Beatles contract to be auctioned

The musicians put their signatures to the agreement in January 1962 Enlarge Image

An original copy of the 1962 management contract signed by the Beatles and Brian Epstein is expected to fetch �250,000 at an auction in London.

The document, signed by all four musicians, will go on sale along with other Beatles items on 4 September.

Epstein delayed signing the contract for eight months - waiting until he had fulfilled his promise to secure the fab four their first record deal.

Ringo Starr signed the document under his real name, Richard Starkey.

Grand piano

The names and signatures of George Harrison and Paul McCartney's fathers also appear on the contract as the pair were under 21 and needed parental consent.

Epstein finally put his name to the agreement after signing the Beatles to EMI in October 1962, officially starting his management of the band from that moment.

The Beatles, pictured a year after signing with Epstein

The document states that he was entitled to 25% of the band's earnings provided they made �200 per week.

His duties included undertaking all publicity for the Beatles and advising them in matters of clothing, make-up and "construction of the artists' acts".

Other items to go under the hammer at the Idea Generation Gallery include a grand piano which was used in the recording of The White Album and Hey Jude, estimated to make up to �400,000.

The lyrics of Sexy Sadie, hand-engraved onto a piece of wood by John Lennon while he was in India in 1968, are expected to be sold for up to �55,000.

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