Rare signed Beatles record sells for £10,000

A rare album signed by The Beatles almost 60 years ago has fetched £10,000 at auction.

The 1965 LP Help! is thought to be one of fewer than 100 albums signed by all four members still in circulation.

It was sold by Annie Newby, from Durham, whose late husband owned the record for more than a quarter of a century.

She said she felt it was important the record found "a loving home".

It was originally bought by music enthusiast Bob Todd in September 1989, who passed it on to his friend, Max Newby, before he died.

Mr Newby owned the record until his death in 2016, and it has been in his wife's possession since.

She said she recently decided "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".

Mrs Newby said: "The signed album brought Max and Bob immense joy. 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.

"They stayed up until two in the morning, just staring at the album and feeling where the pen had indented the album."

A letter from the item's original owner, Jeff Conner, confirm it was signed by the band at Liverpool's Adelphi Hotel in 1965.

It states their close friend Paddy Delaine - former doorman of The Cavern Club - introduced the "shy" Mr Conner to The Fab Four.

"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, to obtain The Beatles autographs," the letter continued.

"John and Ringo signed above themselves, Paul and George below."

The Beatles performed in Liverpool for the last time in December 1965, at the Liverpool Empire Theatre.

The sale took place at Anderson & Garland's music auction in Newcastle.

The identity of the buyer has not been confirmed.

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