Signed Beatles ticket from first film sells for $8.2K

By James Gamble via SWNS

A historic ticket for the premiere of the first Beatles film A Hard Day's Night signed by the Fab Four has sold at auction for $8,200.

The ticket - previously owned by a chef at the exclusive Dorchester Hotel in London - beat the previous record of $6,300 for signed Beatles memorabilia at Stacey's Auctioneers in Rayleigh, Essex.

An anonymous, UK-based private collector snatched up the ticket for the premiere at the London Pavillion Theatre at Picadilly Circus.

The exclusive ticket is for the Royal World Premiere of A Hard Day's Night - the Beatles' first feature film - on Monday, July 6, 1964.

Text on the ticket informs the attendee that the premiere would be "in the gracious presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret and The Earl of Snowdon to aid The Dockland Settlements and The Variety Club Heart Fund."

Despite the ticket costing a mere 15 guineas - equivalent to one pound and one shilling or around $19 in today's money - the signatures of all members of the Fab Four saw it sell at auction for $8,200.

It beat the previous record sale of a piece of Beatles memorabilia at Stacey's Auctioneers when a collector paid $6,300 for a signed photograph of the band gifted to the manager of Southend's Odeon during their 1963 sellout tour.

Auctioneer Rob Smee said the sale proved how highly sought-after Beatles memorabilia still is.

He said: "When memorabilia of the Beatles comes to market with good provenance it always creates strong interest.

"This was no exception, with phone bids and worldwide internet bidding."