Paul McCartney says he's stopping signing autographs

Paul McCartney in Reader's Digest says he's stopped signing autographs and isn't keen on selfies, either.

"It always struck me as a bit strange - 'here, can I write your name down on the back of this till receipt please?' Why? We both know who I am."

....The 'Let it Be' hitmaker also doesn't understand why anyone would want a poor-quality selfie with the 79-year-old icon and insisted he would rather have a nice chat with his fans.

He added: "What you've usually got is a ropey photo with a poor backdrop and me looking a bit miserable. Let's chat, let's exchange stories." 

Up for auction: Autographed postcard by the pre-Ringo Beatles

Via Heritage Auctions:

A Beatles postcard with "April 5th 1962" printed on it, signed and inscribed by original drummer Pete Best, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and John Lennon in blue ballpoint ink. Paul's, George's, and John's inscriptions are in German. Also signed by Beatle's good friend Roy Young who is seen playing piano in photo. Matted with black and white photo of the group circa that era playing in a German venue. Matted to an overall 12" x 16". Postcard is in Very Good Minus condition with soiling along the bottom portion. Photo is in Very Good Plus condition. COA from Heritage Auctions.

Signed menu from Beatles' "stoned" flight to Bahamas up for auction

An airline menu autographed by all four Beatles and a few of their "Help!" co-stars is up for bid this month.

The item was signed on the group's charter flight to Nassau in the Bahamas on Feb. 22, 1965, to shoot scenes for the film. On the way down, they killed time by smoking a stash of marijuana provided by child star Brandon De Wilde (the kid in "Shane), who was along for the ride.

Autographs from co-stars in the Beatles' film, Eleanor Bron, Roy Kinnear appear on the menu, too, along with one from Billy Wyatt - not sure who that is. Anyone know?

Hotel registry signed by Beatles up for auction

A hotel registry book signed by all four Beatles in 1962 is expected to sell for up to £10,000 at auction.

The 1962 document from The Bull Hotel in Peterborough was filled in by the Fab Four ahead of a gig in the town with John Lennon and Paul McCartney perhaps expecting to bring some friends back to the room.

While Lennon wrote on the form there would 33 people staying in his room, McCartney went 15 better with 58.

John Lennon's butcher cover up for auction

John Lennon's personal, signed copy of the Beatles' "butcher cover" of the U.S. Yesterday and Today LP is up for bid via Heritage Auctions.

Lennon traded the record with a collector for a tape copy of the early Beatles' bootleg Yellow Matter Custard, which featured a batch of the band's BBC recordings. I'd say John lost in the exchange!

Here's the listing:

Beatles - John Lennon's Personal Stereo "Butcher Cover" Prototype with His Original Artwork on the Blank Back and Signatures of Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr on the Front. The Rarest Beatle Record in the World. The term "world class" is probably a bit over-used in describing collectibles. Labeling this unique, rare, and desirable Beatles item as "World Class" is not hyperbole. If anything, it does not do it justice. Offered here is the Yesterday And Today Stereo Prototype "Butcher Cover" that was owned by John Lennon and even displayed on the wall of his Dakota apartment until the point where he had an assistant take it down and deliver it to the Record Plant where he signed it in blue ink: "To Dave from/ John Lennon/ Dec 7th 71". The recipient was Dave Morrell, a Beatles fan and bootleg collector who was in the studio showing John some of his memorabilia and bootleg material. The Butcher was given in essentially a trade for a reel-to-reel tape of the Yellow Matter Custard bootleg that Lennon desired. Lennon filled the blank back of the cover with an original piece of art in black ink. It fills the cover and depicts a man with a shovel and his dog, both posed in front of a setting sun. Interestingly, he incorporated various tears, stains, and flaws into the picture.

So far, we have a rare album cover owned and displayed by Beatle John Lennon with his autograph on the front and a piece of his original art on the back. That is enough to make it "world class." Agreed? Well, the original owner Dave Morrell managed to obtain later two additional Beatle autographs: a bold black felt tip signature "Ringo Starr" and a blue ink signature "Paul McCartney", each across their respective images. "Icing on the cake" to coin a phrase. Included with this lot is a signed Letter of Authenticity from noted Beatle autograph expert Frank Caiazzo (text below). Also includes letters of authenticity from both Gary Hein and Perry Cox (see online description at HA.com for full letters). In Gary Hein's words: ""There is no Beatles album in the world that compares with this one, in my professional opinion, in terms of both Rarity and Value." We don't feel the need to emphasize further the importance of this piece to the Beatle collector, or the Art collector, or the Pop Culture collector, or the Record collector. Don't let this one pass you by! The rarest Beatle record in the world. From the Stan Panenka Beatles Vinyl Collection.

Text of Letter of Authenticity from Frank Caiazzo dated July 18, 2005:

"To Whom It May Concern,

"The purpose of this letter is to serve as authentication of the signature and artwork of John Lennon, as well as the signatures of Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. This is contained on an exceptionally rare blank back stereo 'butcher cover' for The Beatles 1966 LP release 'Yesterday And Today,' which was John Lennon's personal copy. All three have signed very nicely on the front cover. The blank back cover contains an amazing piece of art work, done entirely by Lennon, in which he incorporates tears, holes and stains into the actual art itself. This item was originally obtained in late 1971 by Dave Morrell, a bootleg collector who wound up befriending John and giving him a bootleg record. To show his appreciation, John gave Mr. Morrell his personal butcher and signed with a bubble coming out of his mouth, 'To Dave' and also dated December 7, 1971. The signatures of McCartney and Starr were obtained at later dates, in person by Dave Morrell himself. Needless to say, this is an amazing signed Beatles item, and the extra Lennon artwork and the fact that this was his personal LP cover, combine to make this a world class Beatles collectible.

"I hereby guarantee the authenticity of the aforementioned Beatles 'Yesterday And Today' album cover which has been signed and drawn on by John Lennon, and additionally signed Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. This guarantee is without time limit."

When John Lennon forged the Beatles' autographs

A newspaper photo featuring Beatles autographs forged by John Lennon is up for auction.

The signature for McCartney resembles nothing like his autograph but Lennon's attempt to copy the impressions of Harrison and Starr were described as 'rather good'.

But because they were faked by Lennon they are still worth about the same as if all four had signed them.