Vintage ballpoint signatures of the Beatles—Paul McCartney, George Harrison, John Lennon, and Jimmie Nicol—on the reverse of a 3.5 x 5.5 color postcard of a B.O.A.C. Rolls-Royce 707 Jetliner. In fine condition, with light spotting to the image side of the postcard. Nicol replaced Ringo Starr from June 3-15, 1964, at the start of the Beatles' World Tour, while Ringo was suffering from tonsillitis and pharyngitis. A decidedly rare autograph set given that Nicol was with the Beatles for less than two weeks.
Accompanied by a French newspaper clipping of the Beatles posing on plane steps with several pilots, one of whom, the original recipient, has included a provenance letter: "In 1964 I was the First officer on a BOAC Boeing 707 flight from London to Beirut via Zurich. On this flight was John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison of the Beatles. Jimmie Nichol was also on the flight as he was filling in for Ringo Starr at the time. I flew them firstly to Zurich where we refueled and then on to Beirut. Through out the flight they spent their time together in the lounge at the front of the plane, smoking, resting, and talking. I went out to sit with them for a little while and chatted about how I thought they were a great band and about their music. They were very nice lads, very unassuming and relaxed, especially John.
During the flight to Beirut they all came up to the flight deck together and again they chatted for a while and were really friendly. At Beirut, where the plane was refueling it was total chaos. Fans had been allowed onto the tarmac and were climbing into the cargo hold doors to try to get to the band. The boys did not want to leave the plane as they were tired and there was pandaemonium outside but eventually they went out onto the plane steps to wave to the crowds—this is where the newspaper clips picture was taken with me on the steps behind them."
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