Vintage Peppermint Lounge drink card measuring 4.25 x 5, perfectly signed on the reverse in blue ballpoint, “Beatles, Ringo Starr,” “George Harrison,” “John Lennon,” and “Paul McCartney.” Card is matted and framed with the front of a similar card against a colorful Beatles/Miami Beach motif, to an overall size of 14.75 x 20.5. Central horizontal fold and a trivial brush to beginning of Lennon’s signature, otherwise very fine condition.
Accompanied by a letter of authenticity from noted Beatles expert Perry Cox. Also accompanied by a letter of provenance from the waitress who acquired the signatures while waiting on the Beatles at the Peppermint Lounge on February 13 and 14, 1964. Letter reads in part: “The Beatles came in two consecutive nights with their manager Brian Epstein…They did not sit ringside to attract attention to themselves. They sat on the upper level balcony near the rear of the club…I waited on them both nights, and the second night I got a little friendlier with Brian. He asked me if I wanted their autographs. I said no but he got them anyway for me and had them sign a Peppermint Lounge minimum drink card.
The boys had jetted from New York City to Miami—where they were greeted at the airport by 7,000 frenzied Beatlemaniacs—for another appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, this one broadcast live from the Deauville Hotel. While in town, they also relaxed by catching a performance by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters at the Peppermint Lounge. Apparently, their server that night was the only person disinterested in acquiring any signatures from the Fab Four, as John, Paul, George, and Ringo were forced to make a hasty retreat from the Peppermint Lounge following incessant demands by autograph hounds. Pre-certified Roger Epperson/REAL and RRAuction COA.
