Unusual vintage 1964 glossy 9.5 x 7 photo of the Alton High School choir in Alton, Missouri, prominently signed on the reverse in blue ballpoint by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Brian Epstein, and also signed once on the front by Lennon. In very good condition, with scattered creases (a noticeable crease passing through the first letter of Epstein’s signature), some light staining, some mounting remnants to the upper right corner, and a few ink and pencil notations to reverse (one pencil line passing through the top of Epstein’s signature).
The Beatles had chartered their flights with Reed Pigman, owner of American Flyers Airline, and after their show in his hometown of Dallas on September 18 accepted Pigman's offer to relax for a day at his ranch in Alton, Missouri, before playing their final stop in New York on September 20. The consignor notes that at this time he was teaching music at Alton High School, and one of the soloists in his choir rushed into the classroom in search of something to write on, grabbed this photo, and departed just as quickly. The student's relative worked at Pigman's ranch and tipped him off about the Beatles' arrival, and the student returned to school the following week with this photo as it is now—signed by the full band and their legendary manager. A superb and decidedly one-of-a-kind photo, made especially interesting in that it can be dated exactly to the last leg of their historic first US tour. Pre-certified Roger Epperson/REAL and RR Auction COA.
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