Rarest U.S. Beatles Record Fetches $35,000

A rare Beatles promotional record, featuring the songs “Ask Me Why” and “Anna,” has fetched $35,000 (after buyers premium) in an auction on July 24th. The record, a 45 by Vee Jay Records released in 1964 (Vee-Jay Special DJ No. 8), is thought to be extremely the rarest Beatles Promo released in the United States. It’s believed that only five or six copies were ever produced.

It’s also one of the top rare vinyl sales of 2012. “This is the highest-priced vintage (record) vinyl sale I’ve seen all year.” Says James Massey publisher of WhatSellsBest.com , a website tracking rare item sales worldwide.

According to (the seller) Heritage Auctions; “This is, by far, the rarest Beatles 45 in the entire USA, period. Purportedly as few as five copies of this promotional 45 were ever produced (for reasons still unclear to this day).”

According to Ultimate Beatles Collection; “The record was given out to a few Los Angeles radio stations in 1964 to test the market for the single.” UBC claims there are only six (6) examples known, which is one more than Heritage’s claim of five (5). Either way it appears to be extremely rare.

Source: WhatSellsBest.com