shyGirl
Dec 04, 2002, 09:50 AM
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0800beatles/0050news/page.cfm?objectid=12422672&method=full&siteid=50061
A legendary early photo of John Lennon and Paul McCartney has been withdrawn from auction.
The picture, taken in 1959, is thought to be one of the first of John and Paul on stage. It was expected to reach £8,000 at Sotheby's today (Tuesday, December 3).
But Beatles author Sam Leach has pulled the picture from the sale after a row broke out over who owns it.
Mr Leach claims he has owned it for 42 years after buying the negative and copyright from the paper which printed it, the West Derby Reporter, for £5.
But he says original Beatle Pete Best has now claimed it is his.
Mr Leach said: "I have owned the photo for 42 years and have reproduced it for people all over the world.
"I decided to sell it off at auction and raise some money and it was expected to reach thousands.
"But suddenly Pete Best and his representatives are claiming he owns the photo and copyright. It has come out of the blue.
"He is trying to stop me from selling it by claiming he owns it because he commissioned the West Derby Reporter."
The photo shows the pair at the Casbah Club, Hope Street, owned by Pete's mum Mo Best.
The Quarrymen, Lennon's original band, played at the opening of the club on Saturday August 29, 1959 and for the following six Saturdays.
Mr Leach added: "I phoned Pete yesterday and asked him what he had done. He told me the photo is his despite the fact I have owned it for years."
Pete Best's brother Roag said today: "It will be sorted out over the next couple of weeks."
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http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/rocknroll.gif
Song of the moment-Wonderful Christmastime
shyGirl's Hideout (http://www.geocities.com/smw15/index.html)
"I get shy when they start to stare."
A legendary early photo of John Lennon and Paul McCartney has been withdrawn from auction.
The picture, taken in 1959, is thought to be one of the first of John and Paul on stage. It was expected to reach £8,000 at Sotheby's today (Tuesday, December 3).
But Beatles author Sam Leach has pulled the picture from the sale after a row broke out over who owns it.
Mr Leach claims he has owned it for 42 years after buying the negative and copyright from the paper which printed it, the West Derby Reporter, for £5.
But he says original Beatle Pete Best has now claimed it is his.
Mr Leach said: "I have owned the photo for 42 years and have reproduced it for people all over the world.
"I decided to sell it off at auction and raise some money and it was expected to reach thousands.
"But suddenly Pete Best and his representatives are claiming he owns the photo and copyright. It has come out of the blue.
"He is trying to stop me from selling it by claiming he owns it because he commissioned the West Derby Reporter."
The photo shows the pair at the Casbah Club, Hope Street, owned by Pete's mum Mo Best.
The Quarrymen, Lennon's original band, played at the opening of the club on Saturday August 29, 1959 and for the following six Saturdays.
Mr Leach added: "I phoned Pete yesterday and asked him what he had done. He told me the photo is his despite the fact I have owned it for years."
Pete Best's brother Roag said today: "It will be sorted out over the next couple of weeks."
------------------
http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/rocknroll.gif
Song of the moment-Wonderful Christmastime
shyGirl's Hideout (http://www.geocities.com/smw15/index.html)
"I get shy when they start to stare."