Katherine Schofield
Department Director
The Beatles
Lot 307
George Harrison: A three page autographed letter from George to Astrid Kirchherr,
circa September 1962,
Amended
5 May 2021, 11:00 BST
London, KnightsbridgeSold for £60,250 inc. premium
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Claire Tole-Moir
Head of Department
George Harrison: A three page autographed letter from George to Astrid Kirchherr,
circa September 1962,
written in blue ballpoint pen on white note paper, the insightful letter to Astrid following Pete Best's departure from the band, he writes We went to London to record 'Love Me Do', again...and do another song for the B [P.S I Love You], following on from discussing their music George shares the news John & I have both got new guitars - Gibson Jumbo country and western style, with a small guitar doodle in George's hand, he also mentions Paul's new car a Ford Classic - bigger than mine... and comments that their new band member Ringo is drumming very nice, signed off Cheerio, love from George 5in x 8in (12.75cm x 20.5cm)
written in blue ballpoint pen on white note paper, the insightful letter to Astrid following Pete Best's departure from the band, he writes We went to London to record 'Love Me Do', again...and do another song for the B [P.S I Love You], following on from discussing their music George shares the news John & I have both got new guitars - Gibson Jumbo country and western style, with a small guitar doodle in George's hand, he also mentions Paul's new car a Ford Classic - bigger than mine... and comments that their new band member Ringo is drumming very nice, signed off Cheerio, love from George 5in x 8in (12.75cm x 20.5cm)
Footnotes
Provenance:
From a Private German Collection
The kind letter from George updating his dear friend Astrid of his new address written at the top of the first page and again at the bottom of the last page as a reminder. George's move from Upton Green the family home he had lived since the age of 6 years old was a sign of the start of the band's success. He was still only 19 at this point, as he tells Astrid about a recent fight he had been in where he got a black eye. Followed shortly by being knocked down by a bus on his way home from the hospital. He goes on to tell her about recording "Love Me Do" and the re-recording of the B side which was originally, according to George, "How Do You Do".
On the third page of the letter George updates Astrid on the band's new look, which includes suits that are dark brown. Astrid, the quintessential Mod many believe was instrumental in starting the band's makeover, away from the Teddy-Boy look when she met them in Hamburg. Additionally to the new clothes George mentions excitedly about his and John's new Gibson jumbo guitars. These matching Gibson J-160s are documented being used at numerous concerts such as The Operation Big Beat in September 1962, and there are still images of them using the Gibson's performing for Granada TV. George also expresses joy at their new amplifiers, another sign that after all their hard work the band were starting to see some of their due rewards.
Saleroom notices
Please note this letter dates from 1963 and not as catalogued