Contract signed by all of the Fab Four in 1962 expected to sell for £500,000
The contract that launched the most successful pop partnership of all time – bringing together the Beatles and manager Brian Epstein – is expected to make up to £500,000 when it is auctioned.
It is the only contract signed by Epstein and the 'Fab Four' line-up of John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.
The document was signed on October 1, 1962, just days before the release of The Beatles' first single, Love Me Do.
It goes under the hammer at Sotheby's Rock & Pop sale on September 29.
Gabriel Heaton, Sotheby's specialist in books and manuscripts, said: '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.'
Prior to this contract, the band, which then included Pete Best as drummer instead of Ringo Starr, had signed a contract with Epstein.
Source: The Daily Mail
