Sold For $21,889
*Includes Buyers Premium
Exceptionally rare and desirable Parlophone UK first pressing of the Beatles' debut single, 'Love Me Do / P.S. I Love You,' signed in black ballpoint on the A-side label, "John Lennon, xxx" and "Ringo Starr, xxx," and on the B-side label, "Paul McCartney, xxx" and "George Harrison." Desirably, a second Parlophone UK first pressing of 'Love Me Do’ is included, with this example signed on the B-side label in black ballpoint, “Paul McCartney, xxx” and “George Harrison.” These first pressings have the 'Type 1' label with "Made in Gt. Britain" below the Parlophone logo and have a "ZT" tax code and matrix numbers of "7XCE 17144-1N" and "7XCE 17145-1N." Both records include their original rainbow-colored Parlophone sleeve. In overall fine condition, with ownership notations to the McCartney/Harrison record.
Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Tracks, a letter of authenticity from Beatles expert Perry Cox for the McCartney/Harrison-signed record, and a letter of provenance from the original recipient: “As an avid Beatles fan, I rushed out in my lunch hour to buy this record at NEMS music store (5 Oct), Whitechapel, Liverpool. (It was Brian Epstein’s family business). All four signed it at their next show at the Cavern Club.”
‘Love Me Do’ was released in the United Kingdom on October 5, 1962, the same date the Beatles performed at the Co-operative Hall in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England. Their next show at the Cavern Club occurred on October 7, 1962, which served as the launch night for their first single, ‘Love Me Do.’
Perhaps most interesting about this single is the rarity of the music itself – only the first UK pressings used the 'Love Me Do' track recorded in the studio with Ringo Starr as the drummer. Dissatisfied with Ringo's work, producer George Martin hired Andy White as a session drummer and had them record a second version. All future British pressings of the single, the American release, and their Please Please Me debut album used the track featuring White on the drums; the version of the song on this 45 has only been sporadically re-released on compilation albums of rare or unusual Beatles recordings.
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