Auction – Small Faces and Who Signatures
With an auction estimate of US $15,000 in June 2021, a rare autograph book kept by a staff member at Stourbridge Town Hall in the 1960’s is a valuable Mod collectors’ item.
The Full Autograph Collection
Inside this small blue Sixties autograph book you will also find complete sets of signatures of The Who featuring Keith Moon, who started life as The High Numbers (below).
The book also contains an extremely rare set of signatures from Lord Such and the Savages featuring future Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore.
Signatures From the Jimmy Winston Era
The signatures from the Small Faces show them in their earliest incarnation featuring original keyboardist Jimmy Winston.
Preserved signatures from the Zombies, The Moody Blues, The Pretty Things, the Walker Brothers, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, The Merseybeats (twice), The Mojos and The Hollies add to the collection.
Backstage at Stourbridge Town Hall
The seller comments, “I worked at Stourbridge Town Hall from 1964 to 1967 helping out backstage and sometimes front of house. If the caretaker was not back from his meal break, I would let the groups into the building and help them set up. Fred Bannister promotions booked the top groups of the day to appear on Wednesday nights, with smaller local groups playing on Saturday nights. I met all the groups and obtained their autographs.”
Paul Weller and Noel Gallagher
With famous modern fans including Paul Weller and Noel Gallagher, The Small Faces (captured here in a YouTube documentary, My Generation) did not often sign autographs as part of a complete collection like this, including The Who.
The Small Faces’ Stourbridge Handbill
An original promotional handbill for a performance by the Small Faces which took place at the Stourbridge Town Hall, West Midlands on 6th October 1965 is valued at around US $300 in 2021. With the year 1965 written in the upper right corner in blue pen, it’s a reminder of a famous Wednesday night British ‘Big Beat’ venue.
