A rare 'reverse' photograph of the Beatles taken during the Abbey Road album cover shoot has exceeded its estimate by 77%.
 A great game of spot the difference for Beatles fans |
The May 22 sale saw frenzied bidding at the auction house's London showroom, as Beatlemania set in once again. The photograph soared past its estimate of £7,000-9,000, to achieve an impressive £16,000 ($25,157).
There is a fantastic signed photograph of Ringo Starr in PFC Auctions' current sale, offering great value with a minimum bid of just £200. View the full range of Beatles memorabilia on offer here.
The rare image showed the Beatles, led by John Lennon, making their way over the crossing at Abbey Road in the opposite direction to the famous 1969 album cover. It also featured some slight alterations to the final image, increasing its worth to collectors.
The original photograph showed Paul McCartney walking barefoot across the street - in this image he is wearing a chunky pair of sandals. Paul is also pictured smoking on the album cover, but the cigarette is concealed in the reversed shot.
Surviving images from the shoot were made rarer by the conditions in which the photographer had to work. Iain Macmillan stood perched on a ladder taking the shots while a policeman halted traffic, allowing just 10 minutes to take the perfect photograph.
The value of the piece could have been pushed even higher if the image had been signed by one of the Beatles. According to the PFC40 Autograph Index, signed Fab Four photographs have shown a 6.67% pa rise between 2010 and 2011, providing a great opportunity for investors.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has this superb autographed drawing from John Lennon in stock. Another sketch by Lennon and Yoko Ono sold for £20,000 in 2005, making this a promising addition to any portfolio.
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