The Beatles' rise to prominence in the United States on February 7, 1964 was a significant development in the history of the band's commercial success. In addition to establishing the Beatles' international stature, it changed attitudes to popular music in the United States.

An estimated four thousand Beatles' fans were present on February 7, 1964 As Pan Am Flight 101 left Heathrow Airport. Among the passengers were the Beatles, on their first trip to the U.S. as a band, with their entourage of photographers and journalists, and Phil Spector. When the group arrived at New York's newly renamed John F. Kennedy Airport, they were greeted by a second large crowd, with Beatles fans again estimated to number four thousand, and journalists, two hundred. From having so many people packed in a little space, a few people in the crowd got injured. The airport had not previously experienced such a large crowd.

After a press conference, where they first met disc jockey Murray the K, the Beatles were put into limousines - one per Beatle - and driven to New York City. After reaching the Plaza Hotel, the Beatles were besieged by fans and reporters.

ON SATURDAY THE 8TH, THE BEATLES SPENT THEIR SECOND DAY IN AMERICA POSING FOR THE PRESS IN CENTRAL PARK AND REHEARSING FOR THEIR "ED SULLIVAN SHOW" APPEARANCE. GEORGE, WHO HAD A THROAT INFECTION, SPENT MOST OF THE DAY RESTING IN BED. BY MID-AFTERNOON, HE WAS FEELING WELL ENOUGH TO CHECK OUT THE SET AT CBS STUDIO 50, WHERE HE WAS GREETED BY A RELIEVED SULLIVAN AND A HORDE OF PHOTOGRAPHERS.

ON SUNDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 9, 1964, THE BEATLES PERFORMED ON THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW  BEFORE A THEN-RECORD AMERICAN TELEVISION AUDIENCE OF OVER 73 MILLION PEOPLE. THE SOUND AND IMAGES OF THE GROUP'S PERFORMANCE WAS FOREVER EMBEDDED IN THEIR MINDS, ALONG WITH MEMORIES OF WHERE THEY WERE WHEN PRESIDENT KENNEDY WAS ASSASSINATED AND WHEN MAN FIRST WALKED ON THE MOON.

THE DAY AFTER THEIR TRIUMPHANT ED SULLIVAN SHOW  APPEARANCE, THE BEATLES HELD A SERIES OF PRESS CONFERENCES AT THE PLAZA HOTEL. REPORTERS RECEIVED A SPECIALLY-STICKERED COPY OF the "MEET THE BEATLES!" lp album CONTAINING GLOSSY PHOTOS, THE NATIONAL RECORD NEWS  TABLOID AND BIOGRAPHIES. THE GROUP ALSO RECEIVED GOLD RECORD AWARDS FOR "MEET THE BEATLES!" AND THE "I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND" 45 SINGLE PRESENTED TO THEM BY CAPITOL RECORDS PRESIDENT ALAN LIVINGSTON.

WHAT FOLLOWED WAS an Exhausting itinerary WHICH INCLUDED A CONCERT AT THE WASHINGTON COLISEUM IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ON THE 11TH, THEN TWO CONCERTS AT CARNEGIE HALL ON THE 12TH. THE NEXT DAY THEY FLEW TO MIAMI FOR SOME MUCH DESERVED VACATION TIME AND TO APPEAR AGAIN ON THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW, THIS TIME BROADCAST LIVE FROM THE DEAUVILLE HOTEL IN MIAMI BEACH ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 16,1964.

ON FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 21, 1964, THE BEATLES BOARDED A PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS BOEING 707, APPROPRIATELY RENAMED JET CLIPPER BEATLES FOR THE JOURNEY BACK TO LONDON. THOUSANDS OF FANS BRAVED THE COLD NEW YORK WINTER NIGHT TO BID THEIR HEROES GOOD-BYE.

FAB 4 COLLECTIBLES CELEBRATES THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEATLES FIRST U.S. VISIT,
BY PRESENTING AND OFFERING THESE OUTSTANDING, RARE SHOWCASE ITEMS PERTAINING TO
THOSE HISTORIC, MONUMENTAL AND JOYOUS 15 DAYS IN 1964.

"THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW"
FEBRUARY 16, 1964
DEAUVILLE HOTEL, MIAMI, FLORIDA

AUTOGRAPHED ON REVERSE IN PENCIL
BY THE BEATLES
Ringo has added "Beatles" above his name.

The Beatles' rise to prominence in the United States on February 7, 1964 was a significant development in the history of the band's commercial success. In addition to establishing the Beatles' international stature,  it changed attitudes to popular music in the United States.

FOLLOWING THEIR HISTORICAL SMASH LIVE DEBUT ON "THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW" ON FEBRUARY 9TH, THE MANIC CONCERT IN WASHINGTON D.C. ON THE 11TH, FOLLOWED UP BY THEIR PERFORMANCE AT THE FAMED CARNEGIE HALL ON THE 12TH, THE BEATLES FLEW TO FLORIDA FOR SOME VACATION TIME AND TO APPEAR AGAIN ON "THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW" - THIS TIME BROADCAST LIVE FROM THE DEAUVILLE HOTEL IN MIAMI BEACH ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 16TH.

IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEATLES'' FIRST U.S. VISIT AND THEIR APPEARANCES ON "THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW",  FAB 4 COLLECTIBLES is MOST PROUD TO OFFER ONE OF THE MOST HISTORICAL AND SIGNIFICANT SIGNED DOCUMENTS DURING THE GROUP'S FIRST U.S. VISIT.

THIS IS AN Original ED SULLIVAN show studio internal document, WHICH  dates from  FEBRUARY 16, 1964 PERTAINING TO the second of those historic Beatles LIVE appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show". THIS DOCUMENT WAS used by THE ED Sullivan staff onsite who were actually involved in the production of the show.

THIS MONUMENTAL SIGNED DOCUMENT HAS BEEN PROFESSIONALLY MATTED AND FRAMED FOR SPECTACULAR PRESERVATION AND PRESENTATION.

ACCOMPANIED BY A LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY FROM PERRY COX, BEATLES U.S. RECORDS EXPERT. AUTHOR OF "THE BEATLES RECORD PRICE GUIDE" SERIES OF BOOKS, PURVEYOR OF VINTAGE ROCK AND POP MEMORABILIA AND AUTOGRAPHS.

ITEM#: AA175
PRICE: $62,500

RADIO STATION WMCA IN NEW YORK CITY ADDED "I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND" TO ITS PLAY LIST ON DECEMBER 26, 1963, THE DAY THE SINGLE WAS RELEASED. IN APPRECIATION, CAPITOL RECORDS PREPARED A CUSTOM SLEEVE WITH A PICTURE OF THE WMCA GOOD GUYS DISC JOCKEYS ON ONE SIDE AND THE STANDARD "I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND" PICTURE AND INFORMATION ON THE OTHER. THE PROMOTIONAL SLEEVES WERE PAIRED WITH COPIES OF THE CAPITOL SINGLE AND GIVEN TO LISTENERS AS PRIZES IN THE STATION'S BEATLES WIG CONTEST. ACCORDING TO ONE OF THE "GOOD GUYS" DJ'S PICTURED ON THE SLEEVE, HE STATED THAT THE STATION RECEIVED ONLY 200 COPIES OF THE SLEEVE FROM CAPITOL RECORDS.

TODAY, THERE ARE LESS THAN TWENTY COPIES OF THIS SLEEVE THAT ARE KNOWN TO STILL EXIST.  ALONG SIDE VEE-JAY'S "ASK ME WHY" PROMOTIONAL TITLE SLEEVE, THE WMCA GOOD GUYS CUSTOM SLEEVE HAS UNDOUBTEDLY BECOME ONE OF THE RAREST AND MOST VALUABLE OF ALL BEATLES RECORD SLEEVES AMONG THE COLLECTOR'S WORLD. THERE ARE NO VARIATIONS OF THIS SLEEVE, FOR IT WAS PRODUCED ONLY ON THE EAST COAST.

