AMAZING BEATLES SIGNED PHOTO FROM MID 1964 BY FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHER, ROBERT WHITAKER

Vintage circa mid-1964 glossy 6.5 x 8.5 promotional photo of the Beatles holding tea cups and looking directly into the camera, amazingly un-inscribed and vividly signed in blue ball point and black felt tip “George Harrison,” “John Lennon,” ‘Paul McCartney,” and “Ringo Starr”. In fine condition.

Accompanied by letter of authenticity from noted Beatles expert Frank Caiazzo, who states: “This photo was signed by The Beatles in late 1964, and is an excellent example of a Beatles signed photo in every regard.” We couldn’t agree more with Mr. Caiazzo; possessing brilliant, crisp autographs, this photo is further complemented by its highly uncommon image, depicting the lads huddled together in an iconic famous pose. The photograph was signed in late 1964.

The photograph was taken by famous Beatles photographer Robert Whitaker in 1964. The shot depicts the Beatles holding teacups, and was from the session that produced the photos that were on the iconic “Beatles 65” album cover.

Dimensions: approx. 6.5 x 8.5 in.

Framed to measure 13.5 x 16 in.

Beatles signed photographs are incredibly rare, with this being the only known photograph signed from the “Beatles 65” album photo shoot sessions

When Beatlemania exploded, Whitaker was along for the wild ride. He was backstage, he was in the studio, he went to the boys’ homes, he became their friend. Robert Whitaker fashioned many of the iconic Beatles images, and all his pictures of the band were taken in the period that Beatles fans most like to remember: when they were fab, when they changed our culture.

It was with The Beatles and especially John Lennon, with whom he became close friends, that Bob created his most famous and enduring work. One of his first outings was photographing The Beatles during their triumphant second American tour, including the historic Shea Stadium concert in New York. He spent the next two years traveling with the Beatles and shooting them at work, at rest and at play, on their tours, at home, in the recording studio, during private moments, and in formal photo-sessions.

The Beatles/Whitaker collaboration climaxed with the sensational ”butcher” album cover for Yesterday and Today, featuring raw meat and cut up dolls, satirizing Beatlemania and pop marketing. Whitaker, stunned by witnessing Beatlemania from the inside, was visually punning: these were normal, literally flesh-and-blood men. Capitol Records pulled the image after protests.

Ex Sothebys Rock and Pop Sale; Christies Lot 212, Nov. 2008