Two handwritten Beatles set lists from live performances held in 1960 and 1963 are set to go on auction with Bonhams auction house on October, 28.
The setlists were written by Paul McCartney in The Beatles earliest years when he was just 17 and 20 years old - each is estimated at $150,000 – 250,000.
These are two of just eight Beatles set lists in existence that are handwritten by a member of the band.
The earliest list from 1960 is from a run of shows at The Grosvenor Ballroom in Liscard during the spring in 1960.
The Grosvenor Ballroom was part of the ecosystem of coffee bars, church halls, ballrooms and working men’s clubs where The Beatles first learned their craft.
Bonhams Senior Specialist of Popular Culture, Howard Kramer, told the Globe: “Well-preserved handwritten set lists represent rare and intimate moments in time, classifying them among the most covetable type of performance-related documents.
“These two set lists in Paul McCartney’s handwriting from 1960 and 1963 are astounding artifacts of The Beatles at two key points in their development.”
He added: “Each one offers a fascinating glimpse into the creative process behind early performances of a group that redefined rock and roll, and popular culture across the world.”
The set list details song titles from the Beatles’ primary musical influences, including Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry, among others.
The only Lennon-McCartney original included in this set is “One After 909,” one of their earliest collaborations, though it would not be formally released until 1970.
In addition to the song titles are marks and personal annotations from McCartney, including the phrase “FOR JOHN TO TRY” scrawled in all capital letters directly above the final song.
The latter setlist, written in 1963, is written on the back of a Parlophone Records publicity postcard, and notably is signed by all four members of the band, accompanied by the note, “lots of love Lorraine, from The Beatles.”
Of the few existing handwritten set lists, this is one of just two signed by each member.
This set list is from a performance by the band at the Majestic Ballroom in Luton on April 17, 1963.
At this moment in time, The Beatles were on the precipice of unprecedented success.
Song titles listed on this set include their newly released and soon to be first UK Number One hit, “From Me To You,” as well as three other original songs and six covers.
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