WATCHUNG, NEW JERSEY – The catalog for Robert Edward Auctions’ 2011 blockbuster sale was shipped on April 12, 2011. While most of the auction is baseball-related, also included is a remarkable, unique and extremely historic 1964 Ed Sullivan show schedule signed by all four members of the Beatles.
The catalog description follows:
One-page show schedule for the February 19, 1964, television broadcast of The Ed Sullivan Show , signed on the reverse by all four members of the Beatles: Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. This piece is without question one of the most historically significant Beatles signed items in existence given the nature of the item signed, the circumstances of its signing, and the role of the event as it relates to the group’s enduring musical and cultural influence. American fans were first introduced to The Beatles on February 9, 1964, during a live performance of The Ed Sullivan Show in New York City. That show, which was seen by a then record seventy-three million viewers, was a historic event in television history and signaled the start of the “British Invasion” in music. What many people forget today is that The Beatles appeared on three consecutive Ed Sullivan shows that February. The second show was broadcast live from Miami Beach on February 16th, while the third show, broadcast on February 23rd, featured a taped performance shot on February 9th. The offered piece dates from the second of those three historic appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. The one-page show schedule, which is an internal television studio document used by staff onsite actually involved in the production of the show, is for the February 16, 1964, live performance in Miami Beach and has been signed on the reverse by all four members of the band. Each member of the group, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, John Lennon, and Ringo Starr, has beautifully signed the schedule in pencil (grading “9/10”), with Starr having added “Beatles” above his name. Just as in New York, news of The Beatles arrival in Miami Beach resulted in a sea of fans congregating outside the studio. It was only behind a wedge of police officers cutting through the mob that The Beatles were able to make it to the stage on time, picking up their instruments just seconds before Sullivan had finished his introduction. As noted on this production schedule, The Beatles were the opening and closing act for the show. The band opened with a three-song set of She Loves You , This Boy , and All My Loving . Then, as thousands of screaming teenage girls patiently endured two songs by Mitzi Gaynor, and even worse, comedy bits by the team of Allen & Rossi and Myron Cohen, respectively, the band finally returned to close out the show with I Saw Her Standing There , From Me to You , and their number-one hit I Wanna Hold Your Hand . Beatles memorabilia relating to any of the group’s three Ed Sullivan Show appearances in 1964 is exceedingly rare, let alone a piece signed by all four band members. Obviously one of the employees involved in the production of the show seized the rare opportunity afforded by his or her close proximity to the group on this important occasion, and asked them to sign this unique production schedule document related to the show (possibly just because it was handy, as opposed to its great historical significance as a document available only onsite to the few employees involved in production of the show). This is not only one of the most significant Beatles signed items in existence, but an iconic piece of cultural history that transcends the hobby field. It is a museum-quality piece that would be equally at home in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, The Museum of Television and Broadcasting, or The Smithsonian Institution. The show schedule document (8.5 x 11 inches) displays one vertical and three horizontal fold lines (with two small areas of paper separation along two intersections), as well as general surface wear and a few small areas of toning. In Very Good condition overall. LOAs from PSA/DNA and James Spence/JSA. The reserve is $5,000.
The final date of bidding in this year’s auction will be Saturday, May 7. Bidding has just begun.
The lot can be viewed on the Internet at: http://bid.robertedwardauctions.com/bidplace.aspx?itemid=19915
The entire auction can be viewed via the REA website at www.robertedwardauctions.com.
Total sales for the event are expected to exceed $5 million.
Copies of the full-color premium catalog are available for free. To review the catalog online, learn more about Robert Edward Auctions, receive a complimentary copy of the catalog or inquire about consignments, visit http://www.robertedwardauctions.com. Robert Edward Auctions is currently assembling their next sale. For further information, contact Robert Edward Auctions, PO Box 7256, Watchung, NJ 07069, or call (908) 226-9900