A sealed copy of the Beatles' Yesterday and Today with its controversial original "Butcher Cover" is to cross the block at Heritage Auctions.

The record was released by Capitol in the US in June 1966 and features tracks from three British-release Beatles albums. 

The photograph was taken during a shoot with Robert Whitaker in 1966

The graphic photograph on the cover comes from a 1966 shoot with Robert Whitaker, titled A Somnambulant Adventure.

The band were apparently sick of dull photoshoots and decided to introduce some surreal elements.

The image was never intended as an album cover, but the band insisted it be used - with McCartney in particular keen to use it as a statement on the war in Vietnam.

However, many of the radio station executives and journalists who received advance copies of the record were unimpressed and put pressure on Capitol to change it.

Heritage explains: "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."

It's expected to sell for in excess of $38,000 on February 20.

Another sealed copy of the album displaying the Butcher Cover made $38,837 in a 2006 sale at Heritage Auctions.

We have this autograph album page signed by all four Beatles for sale.

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