A sealed, first state copy of the Beatles' infamous Butcher Cover LP was the star lot of Heritage Auctions' entertainment memorabilia sale on February 20.

It sold for $125,000.

The photograph comes from a 1966 shoot with Robert Whittaker

The image was never intended to be used as an album cover. It comes from a 1966 photoshoot by Robert Whittaker titled A Somnambulant Adventure.

However, Paul McCartney was very keen to use it as a statement on the Vietnam War and chose it for the cover of a US-only greatest hits record, titled Yesterday & Today.  

It proved unpopular with many of the DJs and journalists, who threatened to boycott it unless the artwork was changed.

Most copies of the record were released with a pasted on generic cover, but a few first state copies remain in circulation.

Heritage comments: "A very limited number of 'first state' albums got out and were kept by journalists, radio stations, and record company executives…

"Again, a much smaller number of these were never removed from their shrink wrap.

"An infinitesimal number of those still-sealed examples were kept in the beautiful condition of this one. This is a worthy addition to even the most advanced Beatle collections."

Paul Fraser Collectibles paid $35,000 for a lock of John Lennon's hair in the same auction, read all about it here.

We have an incredible selection of Beatles memorabilia for sale.  

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