IN OCTOBER OF 1962, PARLOPHONE RECORDS PRODUCED A SMALL QUANTITY OF PROMOTIONAL PHOTO CARDS WITH PICTURES TAKEN WHILE THE BEATLES WERE IN THE STUDIO. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, PARLOPHONE ISSUED A SECOND, AND FINAL CARD THAT WAS INTRODUCED IN MARCH OF 1963, WITH A SHOT TAKEN BY PHOTOGRAPHER ANGUS MCBEAN, AND PRODUCED IN TWO SIZES, 5¾" X 3½" AND THE MUCH RARER LARGER FORMAT MEASURING 7½" X 5".

ACCORDING TO HIGHLY RESPECTED BEATLES AUTOGRAPH PREMIER EXPERT FRANK CAIAZZO: "PROMOTIONAL CARDS CONTAINING PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BEATLES WHICH WERE PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PARLOPHONE RECORDS OR THE BEATLES THEMSELVES WERE OFTEN SIGNED BY THE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE GROUP AND GIVEN AWAY IN SMALL QUANTITIES. NOW THEY ARE EXTREMELY RARE AND VERY DESIRABLE, FOR VERY FEW HAVE ACTUALLY SURVIVED INTACT."

THIS SENSATIONAL AUTOGRAPH SET WAS SIGNED BY THE BEATLES ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THE FINAL AND MUCH RARER OVERSIZED
7½" X 5" PARLOPHONE PHOTOCARD. WHEN THE BEATLES DID SIGN THESE CARDS, THE MAJORITY WERE AUTOGRAPHED ON THE BLANK REVERSE SIDE, GIVING THEM MORE SPACE FOR THEM TO SIGN. ON THIS PARTICULAR EXAMPLE, JOHN LENNON, PAUL McCARTNEY, GEORGE HARRISON AND RINGO STARR HAVE EACH AUTOGRAPHED IN VIBRANT BLUE BALLPOINT PEN. EACH SIGNATURE IS SENSATIONAL, EXCEPTIONALLY WELL FORMED AND VERY BOLD. VIEWING THE CARD IN IN PERSON, THE SIGNATURES ARE ABSOLUTELY STUNNING, AND JUMP OFF THE CARD.

THE AUTOGRAPHS WERE OBTAINED AT THE WINTER GARDENS, MARGATE, ENGLAND BETWEEN JULY 8TH AND 13TH 1963 WHEN THE BEATLES WERE PLAYING A SERIES OF CONCERTS AT THE VENUE IN THIS SEASIDE TOWN.

THIS AUTOGRAPHED PARLOPHONE RECORDS PROMOTIONAL PHOTOCARD ORIGINALLY SURFACED TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN THE SEPTEMBER 14, 1994 AUCTION WITH SOTHEBY'S, SALE NUMBER LN4541, LOT NUMBER 833, PAGE 110 OF THE CATALOG. THE OFFERING HERE IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE THAT ORIGINAL SOTHEBY'S AUCTION. A NEAR MINT, ORIGINAL AND COMPLETE COPY OF THIS VERY AUCTION CATALOG IS INCLUDED WITH THE SIGNED PARLOPHONE CARD (SEE IMAGES OF CATALOG BELOW).

The SIGNED CARD has benefitted from tasteful and unobtrusive Professional AND RESTORATIVE cleaning, the majority of which was MINOR SUPERFICIAL FLAWS BEING LIGHT NATURAL CREASING IN VARIOUS PLACES (IN PARTICULAR ACROSS THE "P" IN PAUL'S SIGNATURE) AND THE REPAIR OF A SMALL 1" VERTICAL TEAR TO THE BOTTOM EDGE. The work performed did not affect the signatures in any manner.

ACCOMPANIED BY LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY FROM THOMAS VANGHELE OF FAB 4 COLLECTIBLES.