Beatles album auctions for USD 290,500

Los Angeles: A rare signed copy of The Beatles` Sgt Pepper`s Lonely Hearts Club Band has been sold for USD 290,500 at an auction. The item signed by all four members of the legendary band was purchased on March 31 by an unnamed buyer from the Midwest, said the Hollywood Reporter. An anonymous seller parted with the album through the Dallas-based Heritage Auctions, which ahead of the bidding estimated the album would sell for USD 30,000. The Fab Four are believed to have signed the cover near the June 1967 release of their eighth studio album. The previous record for a signed Beatles album cover was the USD 150,000 paid for a copy of Meet the Beatles. "With my being thoroughly immersed in Beatles collectibles for over 30 years, it takes something extraordinarily special to excite me, but I consider this to be one of the top two items of Beatles memorabilia I`ve ever seen - the other being a signed copy of Meet The Beatles," said Beatles expert Perry Cox ahead of the auction. PTI