PC2.  A Scarce March 1963 Issue Parlophone Records Promotional Photocard That Has Been Autographed By The Beatles

By the time mid-1963 rolled around, The Beatles were definitely starting to hit their stride. Their first LP “Please Please Me” was a number 1 hit record, and it was flanked on both sides by the number 1 singles “Please Please Me” and “From Me To You”. They were touring throughout Great Britain, all the while building tremendous momentum, and on July 3rd the band recorded a BBC radio session for “On The Beat Show”, which took place at the Playhouse Theatre in Manchester, England. For this show, the band performed 3 songs: “A Taste of Honey”, “Twist and Shout” and the recently released number one hit “From Me To You”.

The second issue of Parlophone Records promotional photocards came out in March of 1963, featuring a shot of The Beatles taken by veteran theater photographer Angus McBean. The photo session was conducted by McBean on Monday, January 21, 1963 at EMI House 20 Manchester Square, in London, for the purpose of creating some new publicity portraits. The photographer took numerous shots of the band against a wall of window, one of which was showcased on the front of the new Parlophone card.

Here is one of these desirable promo cards, this one signed on the back by all four members of The Beatles. John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have autographed in blue ballpoint pen, while George Harrison has used a black ballpoint to sign. All four have added “X’s” following their signatures.

This promo card was signed by The Beatles on July 3, 1963, at the aforementioned BBC radio show appearance “On The Beat Show”. The card measures 5 ¾” x 3 ½” and is in good overall condition, with small pin holes to each corner and a small area of paper loss to one lower corner. These rare Parlophone promo cards were never abundant and are now extremely difficult to find, and they are without question a step up from a signed album page in the hierarchy of Beatles signed items…..$11,500

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