SA14 A Meet the Beatles LP Cover Signed on the Train to Washington, D.C. 2 Days After Their Historic Ed Sullivan Show Appearance – With a Photograph of Paul McCartney Signing It!
Description
Way, WAY at the top of most Beatles autograph collector’s “Holy Grail List” would without doubt be a Meet The Beatles album cover signed by The Beatles on their first U.S. visit shortly after its January 20, 1964 release date. Everything changed here in the United States within mere weeks of the albums release, as The Beatles came here to turn everything in both music and popular culture from black and white to color as a result of their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964. Just two days later, on the 11th, they traveled by train from New York City to Washington D.C. to perform their first concert here in The States at the Washington Coliseum. Documentary film maker brothers Albert and David Maysles did a bit of filming on the train ride there and the mood was jubilant and playful, as the charismatic Beatles seemingly charmed everyone who was lucky enough to be on the same train as the band, including over a dozen reporters and photographers, and even paying customers and children with whom they were interacting with during the 3 1/2 hour journey.
While on that very train ride, this first issue Capitol Records mono Meet The Beatles album cover was autographed beautifully by all four in black ballpoint pen, with various inscriptions as follows: John Lennon has written “To Lou many love from” at the top, before signing. Pen issues at the time of signing caused slight skipping on his signature. Paul McCartney has written vertically along the left hand margin “To Louise with love from your older brother!!” before signing. George Harrison has inscribed “To Lou with love from “Brother”!!” and Ringo Starr wrote “To Lou Lots of Love” before signing in full. All but George have added “X’s” after signing, the reason being that “Louise” was George’s older sister. There is a red rubber stamp on this side of the album cover that reads “FREE PROMOTIONAL ALBUM NOT FOR SALE” and this makes a lot of sense because Louise would have received this album directly from either her brother, or someone else in The Beatles’ camp. The cover shows some signs of handling and there is a small area of paper loss at the top right hand corner of the front cover. The original vinyl record and inner sleeve, both in excellent condition, are included as well.
What adds greatly to the already tremendous desirability of this signed album is the fact that there is a picture of Paul and Louise holding this very album at precisely the time that he was signing it for her! Anything that was signed by The Beatles during their monumental first visit to North America is already in a special class of Beatles autographs. Now add the fact that this is a highly coveted signed Meet The Beatles LP cover, one that has been signed for a Beatles family member, with a picture of it being signed by Paul. and here you have one of the most historically important and well documented Beatles signed albums in existence.