By The newspaper
Dec 24, 2023, 20:38 PM EST
A rare menu signed by the Beatles on their return flight from the Bahamas in 1965 sold for £7,800 at auction, equivalent to about $9,900, highlighting the lasting appeal and value of memorabilia associated with the iconic band.
While flying back from the Bahamas to New York’s JFK Airport and then on to London in March 1965, The Beatles, one of the most iconic bands in music history, left a unique memory for a flight attendant.
The menu from his British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) flight, aptly named ‘Beatles Bahamas Special’, recently sold for more than £7,000 at auction, sparking excitement among collectors and fans alike, trade site Zenger News reported. .
The Beatles: A menu with a musical legacy
The Beatles were returning from filming their second feature film, HELP!, and the menu on this particular flight offered more than just a seafood salad and a grilled steak.
It had the signatures of the Fab Four themselves, a fact that significantly increased its value and appeal. Described as “exceptional” by Alastair McCrea of Ewbank auctioneers, this memorabilia reflects the unique history of Beatles-related items on the collectors market.
The flight on which this menu was signed stood out not only for its famous passengers. When the Boeing 707 took off on February 26, 1965, 1,400 fans witnessed the departure, a testament to the Beatles’ immense popularity.
On the flight’s brief stopover in New York, the band remained on board, despite requests to clear US customs. John Lennon’s candid comment to a reporter about entertaining themselves on the plane: “Well, we got high,” was a momentous admission of the group’s drug use.
Auction day success
This menu was not the only Beatles-related item up for auction on December 14 at Ewbank’s Auctioneers in Guildford, Surrey. A BOAC Jet Club log book signed by John Lennon and Ringo Starr in 1966 also sold for more than $3,000.
It was signed by the daughter of a pilot who took the duo back to London. Other notable memorabilia was also seen at the auction, including original documents from the James Bond film ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ and signed letters from notable figures such as Winston Churchill.
The sale of the special Beatles Bahamas menu underscores the exceptional status of Beatles memorabilia in the rock and pop collectibles market.
“There are two markets: The Beatles and everyone else,” McCrea noted, emphasizing the group’s unique position. Even with a wealth of memorabilia and signatures available, the value of items associated with the Beatles remains remarkably high, especially when tied to specific events or moments in the band’s history.
In the world of musical memorabilia, the Beatles continue to reign and their impact on culture and collectors shows no signs of abating. As new generations discover their music, the demand and fascination for owning a piece of Beatles history seems to grow, making each auction a potential historic event.
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