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Beatles memorabilia from before they were famous auctioned off for thousands

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A sunglass-wearing John Lennon in 1963. (Sandra Woodruff / SWNS)

By SWNS Staff

Iconic items from a Beatles' seaside tour including a signed underwear sign 'stolen' from their hotel bedroom has fetched over $11K at auction.

The set includes photographs taken when the band played in Weston-super-Mare in Somerset in 1963 - before they broke big.

Then 16-year-old Sandra Woodruff (nee Blaken) tracked the group down to room number 49 at the Royal Pier Hotel.

She and her friends stormed the room and snapped pictures with them, later also picturing them on the beach with fans.

Her unique collection of memorabilia was sold at East Bristol Auctions for over 11K.

Spokesman Andrew Stowe said: "It's so rare to find things signed by all four of them.

A selection of unseen Beatles photos from their trip to Weston-super-Mare which are coming up for sale at East Bristol Auctions. Bristol. (Tom Wren via SWNS)
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"There is no other collection on the planet as unique or as important.''

The group performed two gigs a night at the town's Odeon Cinema.

Mrs. Woodruff said: "We asked the lads running the ghost train 'Do you know where the Beatles are staying?'

"They said 'If you buy us some fags, we'll tell you.'

"So we bought them 10 Woodbine each and they said the 'Royal Pier Hotel.''

The collection featured original photos of the band, along with a signed cardboard sleeve advertising Gentlemen’s Briefs underwear taken just before they became a global success.

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