Unique Beatles Photos to Be Sold at Auction

Five previously unknown colour slides from the Beatles’ first concert outside the UK after their breakthrough are being sold at the Autumn Quality Auction at Karlstad Hammarö Auktionsverk. The seller is photographer Börje Nygren, who was fifteen years old when the concert took place in Karlstad on 25 October 1963. The sale includes the full economic rights © (copyright).

The images were taken during the first of two concerts that The Beatles performed in the auditorium of Sundsta School, Karlstad, on 25 October 1963. This was the very first appearance on the band’s short Swedish tour – their first tour outside the UK after their major breakthrough in England.

The collection consists of five colour slides and is sold with a contract transferring all economic rights (copyright) to the buyer. The transfer grants exclusive rights to use, copy, publish, sell, and license the images worldwide for future use. A digital watermark has been added to the images during viewing to protect the copyright.

Magnus Persson, CEO of Karlstad Hammarö Auktionsverk, expresses great anticipation:

“I was genuinely delighted the first time I saw the images. They really convey the feeling of being there at that legendary performance. It will be very exciting to follow the interest among collectors and museums, as early colour concert photos like these are extremely rare.”

Börje Nygren, who took the photos, recalls how it all happened:

“On 25 October 1963, the then nearly unknown pop band The Beatles came to Karlstad to play two concerts – at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. – in the auditorium at Sundsta School. Apart from their gigs in England and Hamburg, these were their first performances in Europe.

I was 15 years old and went there with my friends Lennart Merking, Claes Egnell, Kerth Hedin, and Gunnar Biller. (Sadly, the last two are no longer with us.) The weather was good, and we arrived long before the first show. We passed the time by kicking a football around outside the entrance. I especially remember how Gunnar, wearing pointed shoes, accidentally got his foot stuck inside the ball – something we found incredibly funny.

We had tickets for the front row of the early show. When we came inside, we were told that the first row had been removed, probably to prevent the audience from rushing the stage. After a bit of persuasion, we were allowed to sit closest to the front. Lennart remembers even being able to touch John Lennon’s foot. I remember having to duck behind someone’s head while taking my photos.

It’s thrilling to think that these may be the first colour photos ever taken of The Beatles in Sweden – perhaps even in Europe, apart from England and Hamburg.

I also took a photo of Ken Levi of The Phantoms, who were the opening act that night. Some have claimed that Sven-Ingvars opened the concert, but that’s not correct. However, Robin Bailey of The Phantoms later became a member of Sven-Ingvars.

After the concert, The Beatles stayed the night at the Stadshotellet in Karlstad. No riots, no chaos – it was a quiet evening.

After a few more performances in Sweden, the band was greeted by tens of thousands of fans upon returning to England. The price of booking them skyrocketed shortly thereafter.”

Excerpt from the 1963 concert review in NWT (Nya Wermlands-Tidningen):
“On stage: four long-haired, narrow-trousered, high-heeled, black-suited lads. They chattered cheerfully among themselves, stuck to a monotonous style, and were generally, to use a musician’s term, rather corny. They played with tremendous lack of rhythm: the tempos were off – especially their attempt at playing a waltz-like beat in ‘A Taste of Honey,’ which was pitiful.”

Andreas Siesing, Specialist and PR Manager at Auctionet, considers the photos a cultural gem:

“To say the least! This is a perfect collision between international rock memorabilia and local Värmland history. And the photos are formidable in themselves.”

The auction ends on 5 December. You can find all items here.

For further contact:

Magnus Persson, CEO Karlstad Hammarö Auktionsverk

Phone: +46 70 305 45 46

Email: magnus@khav.se

Kayleigh Davies, Specialist UK, AUctionet

Phone: 07891 635 521

Email: kayleigh.davies@auctionet.com

Andreas Siesing, Specialist and PR Manager, Auctionet

Phone: +46 702 18 22 74

Email: andreas@auctionet.com