A rare copy of the first issue of the seminal music paper Mersey Beat Volume 1 Number 1 dated July 6th – 20th 1961. On page 2 of the paper there is a short article by John Lennon about the origin of The Beatles entitled ‘Being A Short Diversion On The Dubious Origins Of Beatles’.

The following excerpt is taken from Mersey Beat founder Bill Harry's book 'The Beatles Encyclopedia':

"When Harry had been planning the publication of Mersey Beat in 1960, he asked John to come up with a biography of The Beatles and, on their return from Hamburg, John gave him a piece of paper which Harry called 'Being A Short Diversion On The Dubious Origin Of Beatles. Translated From The John Lennon'. John was so delighted with his piece being published in its entirety that he brought a huge bundle of stories, poems and drawings, some of which were then published under the name 'Beatcomber'. Harry conceived the pseudonym with deference to the humourous 'Beachcomber' column in the Daily Express newspaper. John Lennon also used to pay to take out classified advertisements."

In Ray Coleman’s biography of Brian Epstein, Bill Harry is reminiscing about Brian Epstein and he also recalls dealing with Epstein over sales of the first issue of Mersey Beat:

‘Impeccably dressed, so formal. Very polite. I explained the paper to him and asked if he would sell some copies in NEMS’. To Epstein, this was simply a matter of helping a young enthusiast promote a subject he, as a record salesman, knew nothing about. ‘Right, I’ll take a dozen,’ he said, after Bill Harry’s persuasion.

Two days later he phoned Harry and asked him to return to his office. The dozen copies had sold instantly, a puzzled Epstein told him. Harry said he was not surprised, since he had stocked so few. Brian agreed to replenish his counter with a further dozen. Those, too, sold quickly, but it was no big moneyspinner. Epstein’s profit was half the selling price of threepence for each copy. But he was intrigued. ‘To tell you the truth,’ he said to Harry, ‘I can’t believe how well this paper is selling. What is it all about?’ The garrulous editor gave Epstein a speedy indoctrination. ‘What’s happening in Liverpool to beat groups now is exactly like what happened to jazz in New Orleans at the turn of the century,’ he declared. ‘Everything is happening here, like nowhere in the world.’

‘You’re joking,’ said Epstein, taking the second dozen copies to the NEMS counter. ‘No.’ said Bill Harry. ‘We’re going to publish a list showing that there are 280 beat groups in Liverpool. It’s unique.’
Within a few days, the second dozen copies had been sold. Epstein now capitulated to Harry’s enthusiasm. He ordered twelve dozen copies of Mersey Beat’s second issue. Young fans were going in to N E M S not only for records, but specifically to buy the paper.’

The music paper has 6 pages and measures 24cm x 33cm (9.5 inches x 13 inches). There are some light foxing spots throughout and wear and tear to the edges. The condition is very good minus.