May 16, 2012 7:54

Rare photo of The Beatles walking 'backwards' across Abbey Road to be auctioned

Snap is expected to fetch up to £9,000

Photo Gallery: The Beatles
Photo: Bloomsbury Auctions

UPDATE: The photo has been sold for £16,000.

A rare photograph showing The Beatles walking 'backwards' across Abbey Road is set to fetch up to £9,000 at auction.

The snap, taken by late photographer Iain Macmillan, shows the band walking right to left across the zebra crossing outside the London studio where they made their 1969 album - the opposite direction to the picture which made it onto the sleeve.

There are other notable differences, including the fact Paul McCartney is wearing sandals rather than walking with bare feet. The cigarette he's holding on the album version is also missing.

The print, which is among a set of 25 being sold by a private collector, is going under the hammer later this month, with viewings starting this Friday (May 18).

Beatles artefacts regularly fetch big prices at auctions - last year a document showing how the Fab Four refused to play to segregated crowds was sold for $23,000 (£14,407).

You can watch an NME video looking at the history of The Beatles below. The Beatles, 'Abbey Road' - an annotated guide to the world's most famous album sleeve

Video: The Beatles Through The Years

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