McCartney Times

A remarkable letter in which Beatle George Harrison pleads poverty while at the same time boasting about a new Jaguar car he had just bought has come to light.Writing just as the Beatles were on the verge of international stardom, the lead guitarist appeared concerned songwriters Paul McCartney and John Lennon would become ‘very rich’ while he would be ‘poor and hungry’.

He then outlined a money-making idea he had of writing a book about the Beatles – and wrote to friend Astrid Kirchherr in August 1963 for help.

Kirchherr, a German, had been the fiancee of the so-called fifth Beatle Stuart Sutcliffe, who tragically died of a brain haemorrhage in April 1962.

Four months earlier Kirchherr had accompanied Paul, George and Ringo Starr on holiday to Tenerife and took some intimate photographs of the band.

He also included a tongue-in-cheek pic of his new Jaguar while lamenting his lifestyle.

He penned the six-page letter while staying at the Palace Court Hotel in Bournemouth, Dorset, where the Beatles were on a six-night residency of the town’s Gaumont Theatre.

Harrison complained that he was feeling run down and how his ‘balls have been aching…banging around on stage!’

The letter, in blue ballpoint pen and on Palace Court Hotel headed stationary, has now been put up for auction with Bonhams.

A Bonhams spokesman said: “It’s remarkable that, just as the group were experiencing the fruits of their burgeoning fame, George had an eye to the future and the possible lack of funds, compared to the money that John and Paul would have made by their songwriting.

“Of course, his doubts about financial success and longevity proved to be unfounded, following the full onset of Beatlemania!”

Source: George Harrison wrote letter in 1963 pleading poverty – and included a pic of his new Jaguar – Mirror Online