PH6.  Original “Beatles Book Monthly” Magazine Premiere Issue (#1) From August 1963, Autographed Beautifully On The Cover
          By All Four Beatles

From August 1963 through December 1969, The Beatles Book Monthly magazine provided Beatles fans with a comprehensive and intimate glimpse into the personal and working lives of their idols. Many Beatles fans and historians believe that the 77 issues published during the magazine's 6 ½ year run collectively constitute the best comprehensive history of the band ever published. The magazine was started by Sean O'Mahony (a.k.a Johnny Dean, the magazine's editor) with the blessing of The Beatles themselves and their manager Brian Epstein.

The purpose of the magazine was to not only publish news of the group's activities, but also to help the open lines of communication between the band and their escalating legions of fans. The Beatles would receive a third of the publication's profits, a tidy sum when one considers that, at its height, the Monthly sold 350,000 copies per issue. Contributors to the magazine were publicist Tony Barrow (writing as Frederick James) and Record Mirror editor Peter Jones (writing as Billy Shepherd) as well as road managers Neil Aspinall and Mal Evans (who wrote occasional columns).

Presented here for your consideration is a rare copy of the first-ever issue of The Beatles Book Monthly from August 1963, signed on the front cover beautifully in blue ballpoint pen by all four Beatles. Each has signed on or next to his image, except for John Lennon, who signed just beneath the masthead. These signatures are textbook examples, and this is as nicely as each could have signed on that day, which makes perfect sense when you consider that this was “their” fan magazine, sanctioned by them, and they must have felt a sense of pride upon seeing it for the first time.

This issue, with its iconic Dezo Hoffmann collarless jacket cover photo, is considered one of the rarest of all the original issues and is difficult to find even unsigned. Copies appear regularly for sale, but they're usually the 1970s reprints. Fully-signed ‘Monthlies’ of any issue are exceedingly scarce and the one offered here is the only known example of the Premiere Issue materializing to date which has been signed by all four members on the front cover. This first edition of publication includes introductory messages and profiles of all four Beatles, Brian Epstein and George Martin along with the features that would become mainstays of the magazine: "Letters From Beatle People", "This Month's Beatle Song" lyrics page (in this issue, Love Me Do) and "Beatle News".

This coveted issue was signed in the fall of 1963, shortly after its publication in August. By the end of that month, the group's debut LP Please Please Me had spent 23 weeks in the UK Top Ten charts and 17 weeks in the #1 spot. August also marked their last appearance at the Cavern Club followed by a full slate of concert and recording dates.

The magazine measures 6” x 8 ¼” and the overall condition is excellent, having been well kept over the years. The signatures are bold and clear, and the slight overlapping of John and George's signatures takes nothing away from the beauty of this set. Aside from being a signed Beatles Book Monthly #1, the piece boasts a 6” x 5 ½” image of arguably the most famous and most widely-known shot of the group, on an item that will make a stunning display piece, and also prove to be a wonderful investment…..$28,000

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