JOHN LENNON's RARE BEATLES 'BUTCHER' RECORD TO BE SOLD

John Lennon's own copy of a Beatles record that caused controversy due to its graphic cover is expected to fetch £136,000 at auction.

The "butcher" cover of Yesterday And Today was withdrawn in 1966.
Beatles expert Gary Hein said the album bearing three Beatles signatures was unique in "both rarity and value."
It will be sold in an auction at The Beatles Story Museum in Liverpool.

Lennon had his personal copy of the album on the wall of his The Dakota apartment in New York until he gave it to Dave Morrell, a Beatles fan and bootleg collector. It is signed: "To Dave from/ John Lennon/ Dec 7th 71" and has a sketch Lennon had scrawled on the back showing a man holding a shovel with his dog in front of a setting sun.
It also includes autographs by Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, which Mr Morrell obtained later and it is believed to be the only original "butcher" album bearing three Beatles signatures. Other items on sale at the annual event run by Julien's Auctions on 9 May include Lennon's guitar strap and school detention record as well as a baseball signed by The Beatles estimated to sell for up to £75,000.