Lot 57 – The Beatles 1963 Autographed Large Format Menu Leeds (UK)

Description

A large format gatefold menu from the Kee Hong Chinese restaurant in Leeds, England that has been beautifully autographed on the reverse by The Beatles in blue ballpoint pen on the occasion when the group visited the restaurant. Paul McCartney has added the group name ‘Beatles’ above his name. The menu has also been autographed by the Vernons Girls who were also a Liverpool based act. The menu was signed on 3rd November 1963 when The Beatles were in Leeds to perform at the Odeon Cinema, the Vernons Girls were one of the support acts on the bill. On the night Beatles performed 10 songs, ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, ‘From Me To You’, ‘All My Loving’, ‘You Really Got A Hold On Me’, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, ‘Boys’, ‘Till There Was You’, ‘She Loves You’, ‘Money (That’s What I Want)’ and ‘Twist And Shout’.
When opened the menu measures 43cm x 27.75cm (16.8 inches x 11 inches). The condition of the menu is excellent. By accident or by design this menu has been stored over the years by the owner under perfect conditions. The strength and clarity of the autographs don’t appear to have changed at all since they were signed on 3rd November 1963 by the group. The signatures are still in mint condition – very bold and clear. A classic set of 1963 Beatles autographs.
Provenance: accompanied by a letter from the son of the owner of the Kee Hong Chinese restaurant, a man named Samuel Lee, who obtained the signatures. It reads:
‘In the late 1950s my father owned a Chinese Laundry in Leeds. The white shirts were starched using copious amounts of rice water my mother had from cooking our family meals. Customers were always asking “What are those wonderful smells?” wafting in from the back of the shop where we lived in cramped conditions. My dad hit on an idea and in the early 60s sold the laundry and opened up what was to become the choice for International Dining in Leeds, called Kee Hong Chinese Restaurant. It was amongst the first to offer truly authentic Chinese cuisine. It became so popular a second restaurant had to be opened soon after. Also in Leeds was and still is the Legendary City Varietie Music Hall. From the 50s the BBC aired a prime time show which presented on stage on stage stars galore from the music and entertainment world: After performing many “enjoyed life and dined often” at the Kee Hong. The Beatles appeared at the much larger Odeon Leeds Cinema, twice in 1963 and once in 1964. It was after one of the ’63 concerts when they also came to dine. My dad asked the Fab Four if they would sign a menu as a souvenir of their visit to the Kee Hong Restaurant on Boar Lane. The Vernon Girls, dining at the same table also very kindly added their signatures. This menu has been in my family’s possession “in the loft” until now’.
RESERVE £10,000