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An unseen childhood snap of Sir Paul McCartney is being auctioned after a woman took it into The Beatles Shop – a stone’s throw from the band’s birthplace at The Cavern.
The picture shows Paul, wearing his school cap engrossed in a comic and surrounded by classmates from Joseph Williams School, Liverpool.
The candid image, taken in 1952 will be among 315 items of Beatles memorabilia auctioned on 29 August organised by the Beatles shop owner Stephen Bailey.
The haul also features a class photograph of drummer Ringo Starr, aged eight, sitting smartly dressed in shorts and a black jacket at St Silus School.
Stephen, manager at The Beatles Shop, said the recession could be responsible for a large amount of memorabilia being offered.
He said: “This is the earliest class photo [of Ringo] we have ever seen. And the photos of Paul as a cheeky schoolboy are a real delight.
“The woman just strolled in with them and asked us what we thought they were worth. We said they are amazing.
“It’s a great find and I’m sure we’ll find they’re worth quite a lot.
“This is our 19th annual memorabilia auction and you would have possibly thought that the Crown Jewels would have long since been found and sold but that is just not the case.
“I think that the present financial climate has concentrated people’s memories and the extra cash that they will make comes in handy at a time like this.”
Also on sale is a lithograph of producer Sir George Martin’s score for the Beatles song Yesterday.
The lithograph, complete with mistakes and tea stains, is numbered and hand signed by Sir Paul and Sir George. It is estimated to fetch £6,000.
Among the other items is a picture of Sir Paul, with his late wife Linda, posing on a pair of customised Shimano mountain bikes.
Both bikes feature individual artwork inspired by the pair’s shared love of music and the environment.
Thousands of Beatles fans from across the country are expected at the auction, which will be held in the Paul McCartney Auditorium at LIPA.