Unpublished and never-before-seen photographs of the Beatles’ first visits to America in 1964 are to be sold at Christie’s in New York next July 20. The Beatles Illuminated: The Discovered Works of Mike Mitchell comprises 50 lots of black and white shots. They were taken by photographer Mike Mitchell when he was just 18 years old. Filed away for almost 50 years the complete rediscovered collection is expected to realize in the region of $100,000.On February 11, 1964, just two days after their American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, the Beatles performed their first US concert at the Washington Coliseum. The DC native shot dozens of intimate photographs. Mitchell had exceptional access to the events including their arrival at Union Station, the press conference preceding the performance and unrestricted, stage-front access for historic Coliseum concert. He took more photographs when they performed their first US concert tour at the Baltimore Civic Center on September 13, 1964.
The collection will be exhibited at Christie’s, South Kensington, London on June 11-12, at Grosvenor House Hotel in London from June 17-22 and at Christie’s in New York from July 11-20. (Images courtesy of CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2010 – click on any image to enlarge)
UPDATE: THE collection sold for over $360,000 in an auction that had been expected to bring in around $100,000. Prices ranged from $813 to $68,500. All lots were sold.