The Beatles Signed U.S.A. Ltd. Tour Program (1966). ...

Description

The Beatles Signed U.S.A. Ltd. Tour Program (1966). It is seldom that I am stunned when an item so rare and so beautiful surfaces. Well here we go. Finding the Beatles' 1966 U.S.A. limited program in any condition is becoming difficult, much less one that has been hand signed by the Fab Four. Not a lot of American signed tour programs are known to exist. This one is absolutely incomparable and a beauty.

The Beatles were fed up with touring by the time the 1966 American tour kicked off. In an interview from March 1966, John Lennon spoke about Christianity and rock n' roll. One of John's comments included: "We're more popular than Jesus now." In the U.K. it was barely noticed. The interview was also published in Datebook on July 29th, 1966. After that publication hit the newsstands, a major pushback and general furor ensued.

All within a few weeks before the US tour was scheduled to begin. The Beatles, as well as John Lennon, were getting threats. Brain Epstein trying to do damage control, salvage the tour and keep the Beatles safe, hired extra police officers at the concerts. The Western Maryland version of the KKK made it known of their displeasure and swore to protest, picket and disrupt the upcoming concert in Washington, D.C.

The D.C. police department was contacted to see if any off duty officers would be willing to help with added security. Beatles management hired five officers and each one, as the story goes, was given a signed program.

The signatures are found on the front cover of "Beatles (U.S.A.) Ltd." 1966 North American tour program, measuring approx: 12" by 12". All four have autographed the cover beautifully in blue ballpoint pen, by their respective image, on a photo taken by Robert Whitaker. Tour program is in Very Good Plus condition with some expected yellowing, corner bumping, bending and toning due to age.

In the late 1970s, one of these programs was given to a neighbor of the police officer that worked the event. When he passed away the program went to the neighbor's sister and was sold at an estate auction in Annapolis Maryland September of 2021.

This is a wonderful set of Beatles autographs from the year 1966, which is extremely scarce and desirable in any form. 1966 U.S tour programs signed by the Beatles are among the rarest of all signed Beatles items, with less than a handful materializing to date and as such they are highly coveted.

Also included is a Beatles fan club card. One side features images of the fab's with facsimile signatures. The other side shows fan club information. LOA from James Spence, COA from Frank Caiazzo, COA from Heritage Auctions, Notarized Statement from Consignor.

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