17 December 1961 - Sunday Albert Marrion's Studio Wallasey Photographer: Albert Marrion Albert Marrion recalls "This photo session was done for [Brian] Epstein as a friendly gesture against the wishes of my partner... I took about thirty photographs...but discarded all but sixteen negatives because many showed Lennon and McCartney acting up and spoiling the pose. No doubt, those negatives should have been kept, looking back." Other sources also reference sixteen photos bowever, as can be seen here, there are, in fact, seventeen surviving photos. I suspect that, somehow, the negative for the 'famous' photo (photo 1) was borrowed or sold and, ultimately, lost in time. Marrion's recollection is probably based on the sixteen negatives that were still in his possession. It is a shame he didn't save them all.	------
	This is the "master print" used for the famous Mersey Beat cover as well as other promo items. It was recently auctioned. See the auction description below.

This is an extremely rare vintage print of the Beatles from their first photo session by Liverpool's Albert Marrion (from December 17, 1961.) This actual print was made in February 1962 and served as the "master print" for the Beatles first autograph cards and their appearance on the front cover of "Mersey Beat" magazine. On the reverse there is a photographer's stamp, and notes with the date of the print order (Feb 27, 1962), the order for 1000 cards dated March 14, and the photographer's approval initials. This print is incredibly detailed and sharp, and has slightly more of the photo than I've seen reproduced anywhere else. It is also unretouched, and there is some areas around the border that were later retouched as part of the printing process.

There is a Bonhams auction house label on the back , where this print was sold in 1999. Included is documentation of that sale, and the catalog listing as follows: "The Beatles. A black and white original master print of the Mersey Beat cover photograph by Albert Marrion, rubber stamped on the verso PN NO on ml/print 27.2.62 1000 (the number of prints ordered) and Mar 14 266 (a further order.) Approx 10 1/2 x 7 1/2 inch."

This is the only vintage print of an Albert Marrion photograph that I know of.