THE VERY FIRST PREMIERE ISSUE NO. 1
AUGUST 1963

CONDITION : NM- (VG+++)
ITEM#: BK254
PRICE: ------

"The Beatles Book" (also known as "THE Beatles Monthly") was founded in 1963. It was first published in August 1963 and continued for 77 editions until it stopped publication FOLLOWING the December 1969 edition. It was revived in 1976, and ceased publication in 2003.

In early 1963, a publisher, Sean O’Mahony, (who already published a magazine about the music scene called "Beat Instrumental") heard "Please Please Me" and asked Brian Epstein if he could publish a magazine devoted to The Beatles. Epstein and the group agreed and the title launched in August 1963 with a print run of 80,000. By the end of the year circulation had grown to 330,000 copies per month. O’Mahony edited the magazine under the name of Johnny Dean.

The magazine’s photographer, Leslie Bryce, had unrivalled access to the group throughout the 1960s, traveling the world and taking thousands of photographs. In addition, Beatles roadies Neil Aspinall and Mal Evans wrote many of the articles, and artist Bob Gibson created numerous cartoons and caricatures of the fab four on a regular basis. (He eventually did the cartoons for the Beatles' 1967 "Magical Mystery Tour" EP-set/US-album booklet.)

In May 1976, O’Mahony revived the publication and republished all 77 original issues surrounded by eight (later sixteen) pages of new Beatles news and articles. The reissue program was completed in September 1982, coincidentally at a time when interest in the band was high due to the impending twentieth anniversary of "Love Me Do". Consequently the decision was taken to continue the magazine with all new content. Publication continued until January 2003 (Issue 321) when it once again ceased.

HERE WE PROUDLY OFFER A VINTAGE AUGUST, 1963 ISSUE NUMBER ONE OF THE LEGENDARY "BEATLES BOOK MONTHLY" MAGAZINE. INDEED, IT'S THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE RELEASE OF THIS GREAT MAGAZINE. THIS VERY FIRST EDITION IS THE MOST DIFFICULT ONE TO ACQUIRE AND THE MOST COVETED BY COLLECTORS.  THERE WOULD BE 76 ADDITIONAL ORIGINAL EDITIONS THAT WOULD FOLLOW, BUT IT ALL BEGAN WITH THIS PREMIERE ISSUE, WHICH IS REALLY WONDERFUL AS IT INTRODUCES THE BOYS, BRIAN EPSTEIN, AND GEORGE MARTIN. THIS EDITION REFLECTS WHO THEY ARE AND THEIR METEORIC RISE TO WORLDWIDE FAME.

MEASURING 8¼" X 6", THE CONDITION IS A BEAUTIFUL NEAR MINT MINUS (BORDERS VG+++) ON THE COVER WITH MINIMAL LIGHT HANDLING ON THE COVER. THERE IS NO SOILING OR AGING SPOTS, AND NO TEARS OR RIPS ANYWHERE. THE INTERIOR PAGES ARE AN ABSOLUTE NEAR MINT AND ALL ARE INTACT. THE BINDING HAS VERY TIGHT STAPLES. THIS PREMIERE EDITION NO. 1 HAS 28 PAGES INCLUDING THE COVER.

THIS EXAMPLE OF THE DEBUT ISSUE #1 OF THIS GREAT CLASSIC BEATLES MAGAZINE IS A WINNER, AND THE BEST ONE WE'VE ACQUIRED TO DATE.