Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Lot #7147
Th Who

Estimate: $800+

The 30 Minute Rule begins June 18 at 7:00 PM EDT. An Initial Bid Must Be Placed By June 18 at 6:00 PM EDT To Participate After 6:00 PM EDT

Server Time: 5/19/2026 12:29:04 PM EDT
Sell a Similar Item?
Refer Collections and Get Paid

Description

Scarce ballpoint signatures of The Who during the brief window when they were known as the High Numbers, signed and inscribed on the front of a 4.75 x 4 album page, “To Janet, Pete Townshend,” “To Janet, Keith Moon,” and “Lots of love Janet, Roger Daltrey, xxx,” and on the reverse, “To Janet, Johnny Allison [John Entwistle].” A collector's notation dates the signatures to a concert at the Hippodrome in Brighton on August 9, 1964, about one month after the High Numbers released their only single, ‘Zoot Suit/I'm the Face,’ which, in essence, was also The Who’s first single. In fine condition, with blocks of toning. Encapsulated by Beckett Authentication Services. Early on in his musical career, and for only a brief time, John Entwistle adopted the stage name John Allison, a nominal tribute to his girlfriend and future wife, Alison Wise, whom he married in 1967.

The Who changed their name from The Detours in early 1964 after discovering another group, Johnny Devlin and the Detours, was already using the name. Pete Townshend and his roommate Richard Barnes spent a night brainstorming options before Barnes suggested ‘The Who,’ which Roger Daltrey chose the following morning. The name lasted only a few months before publicist and early manager Peter Meaden became involved with the group and encouraged them to embrace the emerging mod movement then sweeping Britain. Under Meaden's direction, the band adopted sharp mod fashions, changed their name to The High Numbers, and released the July 1964 single ‘Zoot Suit’ backed with ‘I'm the Face.’ After the single failed commercially and generated little radio attention, the group abandoned the High Numbers name and reverted to The Who later in 1964, soon afterward replacing Meaden with managers Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp.

Auction Info






This item is Pre-Certified by Real
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for (inquire for price)

*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.

Third-party authentication service applies only to signatures and handwriting, and does not cover the addition of sketches, artwork, musical quotations, etc.