For sale, the Cartier watch that helped keep The Beatles punctual: Brian Epstein’s timepiece is among lots at Fab Four auction that also features John Lennon’s school detention sheet and a pair of his glasses
The first time Brian Epstein met The Beatles they were late.
The unruly young musicians had stopped off at a Liverpool pub on their way from the Cavern Club.
Notorious for their slack timekeeping, Epstein knew the first thing he had to do with his new band was instill some professionalism.
Brian Epstein’s Hullabaloo TV show. Pictured in 1965. Under his management, the Beatles were soon hectically busy and depended on his meticulous planning to keep them on track
Under his management, they were soon hectically busy and depended on his meticulous planning to keep them on track.
Now the watch that he used is to go under the hammer at Sotheby’s.
Though ‘scratched and scuffed’, the lady’s 18-karat white gold Cartier watch is set to fetch up to £25,000.
It was worn by Epstein during The Beatles world tour of 1966, a year before he died from an overdose at 32.
The wristwatch belonging to Epstein has been put up for auction
The sale of the band’s memorabilia – which will run from today until October 1 – also includes Epstein’s address book.
Dating from 1967, the little black book’s pages teem with famous names, including Elvis Presley’s manager Colonel Tom Parker, singer Marianne Faithfull and photographer David Bailey.
It is expected to reach between £6,000 and £8,000.
Another item for sale is John Lennon’s first pair of Windsor round glasses. The pair, which he gave to his former housekeeper Dot Jarlett, are expected to fetch between £30,000 and £40,000.
His detention sheet, from his Liverpool schooldays at Quarry Bank Grammar School in the 1950s, is another highlight.
It records the rebellious pupil’s 22 detentions in under eight weeks and is valued at £3,000 to £5,000.
The sale will also offer a guitar inscribed by Lennon in the 1970s, as well as a first pressing of the band’s first single ‘Love Me Do’ signed by all four Beatles, which is expected to fetch up to £20,000.
George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr of the Liverpudlian pop group The Beatles with their manager Brian Epstein at the premiere of their first film ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ on July 6, 1964
Sotheby’s director Gabriel Heaton said: ‘I hate the phrase ‘Swinging Sixties’ but you open the address book and you can’t help but feel you are in the middle of swinging London in the 1960s.
‘Obviously it is not surprising that he knew the Rolling Stones and Bailey the photographer, and Col Tom Parker but it is just fantastic to see them all listed together.
‘Part of his job was keeping the boys on time.
‘He gave this sense of needing to really operate a tight ship, meet deadlines, be where they were supposed to be. He instilled that work ethic.’
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