A remarkable autograph album featuring the signatures of all four Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and a host of other 1960s music stars is set to go under the hammer in Staffordshire next month.
The collection was compiled by a Portsmouth teenager who, at the height of Beatlemania, even had her arm signed by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr after a gig in 1963 – much to her father’s dismay.
The album will be auctioned by Richard Winterton Auctioneers on Monday, 2nd February, at The Lichfield Auction Centre.
The autographs were collected by Elizabeth Salt, known at the time as Liz McBrierty, who grew up in Portsmouth and followed The Beatles as their popularity exploded across the UK.
I remember going with my friend who bought Love Me Do in late 1962,” said Elizabeth, now 79 and living in Lichfield. “That was when it started – we just got obsessed with them. – Elizabeth Salt
Elizabeth attended The Beatles’ performance at the Savoy Ballroom in Southsea on 7th April 1963, where she managed to collect not only their autographs but also a broken guitar string belonging to George Harrison, which remains inside the album.
Afterwards, they went into a room and we all just piled in, she said. That’s when I got their autographs on my left arm – I just held it out asking them to sign and they did.
I wanted to show all my friends at school the next day, but when I got home my dad said I’d get blood poisoning and made me wash it straight off. I was heartbroken. – Elizabeth Salt
Fortunately, Elizabeth had already secured the signatures in her autograph book, which also includes further autographs from George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr on separate pages.
The teenager and her friends went on to see The Beatles multiple times along the south coast, including shows in Portsmouth, Brighton, Bournemouth and Southampton, and even attended a fan club meet-and-greet in London.
The album also contains a complete set of Rolling Stones signatures, including Brian Jones, collected when Elizabeth saw the band perform at the Savoy Ballroom in Portsmouth.
Other stars featured include Cliff Richard, Adam Faith, Del Shannon, Bobby Vee, Tony Orlando, Dion, Billy Fury, Marty Wilde, Mark Wynter, Eden Kane and Shane Fenton, later known as Alvin Stardust.
Now a grandmother of four, Elizabeth remains a devoted Beatles fan and still names their first LP, Please Please Me, as her favourite.
This is one of the finest 1960s autograph books I’ve had the pleasure of cataloguing. What makes it so special is that it contains the signatures of all The Beatles and the Rolling Stones, along with so many other major names from the era. It’s a wonderful document celebrating one of the most exciting periods in British pop culture. – Rob French, ephemera valuer at Richard Winterton Auctioneers
The autograph album is estimated at £3,000 to £4,000 and will be offered in Richard Winterton Auctioneers’ Antique & Home Sale, starting at 9am on Monday, 2nd February, at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park.
Viewing will take place on Friday, 30th January, from 10am to 4pm. The catalogue will be available online a week before the sale at www.richardwinterton.co.uk/auctions/auction-calendar
For more information, to arrange a free valuation, or to enquire about home visits for large collections or house clearances, contact www.office@richardwinterton.co.uk or call 01543 251081.
