A SET of Beatles autographs – complete with John Lennon’s chippy-fat finger smudge – sold at auction for £5,900.
The Fab Four’s signatures were collected while they were eating fish and chips at TV studios in Birmingham in 1963 by a then nervous 14-year-old schoolgirl.
When John Lennon went to sign his chippy finger smudged the signature of bandmate George Harrison.
The now 73-year-old retired teacher from Kenilworth held on to them all her life but decided to sell after her friend, whose mother got them backstage that memorable day, lost her set of autographs which she got at the same time.
She plans to share the proceeds from the auction with her friend.
Her autograph book, also signed by the band’s manager Brian Epstein, was sold by Hansons for a hammer price of £5,900 – racing past its £4,000 estimate. The total paid by a private UK online bidder, with buyer’s premium, was £7,670.
Claire Howell, music memorabilia consultant at Hansons, said: “There was strong interest in these autographs because the fish-and-chips story and provenance was so fantastic.
“A phone bidder and people competing on two different online bidding platforms battled for the lot. It’s a wonderful piece of music memorabilia and I’m pleased to see it achieve the price it deserved for our client.”
The seller was more than happy with the price.
She said: “It was an excellent, exceptional auction result. I’m delighted – thrilled. And I’ve got a special thank-you. It’s for Paul, Ringo, George and John.”
