(DESCRIPTION)
IN OCTOBER OF 1962, PARLOPHONE RECORDS PRODUCED A SMALL QUANTITY OF PROMOTIONAL PHOTO CARDS WITH PICTURES TAKEN WHILE THE BEATLES WERE IN THE STUDIO. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, PARLOPHONE ISSUED A SECOND, AND FINAL CARD THAT WAS INTRODUCED IN MARCH OF 1963, WITH A SHOT TAKEN BY PHOTOGRAPHER ANGUS MCBEAN, AND PRODUCED IN TWO SIZES, 5¾" X 3½" AND THE MUCH RARER LARGER FORMAT MEASURING 7⅜" X 4⅞".

ACCORDING TO HIGHLY RESPECTED BEATLES AUTOGRAPH PREMIER EXPERT FRANK CAIAZZO: "PROMOTIONAL CARDS CONTAINING PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BEATLES WHICH WERE PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PARLOPHONE RECORDS OR THE BEATLES THEMSELVES WERE OFTEN SIGNED BY THE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE GROUP AND GIVEN AWAY IN SMALL QUANTITIES. NOW THEY ARE EXTREMELY RARE AND VERY DESIRABLE, FOR VERY FEW HAVE ACTUALLY SURVIVED INTACT."

THIS MAJESTIC AUTOGRAPH SET WAS SIGNED CIRCA MID 1963 BY THE BEATLES ON THE FRONT PHOTO SIDE OF THE FINAL AND MUCH RARER
OVERSIZED 7⅜" X 4⅞"  PARLOPHONE PROMOTIONAL PHOTOCARD. WHEN THE BEATLES DID SIGN THESE LARGER CARDS, THE MAJORITY WERE AUTOGRAPHED ON THE BLANK REVERSE SIDE, GIVING THEM MORE SPACE FOR THEM TO SIGN. ON THIS SPARKLING EXAMPLE, THE BEATLES HAVE AUTOGRAPHED THE FRONT PHOTO SIDE, SIGNING NEAR EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE IMAGE. JOHN LENNON, GEORGE HARRISON AND RINGO STARR HAVE EACH AUTOGRAPHED IN DIFFERENT SHADES OF BLUE BALLPOINT PEN, WHILE PAUL McCARTNEY SIGNED IN BLUE FOUNTAIN INK PEN.

THE SIGNATURES ARE UN-RUSHED, VERY DELIBERATE, EXCEPTIONALLY WELL FORMED AND STRIKING. VIEWING THE CARD IN IN PERSON, THE SIGNATURES ARE ABSOLUTELY STUNNING, AND LEAP OFF THE CARD. THE REVERSE BLANK SIDE IS VERY CLEAN AND WHITE, WHERE SOME IMPRESSIONS OF THE SIGNATURES FROM THE PHOTO SIDE CAN BE DETECTED, PARTICULARLY THAT OF RINGO'S AUTOGRAPH.

THIS LARGER FORMAT PARLOPHONE PROMOTIONAL PHOTOCARD IS AMONG THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. THE FACT THAT IT WAS AUTOGRAPHED ON THE FRONT PHOTO, AND ITS EXCELLENT CONDITION TRULY RAISES THE BAR AND VALUE ON THIS EXAMPLE.

ACCOMPANIED BY LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY FROM FRANK CAIAZZO.  MR. CAIAZZO is considered to be the world's leading authority on Beatles signed and handwritten material. HIS articles have appeared IN SEVERAL books and magazines including "Autograph Collector" and "Beatlology". HE has served as consultant to several major auction houses including Sotheby's New York and London, Christie's, Bonhams, AND TO numerous smaller auction companies and autograph dealers worldwide. MR. CAIAZZO'S LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY HAS BEEN THE GOLD STANDARD IN THE BEATLES AUTOGRAPH COLLECTING COMMUNITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

IN ADDITION, THIS PIECE IS ALSO ACCOMPANIED BY LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY FROM PERRY COX, MOST RESPECTED BEATLES EXPERT, AND AUTHOR OF "THE BEATLES RECORD PRICE GUIDE" SERIES OF BOOKS.