This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/28/2022
John Lennon's scathing reply to Paul McCartney's published interview in the November 20, 1971 issue of Melody Maker, where Paul shared his thoughts on John and Yoko, the dissolution of the Beatles' business partnership and more. A three-page mimeographed letter that Lennon has signed and inscribed. John was so furious when he read the interview that he sent this three-page, signed and hand-annotated letter, addressed to Paul, to Melody Maker, for publication, asking them in his own handwriting for equal time. The letter is dated November 24, 1971, just a few days after Paul's interview appeared in the magazine (only a year and a half after the Beatles officially broke up), while they were still going through the financial, and apparent personal reckonings of the break-up. This letter was published (with some edits) in the December 4, 1971 issue of Melody Maker. John's response is brutal and ironic, and you can see his frustration with Paul - it is an incredible insight into the relationship of John and Paul, not just during the break-up and the aftermath, but really the deepness of their entire friendship. John addresses the letter ironically affectionate, "Dear Paul, Linda et al the wee McCartney's" thanking Paul for his letter and then launches immediately into a response writing that Paul is being paid for his "bits of the Apple" and "We give you more money in the form of royalties...." John goes into detail, even talking about his song "Imagine" and bristling at Paul's dismissive response to it (it's clear that he still cares what Paul thinks of he writing). He berates Paul for his indecisiveness and apparent false naivety in dealing with the financial issues of the break-up saying it's not as easy as signing a "bit of paper". John implores Paul to meet with him first without the lawyers there. He reaches out and then also accuses Paul of "buying up shares of Northern Songs behind by back." John also refers to George Harrison and Ringo Starr in the letter, quoting Paul as saying in his letter "You know that Ringo and George are going to break you John" and accusing Paul of going after Ringo and his wife Maureen. This letter is rich with insight into their friendship, at times acrimonious, at times thoughtful and pleading.
John has written in his own hand at the top of the letter "M.M. editor Richard Williams (please publish equal time)!" then signed the letter on the third page "John Lennon" and added "P.P.S. even your own lawyers know you can't just 'sign a bit of paper' (or don't they tell you?!). One of the most fascinating parts of the letter comes also at the end of the letter, typed, after John's signature where he says that what really puzzled "us" about Paul's interview was his request that they meet without Linda and Yoko, he states "I know you're camp but let's not go to far! I thought you'd have understood BY NOW, that I'm JOHNANDYOKO."
This three-page typed letter, with John's handwritten annotations and his signature is in very good condition. Each page measures 8.5 x 11. Comes with a letter of authenticity from Beatles handwriting expert Frank Caiazzo, a forensics report from Karl Schaffenberger, a Roger Epperson Authenticated Ltd. (REAL) Certificate of Authenticity, as well as a Gotta Have Rock & Roll Certificate of Authenticity.