Rare and highly desirable vintage Beatles Fan Club card, 5.5 x 4, featuring a classic Dezo Hoffmann portrait of the band in their famous collarless suits, signed in black ballpoint, “Paul McCartney,” “Ringo Starr,” “John Lennon,” and “George Harrison.” The card was signed on August 24, 1964, for Los Angeles Times photographer Larry Sharkey, and is accompanied by a letter of provenance from his son Mike, which reads, in part: “My father, Lawrence ‘Larry’ Sharkey Sr., worked for the Los Angeles Times as a sports and special event photographer from 1945 until his retirement in 1988. In August of 1964 he had the assignment of photographing an up and coming musical group for the paper. It was to be ‘The Beatles‘ first tour of the USA. During the assignment my father was given this postcard after witnessing each of them sign it for him. They went on to take publicity shots for the paper.” In fine condition, with a few scattered creases, not affecting the overall appearance of the image. Accompanied by two letters of authenticity and appraisal from noted Beatles expert Frank Caiazzo, a letter of authenticity from Perry Cox, and a certificate of authenticity from Tracks. Also included is satin-finish 10 x 8 copy of a newspaper photo of the band at their rented Bel-Air mansion, taken by Sharkey.
The band enjoyed a couple of rare days off after their highly-successful concert at the Hollywood Bowl the day before. Their popularity kept them mostly confined to the grounds, at which time Sharkey and a reporter from the L. A. Times met with the band. The following day the band would be guests of both Burt Lancaster at his home, as well as an evening with Jayne Mansfield at the Whiskey A Go-Go. These particular cards were given away in small quantities, with this one assessed by Frank Ciazzo as “one of the most desirable of all of the Beatles autographed collarless Fan Club cards in existence.” Pre-certified Roger Epperson/REAL and RR Auction COA.
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