THE BEATLES AT THE GAUMONT

A YOUNG Beatles fan named Denise was so impressed when she saw her beloved Fab Four play live in Southampton that after the show she sent them a gift and they responded by sending her their autographs. 

Denise is glad that she went to that Southampton concert because now, more than half a century later, she is selling her Beatles autographs and they are expected to fetch between £1,200 and £1,500 at Bonhams in London on Wednesday December 10.

The autographs of John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr are on a piece of lined paper and signed in blue ballpoint pen.

John signed the paper: “love to Denise from the Beatles. Thanks !.”

If Paul McCartney had also signed the paper, the set of autographs would be even more valuable, possibly hundreds of pounds more.

McCartney’s “autograph” on the piece of paper is in John Lennon’s hand.

Autographs under the hammer The autographs are being sold with the stamped addressed envelope Denise, whose full name has not been released, sent to the Beatles and on the back of the envelope John Lennon drew a ‘B’ (for Beatles) with antennae.

The Beatles’ show at the Gaumont in Southampton on May 20, 1963, took place just 18 days after the group achieved their first number one hit record appropriately titled From Me To You.

That year, 1963, was one of the momentous years in the Beatles’ history. It was the year they achieved their major breakthrough with their first three number one hit records: From Me To You, She Loves You and I Want To Hold Your Hand.

It cost less than one pound to see the Beatles play live in Southampton in May 1963. Tickets ranged in price from five shillings and sixpence (about 28p) to ten shillings and sixpence (about 53p).

Roy Orbison and Gerry and The Pacemakers appeared with The Beatles at that Southampton show.

Do you remember 1963 when The Beatles came to Southampton?

• The average house then cost £3,160 (source: Department for Communities and Local Government)
• A gallon of petrol - yes, a gallon, not a litre - cost four shillings and tenpence half penny (about 24p) (source: Shell)
• A pint of bitter cost one shilling and fivepence (about 7p) (source: Brewers' Society)
• On May 20, 1963, the day The Beatles came to Southampton, the Saints won their final league match of that season by beating Stoke City 2-0 in a second division game, watched by 18,298 fans at The Dell, with both goals from Terry Paine.