Rare 1968 fountain pen signatures, “John Lennon,” “Paul McCartney,” and “George Harrison,” on an off-white 5.25 x 3.75 album page, and a felt tip signature, “Love, Ringo Starr,” on a similar page, all obtained in 1968 in Rishikesh, India, while the Beatles were studying under the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. In 1967, the Beatles learned transcendental meditation; in early 1968, they attended a teacher training course in Rishikesh under the Maharishi’s supervision. The Beatles left the course before the end for various reason. The media focused much attention on Lennon’s statement that he left because he had come to believe rumors that the Maharishi had made sexual advances toward a young woman. Accompanied by a letter from the daughter of the original recipient, who explains the provenance: “My mother’s employer was preparing to depart for India with the Brighton Transcendental Meditation Centre to the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Centre. My mother mentioned that I was still lamenting that I hadn’t managed to obtain a whole set of signatures and her employer offered to take my autograph book with her just in case she was more successful. She managed to return with the 4 autographs.” Also included is a certificate of authenticity from Tracks, and two color 7 x 5 prints of Paul Saltzman photos of the Beatles in Rishikesh. In fine condition, with intersecting folds to the multi-signed page (slightly affecting just a few letters), mild toning and soiling to Starr’s signature, and a second identical-sized page affixed to reverse of Starr’s page. Beatles autographs from this period are scarce, as the group was quite isolated and guarded from fans. COA Roger Epperson/REAL and R&R COA.
