For collectors of signed Beatles photographs, this one may be the ultimate rush -- an unspeakably rare group shot of the lads circa 1962 with the original lineup that included drummer Pete Best, whose vintage signature on an early Beatles photo is all but impossible to find! Though Best, who was fired from the band in August 1962 by manager Brian Epstein just before they cut their first single, has tried to parlay his almost-famous status for years, even he has not been able to dig up such early signed pieces, and for a reason -- few people ever asked for their autographs then, and if someone did, they were loathe to give them out. This was a ritual that carried over to their years as the most popular band on the globe, which is why signed Beatles pieces of any kind are at such a premium. This photo, however, breaks the bank, and can make a collector's knees weak. Just the photo alone is monstrously significant. The 6 1/4 x 8 1/4" publicity still was taken at a critical time, when Epstein had ordered them to shed their leather jackets and greasy look for a more acceptable clean and cute look, with snug-fitting suits, skinny ties, half-boots and D.A. hairdos brushed down into a "mod" Moe Howard style. However, the picture shows that Best didn't go along with the hair thing, and this may be an indicator of why Epstein axed him (though he did set him up with an other band, the All Stars, who became the Pete Best Four). Beatle historians point out that Best was actually the most popular Beatle, especially among the girls, at the time for his James Dean-like looks, and Best may have acted like too much of the antihero rebel for Epstein's tastes, not to mention that he also couldn't sing and was a lousy drummer. In any case, the period from August 1960 to August 1962 is the "Pete Best" period, a hot commodity for collectors. The signatures on the back of the photo are a delightful mishmash, with John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison scrawling "To Maureen, love from" before their names and embellishing with a few "XXX"s, while Best penned a simple, "Love, Pete Best." Lennon, MCartney and Best signatures in red ink, Harrison is blue. Amazingly, considering the age of the piece, all the signatures are crisp and vivid 9/10s, and the 6 x 8 1/2" photo is a clean and clear VG with mild surface restoration and just the hint of foxing along the edges. The lower border reads "The Beatles" and shows adhesive residue from the names of each Beatle being affixed later on separate labels, which have all been removed except for part of a label reading "Pete." Do you wanna know a secret? This signed Beatles piece is to die for.