Vintage dinner menu from the Hotel St. George in Wellington, New Zealand, dated to June 22, 1964, one page, 5 x 8.25, signed in black ballpoint by John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. The menu is also signed by John Lennon’s aunt Mimi Smith. In very good to fine condition, with some light creasing and scattered light foxing.
Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Tracks, a modern photo of Lennon with his aunt, and a letter of provenance, which reads: “The Beatles arrived in Wellington on 21st June 1964 for what was their only tour of New Zealand. They played in Wellington on 22nd and 23rd June 1964. This menu was from the Beatles meal at St Georges Hotel in Wellington where they dined with a New Zealand family member. It is an original signed by John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, and John's Aunt Mimi, who traveled to NZ with the Beatles and stayed with family relations. This menu has sat tucked away with family in New Zealand until now.”
Beatlemania hit New Zealand when 7000 hysterical fans greeted the Fab Four in Wellington during their ‘Far East’ tour. On June 22nd the Beatles played their first New Zealand concerts, repeating a 30-minute 11-song set as fans screamed and punctured the seats of the Wellington Town Hall with their stiletto heels. Audiences in Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin followed suit. Perhaps the most dangerous moment of the tour occurred in Auckland, where several thousand people swarmed around the band and John Lennon lost a clump of hair. The trip was largely seen as less successful than previous stops on their world tour, mainly due to sound problems and police attitudes. Away from all the fuss, two of the band members took the chance to catch up with family. Police whisked John Lennon away to Levin to meet his second cousins, while Ringo Starr (formerly Starkey) met a group of Starkeys from the Wellington suburb of Karori.
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