The management contract signed by The Beatles and Brian Epstein has sold at auction in London for £365,000 ($553,121).
It is the only contract signed by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and their manager, and replaced one which featured the group’s previous drummer Pete Best.
The document had been expected to fetch up to £500,000 at the Sotheby’s sale of music memorabilia. It was previously sold at auction in 2008 for £240,000.
The Beatles and Epstein signed the contract on 1 October 1962 at Epstein’s office at NEMS in Whitechapel, Liverpool, shortly before the release of their first single ‘Love Me Do’ on 5 October. The signing was witnessed by Epstein’s secretary Beryl Adams.
Without this contract, and the relationship it represents, it seems inconceivable that the Beatles could have achieved all that they did.It took more than inspired musicianship and song-writing to remake popular music. The presentation, direction, and internal harmony of the Beatles all owed a huge amount to Brian Epstein. He was, as Paul McCartney has acknowledged, the Fifth Beatle.
The auction also included a single page of a detention book from QUarry Bank High School in Allerton, Liverpool, which noted 29 occasions in which John Lennon received detention. The sheet of paper sold for £2,500.
Other lots included a grand piano used by Abba, which failed to sell, and a blue Fender Stratocaster played by Eric Clapton.
Also on this day...
- 2023: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Murat Theatre, Indianapolis
- 2018: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Greek Theatre, Los Angeles
- 1997: UK album release: Standing Stone by Paul McCartney
- 1989: Paul McCartney live: Johanneshovs Isstadion, Stockholm
- 1975: US single release: Letting Go by Wings
- 1969: Mixing: Cold Turkey by Plastic Ono Band
- 1967: Recording, mixing, editing: I Am The Walrus, Your Mother Should Know
- 1967: Television: The Frost Programme
- 1964: Recording: Every Little Thing, I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party, What You’re Doing
- 1962: The Beatles live: Oasis Club, Manchester
- 1961: The Beatles live: Knotty Ash Village Hall, Liverpool
- 1961: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
- 1960: The Beatles live: Indra Club, Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
Interesting; I just watched an episode of Pawn Stars -the Las Vegas pawn shop series: a guy walks in and tries to sell this contract for one million dollars. Rick at Gold and Silver Pawn Shop gets help from his buddy who values it at max $500000. The seller is offered $350000 but declines. Not sure how recent that episode was but they do talk about the 2008 auction as well as an attempt to raffle it off in 2009, a thing that never happened for reasons described in the show.
I’m watching that same episode of Pawn Stars right now and that’s why I ended up in this site. He episode was first aired in the UK on 11/10/2014
Rick, of Pawn Stars made a huge mistake not offering his expert’s suggested $500,000 to buy it. In another 10 years it will be worth a lot more, probably double. The Beatles’ fame, notoriety and music appreciation and value continues to grow. Rolling Stone’s latest top 500 of all time includes 23 Beatle’s songs, the most of any artists not counting separate ones from Lennon and Harrison. Another 10, minimum from solo McCartney should have made the list ( considering how much pure crap is on that list).