Beatles-signed Cavern member card on sale for £25k

A rare Cavern Club membership card signed 21 times by The Beatles before they were famous has been put up for sale for nearly £25,000.

The 1961 Liverpool club booklet was signed by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and original drummer Pete Best.

The signatures date from when the band were aged between 18 and 20, and before Best was dropped and replaced by Ringo Starr.

The card has been uncovered by rock and pop memorabilia specialists Fab Four Memorabilia, and has been listed for sale with a price tag of £24,950.

The membership card was sent in 1961 or early 1962 to a teenage girl living in Endwell, New York by a pen pal in Liverpool.

Lennon signed his name twice, adding "again" above his second signature,

McCartney also signed twice, writing "once again" beneath his name.

Harrison also added his signature, while Best signed the booklet 16 times, with one inscription marking "the final time".

Alfie Evans, of Fab Four Memorabilia, said: "It's the only one in the world.

"Anything signed by The Beatles multiple times is very unusual."

He added: "The girl explained to Pete that he was her favourite and so he signed it 16 times.

"But at the time, Pete was a lot of people's favourites."

"There was a protest at the Cavern Club when Ringo Starr replaced him with the crowd chanting: 'Bring back Pete'."

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