Monday, May 14, 2007

Putting a price on memories of the Fab 4 (or 5 )


Putting a price on memories of the Fab 4 (or 5)
May 8 2007
by Sarah Chapman, Liverpool Echo

IT could be Beatles for sale after fans of the Fab Four raided their attics for rare pieces of memorabilia.
Previously undiscovered treasures such as a book signed by a 15-year-old John Lennon and love letters from “fifth Beatle” Stuart Sutcliffe were taken along to a valuation event at the Albert Dock.

The Beatles Story museum had arranged for valuers from Beatles and pop specialist dealer Tracks to take a look at the items.
Valuer Jason Cornthwaite carried out free valuations with Paul Wane.
He said a steady stream of around 100 people came through the doors on Sunday and yesterday clutching records, autographs, paintings and photographs.

Mr Cornthwaite said: “We’ve had some really interesting stuff.
“There was a school textbook which had been signed by John Lennon in 1955 and that was valued at £1,250.
“A man came in with a dictionary which was signed by George Harrison and we also saw a card which belonged to John Lennon when he was in the RAF Cadets.
“The most valuable thing we’ve looked at were Beatles autographs signed at the Grafton in 1962 and they’re worth £1,800.”

Sheila Garbe a former girlfriend of a teenage Stuart Sutcliffe, the Beatles’ original bass guitarist, went to the valuation with a large collection of his letters, some of which are nine pages long and could be worth more than £1,000. Mrs Garbe, 67, of Halewood Village, had a relationship with him after meeting him when she worked at Vernon’s Pools.


Stuart Sutcliffe, who died in 1962, was studying at Liverpool College of Art.
She said: “Stuart wrote me love letters which also contain poems for me.
“They are very personal and the valuer has been the first person who’s ever read them apart form me, so it has been a bit strange.”
news@liverpoolecho.co.uk

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