The offered television broadcast title card features the photos of all for Beatles and was used during the opening and/or closing title sequences for the British TV show Thank Your Lucky Stars when the band appeared on June 29, 1963. A woman from the wardrobe department at Alpha Television Studios in Birmingham boldly swiped the card at the end of the taping, and then she had the further nerve to get all four Beatles to sign it for her daughter, Karen! The result is an astoundingly gorgeous set of autographs on an actual performance-used production piece from the 1963 period when The Beatles were ascending to British super-stardom. Remarkable.
The episode was actually taped on June 23, 1963, and the show used the title Summer Spin during the summer months. That special episode featured Mersey Beat groups, such as The Beatles, that had come out of the era-defining music scene in Liverpool during the preceeding few years. The Beatles performed "From Me to You" and "I Saw Her Standing There." Unfortunately, the title card is the only artifact to survive from that June 23 taping of the show--no video or audio was saved. There are only a few images of the boys performing, posing for photographers backstage, and in a group shot with the other bands, but that is it. (see photos at left)
The four have all signed in dark, blue pen, with Paul McCartney taking care of the inscription, he writes, "To Karen Love Paul McCartney (Beatles XXX)." George Harrison has penned, "Lots of love from George Harrison XXX," and Ringo Star and John Lennon singed their names, as the others did, right near their photos, "Ringo Starr XXX" and "John Lennon XXXX." That's one extra kiss from John! Other known exemplars from this early period often include the "XXX" after the signatures of the band members. Between January 1963 and April 1965, The Beatles appeared or were featured on Thank Your Lucky Stars (or the summer version Summer Spin) a total of 12 times. The show was instrumental in their early success.
The title card would have been used as a backdrop as the credits rolled at the start and/or end of the show. It is hand painted on heavy art board, and the Beatles faces were printed by a stat camera and hand cut and applied (stat cameras were used to make "camera ready" artwork for print and broadcast media in the period). The studio art department would have been careful to use dark blacks and light whites to make sure it showed up for the cameras of the period. There is a large Roman numeral "I" written in grease pencil on the reverse. The card could have also been used for The Beatles' previous Thank Your Lucky Stars appearance in May when they were also the top-billed act. The card is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Beckett Authentic. The card measures 12 x 10 inches and presents with just a small bit of wear to the corners and edges. A small white touch up was made to the far right section, certainly in the period. All that said, it is still in stunning Near Mint condition.