Lot 66 – The Beatles 1962 Autographed Love Me Do Single Dawson’s Music Shop Widnes (UK)

Description

An extremely rare UK 7” vinyl first pressing of The Beatles debut single ‘Love Me Do’, released on 5th October 1962, that has been signed by the group on the B-side in dark blue ballpoint pen.
The signatures of Paul McCartney and George Harrison are extremely bold, parts of John Lennon’s and Ringo Starr’s autographs have been signed on the silver printing of the word ‘Parlophone’. The condition of the vinyl is good. The condition of the autographs is very good.
Provenance: obtained at a signing session at Dawson’s music shop, Widnes, England on the afternoon of 6th October 1962. This was one of only 4 official signing sessions which were held by The Beatles in the UK. The other sessions were held at: The Music Shop, Widnes which also took place on 6th October 1962; Brian Epstein’s NEMS record shop in Liverpool on 24th January 1963 to coincide with the release of the group’s second single, ‘Please Please Me’; Southern Area Fan Convention which took place at Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, London on 14th December 1963.
The single comes with the letter from the daughter of the original recipient of the signatures that reads:
‘This copy of The Beatles first single was bought and owned by my late Mother,
Pamela Ward (née McGrath) who sadly passed away on the 5th April 2023 in Widnes. She had cherished this record and her interaction with The Beatles for 59 years and looked back on the day of the record signing with fond memories.
‘Love Me Do’ was released on Friday 5th October 1962. The following day the band held their first ever official signing session. The event took place at Dawson’s Music Shop, 29 Albert Road in Widnes at 4 pm on Saturday 6th October 1962.
Pamela was 17 years old at the time and was working in Woolworths on the ice cream counter. There was a real buzz around the town when news got out that The Beatles were visiting and mum was thrilled after seeing them play live at the Queens Hall in Widnes on Monday 17° September. They were supported at that gig by a band from Runcorn called Sonny Kaye and the Reds. Pamela asked her manager if she could take her break to coincide with the time of the record signing and rushed to Dawson’s Music Shop to join the queue. Not only did mum get her treasured single signed but she also got a kiss from each of them which led to her being late back to work and a threat of the sack from her unhappy manager’.
This fabulous, signed record is completely fresh to the market. It comes directly from the family whose mother obtained the signatures at the Dawson’s signing and it hasn’t seen the light of day in over 60 years. It was one of the last wishes of Mrs. Mcgrath that the autographed disc should find a good home. Signed records are very thin on the ground these days and this being an autographed copy of The Beatles first British single release will undoubtably make it a very sound investment for the successful bidder.
RESERVE £12,000