ACCOMPANYING THIS ULTRA-RARE PROMOTIONAL SLEEVE IS ITS ORIGINAL AND MATCHING EAST COAST VERY FIRST ISSUE "I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND" 45 SINGLE INDICATED BY THE 'WALTER HOFER" PUBLISHING CREDIT ON THE B-SIDE.

A "WMCA GOOD GUYS" CUSTOM PROMOTIONAL PICTURE SLEEVE SOLD IN SEPTEMBER 2022 ON EBAY FOR $10,151 IN VG CONDITION. IN APRIL 2017, FAB 4 COLLECTIBLES HAD SOLD A NEAR MINT MINUS EXAMPLE FOR $25,000.

CONDITION: (SLEEVE) VG+ / (RECORD) VG+++
ITEM#: PR835
PRICE: $12,500

THE VERY FIRST VERSION OF CAPITOL RECORDS' "MEET THE BEATLES" ALBUM RELEASED IN VERY EARLY 1964, FEATURES THE CAPITOL RAINBOW LABELS LACKING THE PUBLISHING PRINT "BMI" OR "ASCAP" ON BOTH LABELS. IT IS KNOWN THAT ONLY THE FIRST 200,000 TOTAL COPIES WERE PRESSED IN THIS MANNER AND ALL SUBSEQUENT ISSUES ADDED THE PUBLISHING PRINT. OF THOSE INITIAL PRESS NUMBERS, ONLY A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE WERE PRESSED IN STEREO.

THIS GORGEOUS NEAR MINT MINUS COVER REMAINS WRAPPED IN ITS ORIGINAL IN-STORE 'SEARS ROEBUCK & CO.' DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL BAGGYWRAP.

THE ULTRA-RARE RECORD GRADES A NEAR MINT MINUS, WITH A HIGH SHIMMERING GLOSS TO THE VINYL AND GROOVES. THE LABELS ALSO GRADE A BRIGHT AND COLORFUL NEAR MINT MINUS DISPLAYING VERY BEAUTIFULLY WITH VERY MINIMAL PLAY EVIDENT.

THE SET ALSO INCLUDES THE ORIGINAL AND CORRECT LATE 1963 / EARLY 1964 FIRST ISSUE ROYAL BLUE INNER SLEEVE.

CONDITION: NM- / NM-
ITEM#: LP528
PRICE: $2,775

THE VERY FIRST VERSION OF CAPITOL RECORDS' "MEET THE BEATLES" ALBUM RELEASED IN VERY EARLY 1964, FEATURES THE CAPITOL RAINBOW LABELS LACKING THE PUBLISHING PRINT "BMI" OR "ASCAP" ON BOTH LABELS. IT IS KNOWN THAT ONLY THE FIRST 200,000 TOTAL COPIES WERE PRESSED IN THIS MANNER AND ALL SUBSEQUENT ISSUES ADDED THE PUBLISHING PRINT.

THE ULTRA-RARE RECORD GRADES A SHIMMERING NEAR MINT MINUS, WITH A HIGH SPARKLING GLOSS TO THE VINYL AND GROOVES, WITH VERY MINIMAL PLAY EVIDENT. THE RARE EVER-IMPORTANT LABELS GRADE A BRIGHT AND COLORFUL NEAR MINT DISPLAYING VERY BEAUTIFULLY. THE POLISHED CAPITOL RECORDS' SEMI-GLOSS LABELS ARE STUNNING TO BEHOLD.

CONDITION: NM / NM-
ITEM#: LP533
PRICE: $1,850

ULTRA-RARE COVER VARIATION:
LOW-GLOSS 'POWDER COAT' FLAT FINISH BACK COVER SLICK WITH "PLEASE PLEASE ME" WITHOUT COMMA.
ACCOMPANIED BY COLORBAND AND BRACKETS LOGO LABELS

PRESENTED AND OFFERED HERE IS THE ULTRA RARE MONO VERSION TWO "INTRODUCING THE BEATLES" ALBUM COVER THAT FEATURES AN EXTREMELY RARE COVER VARIATION OF WHICH THE "TITLES ON COVER" BACK SLICK DOES NOT HAVE THE COMMON GLOSS FINISH, BUT RATHER A FLAT FINISH, KNOWN AS A 'POWDER COAT'. MOST NOTABLY IS THAT THE ¼" FLAPS AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE INSIDE COVER ARE NOT PRESENT.

