Beatles Autographs and George Harrison’s String to Fetch Thousands

A rare set of autographs from The Beatles, along with a broken guitar string belonging to George Harrison, is expected to sell for thousands at an upcoming auction. The items, collected by a teenage fan in 1963, could fetch between £4,014 and £5,352 when they go under the hammer at Richard Winterton Auctioneers in Lichfield, Staffordshire, on February 2, 2024.

Elizabeth Salt, then known as Elizabeth McBrierty, obtained the autographs after a concert at the Savoy Ballroom in Southsea, Portsmouth, on April 7, 1963. At just 15 years old, she had the opportunity to meet her idols shortly after they performed. During the show, Harrison famously broke a guitar string, and quick-thinking Elizabeth seized the moment to collect it as a keepsake.

Elizabeth reminisced about the day, stating, “I remember going with my friend who bought Love Me Do in late 1962. That was when it started – we just got obsessed with them.” She described how, after the concert, she and other fans crowded into a room where the band was, eagerly asking for autographs.

A poignant moment occurred when Elizabeth’s father insisted she wash off the signatures from her arm, fearing it might lead to “blood poisoning.” “I was heartbroken,” she recalled, but fortunately, she retained her autograph book, which is filled with signatures from other musical icons of the era, including The Rolling Stones, Cliff Richard, and Bobby Vee.

The auctioned album is considered a remarkable tribute to a vibrant period in British pop culture. At the time, Beatlemania was just beginning to sweep the nation, following the release of their debut single. Elizabeth, now 79 and a grandmother of four, has remained a devoted Beatles fan throughout her life.

In addition to the Beatles’ signatures, the album also features another autograph from Harrison, as well as those of Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Notably, it also includes the complete set of The Rolling Stones signatures, including Brian Jones, which she collected during a performance at the same venue.

Rob French, an ephemera valuer at Richard Winterton Auctioneers, praised the collection, stating, “This is one of the finest 1960s autograph books I’ve had the pleasure of cataloguing. What makes this book so special is the fact that it contains the signatures of all The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, plus more from some of the biggest names in pop music from the 1960s.”

Elizabeth’s passion for music led her to numerous concerts, including one where she and her friends camped outside for tickets, capturing the youthful fervor of a generation captivated by rock and roll. As the auction date approaches, the anticipation builds for what these cherished items will bring in the market, reflecting not just nostalgia but also the enduring legacy of one of music’s most celebrated eras.