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201 - Beatles used Chair from A McBean's stud

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The chair from photographer Angus McBean's studio used in one of the Beatles earliest and most famous photo shoots, 1963
A late seventeenth century style chair upholstered in red velvet used in one of The Beatles earliest and most well known photo shoots, one of which was used most notably on the cover of their first US album released in July 1963 Introducing The Beatles, where John sits on the chair surrounded by the rest of the band. Estimate on request.

In a photo session at McBean's Endell St Studio in London in early, 1963, McBean took a very memorable shot that had George and Ringo standing behind a seated John with Paul sitting cross-legged in front. It was used on the cover of the Beatles LP, and picture sleeve for the 'Please Please Me'/'From Me To You' single. The album cover used the uncropped photo, showing the studio wall, George's shadow and even a ceiling beam in the far top right corner. The odd thing is that the beam would have appeared in the top left corner had Vee Jay not flipped the image - notice how John and Ringo's wrist watches appear on their right arms while they are on the left on the EP cover. The photo on both the UK EP and VEE Jay single picture sleeve were close cropped, eliminating the background. The last of the three McBean photos used on a Beatles release is similar to the one on the cover of 'The Beatles Hits' and 'Introducing The Beatles'. John is still seated, however it is close up where Paul's face is nearer John's and George and Ringo are crouched in back. This image was also used on the twentieth anniversary 1982 reissue of the 'Love Me Do' single. The lot is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Angus McBean's assistant at the time David Ball.
literature: Beatology Magazine - Vol. 2 No. 3

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