The contract that launched the Beatles as one of the most successful bands of all time has been sold for £365,000 at auction in London.

Signed almost 53 years ago to the day, just before the release of their first single Love Me Do, it was the only contract signed between manager Brian Epstein and the final line-up of John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.

An anonymous buyer bought the contract at Sotheby’s auction house, which was drawn up on October 1, 1962.

Epstein, who died in 1967, was acknowledged as the “fifth Beatle" by McCartney and “one of us” by John Lennon.

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