
“The signed album brought both Max and Bob immense joy," she said.
"I still remember the day Bob bought it, he was so excited to show it to Max. He brought it straight to our house and they spent hours talking about The Beatles, their history, and what it must have been like at The Cavern Club in the early 1960s.
“After many years on display in my home, I feel it’s time to pass this special piece of music history on to another fan who will appreciate it as much as Max and Bob did. It’s important to me that it finds a loving home.”
The album will be sold with the written provenance from the original owner as well as a receipt from auctioneers Christies for an insurance valuation which was taken out in January 1989.
1965 would be the last time The Beatles would perform in Liverpool, for two sold out shows at the Liverpool Empire Theatre on Sunday December 5.
Neil Aspinall, the band’s road manager, detailed the trip in a diary entry for Monday December 6, stating that rather than staying at a hotel for the Liverpool date, the Beatles chose to stay at their homes.
The group then had a rest day and spent time with friends, which is when they may have been together at The Adelphi.
The group’s chauffeur, Alf Bicknell, commented in his own diary entry for December 6: “Quite, quiet today, just a bit of running around, dropping the boys off at various places and picking them up. Met some nice people.”
The disc itself dates correctly to 1965, being an early copy of Help! With' ‘-2 matrix’ on both sides. It also boasts a rare ‘MT’ tax code
There are thought to be less than 100 signed Beatles albums in circulation, with only two signed copies of the Abbey Road LP having surfaced.