Early Beatles contract to sell at auction
An early contract signed by The Beatles and described as 'the most important music contract of all time' is expected to sell for £250,000 at a memorabilia auction.
Brian Epstein’s personal copy of the first fully signed agreement between himself and The Beatles will go on sale in London during September.
The Beatles all signed in their real and full names; John Winston Lennon, George Harrison, James Paul McCartney and Richard Starkey (Ringo Star.)
But the agreement also features the names and signatures of Harold Hargreaves Harrison and James McCartney who had to give additional consent on behalf of their sons as they were under 21.
Thought the contract is dated 24th January 1962 Epstein refused to ink his name for over half a year as he sought to fulfil his promise to the Fab Four – to secure them their first record contract.
Epstein worked tirelessly to meet his side of the bargain, and finally, with an EMI deal in place for the release of Love Me Do, on 1st October 1962 he signed his name, officially confirming and commencing his management of The Beatles.
In the contract Epstein agrees to 'undertake all necessary advertising and publicity for the Artists' and 'advise the Artists on all matters concerning clothes, make-up and the presentation and construction of the Artists’ acts'
For this he was due a quarter of the band's earnings, if they made in excess of £200 per week each.
The Beatles and Brian Epstein contract goes on sale at the Idea Generation Gallery in Shoreditch, London, alongside a number of other hugely significant items:
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