COVER OF SGT.PEPPER´S SIGNED BY THE BEATLES SELL AT AUCTION FOR 74,500 POUNDS

At the Bonhams auction, an album cover of The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band signed by all four members of the band went under the hammer 74,500 pounds.

It is thought there are just 10 Sgt. Pepper albums signed by all four Beatles that exist in the world. 

Paul Minett got three of the Fab Four to sign the inside cover of the famous album after spending hours waiting outside their Abbey Road recording studio in 1967. 
Unfortunately drummer Ringo was not there and so his name remained absent from the LP. 
But patient Paul finally completed the set when he was able to get Ringo to sign it in 1997. 

Paul Minett with George and John

"I had to wait 30 years for it but it was worth it in the end." Paul was aged 19 when he had his chance encounter with the Beatles a few weeks after Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released in 1967. He was aware the group were mixing All You Need Is Love at Abbey Road studios in north London in preparation for their Our World live charity broadcast. 

Paul, who lived in London at the time, went to the studios with his new record tucked under his arm. He and a friend were among about 25 giddy fans who waited outside for a glimpse of their idols. 

At around 10pm they filed out one by one and happily mingled with the crowd and signed memorabilia. Paul said: "It was amazing, you could hang around right outside the studios while the band were recording inside. "We waited among the other fans, who were mainly excitable girls. "We spotted Lennon walking out and managed to get his attention. 

"Then McCartney came out and said hello, followed by George.

Paul Minett getting John's autograph outside Abbey Road in 1967

"They were great to interact with, as long as you were polite they were very easy going." The album remained more or less untouched for the next 30 years. 
In that time, due to his work in television which included writing scripts for the Two Ronnies and Kenny Everett, he made friends with a TV producer, Nick Sercombe. Due to Nick's connections with Terry Oates, whose company were representing Ringo at the time, it was arranged for Paul's original copy to be signed by Ringo. 

Paul Minett, today.

The signature is perfectly placed and matches up well with his the original autographs, which is an important factor for collectors. Paul added: "It was great to finally get all four signatures after all these years."

A spokesman auctioneers Bonhams said: "It's very rare to see this particular album signed, as the Beatles became more famous they became more inaccessible. 

"There are not many signed albums from this period. 

"To have all four signatures is vitally important, it makes all the difference to collectors and dealers. 

"It's incredible good fortune that he was able to keep hold of it for 30 years, in such good condition, before completing the set of autographs."