Rare album signed by The Beatles sells for £10,000 at auction – BBC.com

A rare album signed by the Beatles almost 60 years ago has sold for £10,000 at auction.

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

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

She said she thought it was important the record found a “loving home”.

It was originally purchased 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 since been in the possession of his wife.

She said she recently decided it was “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 has 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 60s.

“They stayed up until two in the morning just staring at the album and feeling where the pen had dented the album.”

A letter from the original owner of the item, Geoff Connor, confirms that it was signed by the band at the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool in 1965.

It said their close friend Paddy Delaney – a former bouncer at The Cavern Club – introduced “shy” Mr Connor to The Fab Four.

“I was very shy to ask George for his signature as he was deep in conversation with someone, but as he put the pen to the cover he fulfilled one of my dreams at the time, to get Beatles autographs,” the letter continued.

“John and Ringo signed above, Paul and George below.”

The Beatles played Liverpool for the last time in December 1965 at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre.

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

The identity of the buyer has not been verified.