ADDITIONALLY, THE SONG LISTING ON THE BACK COVER HAS "PLEASE PLEASE ME" PRINTED WITHOUT THE COMMA FOLLOWING THE FIRST "PLEASE". THIS RARE FACTOR IS ONLY EVIDENT ON THESE RARE VERSION TWO "POWDER COAT" FLAT FINISH ASSEMBLED COVERS WITHOUT THE INSIDE FLAP.

THE RECORD ALSO HAS THE ORIGINAL VEE-JAY RECORDS OFF-WHITE GENERIC DIE-CUT INNER DUST SLEEVE INCLUDED.

CONDITION: VG+++ (NM-)  /  NM
ITEM#: LP523
PRICE: $1,975


 

THE FAN MAGAZINE THAT KICK-STARTED THE BEATLES U.S.A. LTD. FAN CLUB

THE ORIGINAL VERY RARE FAN MAGAZINE "THE BEATLES U.S.A. - COLLECTOR'S EDITION BEATLEMANIA" WHICH CONCENTRATES SOLELY ON THE BEATLES' FIRST U.S.A. VISIT TO NEW YORK AND THE EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE, WITH PHOTOGRAPHS INCLUDING THEIR APPEARANCE ON "THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW" AND MEETING THE WMCA "GOOD GUYS" DISC JOCKEYS.

THIS OVERSIZED MAGAZINE MEASURES 11" X 14" AND IS KNOWN TO BE THE FAN PUBLICATION THAT HAD INITIATED, KICK-STARTED AND INSPIRED THE INCEPTION OF "THE BEATLES U.S.A. LIMITED FAN CLUB".

CONDITION : VG++
ITEM#: BK253
PRICE: $325

AUTOGRAPHED FEBRUARY 9, 1964
"THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW"
CBS TELEVISION STUDIO NO. 50,
1697 BROADWAY AT 53RD STREET, NEW YORK CITY

The Beatles' rise to prominence in the United States on February 7, 1964 was a significant development in the history of the band's commercial Success. In addition to establishing the Beatles' international stature, it changed attitudes to popular music in the United States.

ON SUNDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 9, 1964, THE BEATLES PERFORMED ON THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW  BEFORE A THEN-RECORD AMERICAN TELEVISION AUDIENCE OF OVER 73 MILLION PEOPLE. THE SOUND AND IMAGES OF THE GROUP'S PERFORMANCE WAS FOREVER EMBEDDED IN THEIR MINDS, ALONG WITH MEMORIES OF WHERE THEY WERE WHEN PRESIDENT KENNEDY WAS ASSASSINATED AND WHEN MAN FIRST WALKED ON THE MOON.

THIS MONAURAL COPY OF CAPITOL'S DEBUT ALBUM "MEET THE BEATLES" WAS AUTOGRAPHED BEAUTIFULLY IN BLUE BALLPOINT ON THE BACK COVER FOR THE LIGHTING TECHNICIAN OF "THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW" ON THE DAY OF THE INFAMOUS PROGRAM, SUNDAY, THE 9TH OF FEBRUARY, 1964.

ACCOMPANIED BY LETTERS OF AUTHENTICITY FROM FRANK CAIAZZO AND PERRY COX. ALSO INCLUDES LETTER OF PROVENANCE FROM A FAMILY MEMBER OF THE CBS LIGHTING TECHNICIAN WHO HAD ACQUIRED THE SIGNATURES.

ITEM#: AA158
PRICE: $110,000

THE DAY FOLLOWING THEIR TRIUMPHANT APPEARANCE ON "THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW", THE BEATLES HELD A SERIES OF PRESS CONFERENCES AT NEW YORK'S PRESTIGIOUS PLAZA HOTEL ON FEBRUARY 10, 1964.

