A "Holy Grail" demo record by The Beatles which spent years in a loft is to go on sale next month.
The 1962 original recording of Till There Was You and Hello Little Girl is expected to attract global attention and fetch around £10,000 at auction.
The disc was pressed at the HMV record store on Oxford Street before the group's manager Brian Epstein handwrote the title tracks and presented it to record company boss George Martin in 1962.
Despite Martin's initial scepticism about the Fab Four he offered them a recording contract from EMI - and the rest is history.
Ian Shirley, Record Collector Rare Record Price Guide editor, said: "This is one of those Holy Grail items, like the original Quarrymen acetate that the band recorded themselves.
"This acetate is a unique item that, in many respects, helped Brain Epstein to start the ball rolling to musical world domination.
Beatles collectors worldwide and no doubt attract bids from those with deep pockets."
The record is being sold on behalf of Les Maguire of Gerry and the Pacemakers, who was given it by Epstein in 1963 after the disc had been returned to him by Martin.
The valuable recording has been locked away in Mr Maguire's loft until now.
The 10-inch, 78 RPM record will go up for sale at Omega Auctions in Warrington on 22 March.
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