Huge collection of Beatles images from the early days for sale

By Tom Bevan

One of the largest personal collections of original Beatles images is set to sell for nearly $40,000 at auction — including ones backstage at the legendary Ed Sullivan Show performance that introduced the band to America.

The original contact sheets were composed by Beatles photographer Leslie Bryce — and include thousands of photos taken of the Fab Four throughout their career.

The earliest shots capture the Beatles' performance at The Winter Gardens, Margate on July 8, 1963, including images of John, Paul, George and Ringo playing table tennis in the hotel.

They are followed by contact strips of the first American tour, including backstage images of the legendary Ed Sullivan Show performance and the 1964 European tour when Ringo got tonsillitis and was replaced by Jimmie Nicol.

Other sheets include the making of the films "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!" while later photos document the recording of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" at EMI No. 2 in 1967 and the premiere of the 1968 animated musical film "Yellow Submarine."

They have now been listed for sale by Leslie's surviving family and will go under the hammer at Sworders on July 6.

The collection of more than 400 sheets is expected to sell for £22,500-28,000 ($29,775-37,055).

The auctioneers said: "Leslie Bryce was photographer for The Beatles Monthly Book, the magazine for fans of the group that followed their career from the 'mop top' to the 'flower power' years.

"It was first published in August 1963 and, with 330,000 subscribers by the end of the year, continued for 77 editions until December 1969.

"During much of this time Bryce was the group's most trusted and favorite photographer and enjoyed unrivaled access to dressing rooms, stages, studios and sometimes private homes."

Leslie published his story in "Looking Through You: Unseen Photographs from The Beatles Book Archive" (2015).

The contact sheets are coming up for sale by direct family descent.