THE BEATLES WERE ALREADY STAYING THERE, SO THE GROUP MADE THEIR WAY DOWN TO THE TERRACE  ROOM AT 11AM, WHERE REPORTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS RECEIVED A PACKET OF SPECIALLY PRODUCED PROMOTIONAL ITEMS THAT INTRODUCED THE BEATLES TO THE PRESS CORPS OF AMERICA, INCLUDING TWO GLOSSY 8" X 10" PHOTOS, THE NATIONAL RECORD NEWS TABLOID, BIOGRAPHIES, AND 'NEWS BRIEF' SHEETS. LASTLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, CAPITOL RECORDS DISTRIBUTED SPECIALLY STICKERED COPIES OF "MEET THE BEATLES!" LP ALBUM COVERS. CAPITOL DID NOT INCLUDE THE RECORDS IN THE COVERS, JUST THE PRESS KITS.

FAB 4 COLLECTIBLES IS VERY PROUD TO OFFER THIS HISTORICAL PLAZA HOTEL PRESS CONFERENCE ARCHIVE - ONE THAT IS TRULY COMPLETE, AND IN ITS ENTIRETY.

CONDITION : NM TO VG
ITEM#: OM222
PRICE: -------

THIS SLEEVE'S HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF "THE RECORD THAT STARTED BEATLEMANIA" PROMOTIONAL SLEEVE COMBINED WITH ITS VERY LIMITED PRODUCTION, MAKES THIS A MUST HAVE FOR THE SERIOUS BEATLES RECORD COLLECTION.

CONDITION: VG+++
ITEM#: PR809
PRICE: ------

ACCOMPANIED BY THE CORRECT RARE VERY FIRST LABEL VARIATION WITHOUT THE PUBLISHING CREDITS "BMI" OR "ASCAP".

FAB 4 COLLECTIBLES PROUDLY OFFERS THE EXTRAORDINARILY RARE DESIGNATE PROMOTIONAL ISSUE OF THE GROUP'S CLASSIC FIRST CAPITOL LP ALBUM. THE BACK COVER HAS THE PROMOTIONAL RED INK STAMPING THAT HAS THE PRINT "FREE PROMOTIONAL ALBUM NOT TO BE SOLD", AND RECEIVED BY RADIO STATIONS AND THE PRESS - A FULL WEEK PRIOR TO THE ALBUM'S RELEASE, AND THE BEGINNING OF BEATLEMANIA IN AMERICA.

AS AN ADDED BONUS, AND FOUND SLIPPED INSIDE THE ALBUM COVER IS THIS 14¾" X 11½" TABLOID NEWSPAPER, "NATIONAL RECORD NEWS : SPECIAL BEATLES ISSUE". THESE WERE DISTRIBUTED IN MASS QUANTITIES TO CAPITOL'S SALES FORCE, THE PRESS, AND RADIO STATIONS ALONG WITH COPIES OF "MEET THE BEATLES!". THIS PUBLICATION DATES TO JANUARY 1964. AND IS A FOUR PAGE FOLD OPEN NEWSPAPER TYPE PROMO SHEET AND ACTUALLY PRINTED ON NEWSPAPER STOCK PAPER.

CONDITION: NM- / NM-
ITEM#: PR451
PRICE: ------

FOLLOWING THEIR TRIUMPHANT DEBUT ON THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW ON FEBRUARY 9, 1964, THIS STUB IS FROM THE BEATLES VERY FIRST CONCERT IN AMERICA THAT TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH AT THE WASHINGTON COLISEUM.

FAB 4 COLLECTIBLES PROUDLY OFFERS ONE OF THE RAREST PIECES OF BEATLES CONCERT EPHEMERA AND ONE THAT RARELY SURFACES TODAY. HERE IS AN ORIGINAL 'ARENA' LOCATION 'PURPLE' CONCERT TICKET STUB FROM THE GROUP'S INFAMOUS AND HISTORICAL U.S. FIRST VISIT.

CONDITION: NM-
ITEM#: CA099
PRICE: ------