A letter marking a key stage in the break-up of the Beatles pop group is to go under the hammer on May 5 and should fetch up to $115,000, leading auction house Christie’s said.

Dated April 18, 1969, the letter reveals a growing split between Paul McCartney and fellow members of the legendary British band.

Signed by John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, it informs Lee Eastman — father of McCartney’s wife Linda — that he was not authorised to be the Beatles’ legal representative. Lennon, Harrison and Starr wanted Rolling Stones manager Allen Klein to take on their band. McCartney, however, favoured his wife’s father, music lawyer Eastman.

The single sheet of yellowing, typewritten paper tells Eastman: “This is to inform you of the fact that you are not authorised to act or hold yourself out as the Attourney (sic) or legal representative of ‘The Beatles’ or of any of the companies which the Beatles own or control. “We recognise that you are authorised to act for Paul McCartney, personally, and in this regard we will instruct our representative to give you the fullest co-operation.”

The Beatles’ partnership was dissolved in court on January 9, 1975. Remembering the band’s gradual split, band drummer Starr later said it was: “...like the wind-down to a divorce. A divorce doesn’t just happen suddenly, there are months and years of misery until you finally say ‘Oh, let’s end it.’”

The letter will be sold in London as part of a pop memorabilia auction, which also includes guitars played by The Who’s Pete Townshend and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys among more than 300 items. afp


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