Beatles By The Month: The Beatles Monthly Book in Canada

Issue #1 of The Beatles Book was launched by publisher Sean O'Mahony in August, 1963, and continued monthly for six years ending with issue #77 in December 1969.

  
As it was published monthly the magazine is frequently referred to as the "Beatles Monthly".  Each issue was approximately 32 pages containing features, lyrics, fan mail, contests, and more importantly lots of black and white and colour photographs of the Beatles.  The introduction in each issue was written by the publisher, Sean O'Mahony, using the pseudonym Johnny Dean with Neil Aspinall and Mal Evans contributing additional content.

There is no conclusive evidence as to when the Beatles Book became widely available in Canada, but it was definitely not when the first issue was published.  Based on a number of original Canadian fans' "Beatles' Book" collections it appears the earliest availability in Canada was early to mid 1964 starting with issue #7.  

Below is an excerpt from a March, 1965, weekly chart of Halifax radio station CHNS indicating the Beatles Monthly Book was available from A&W's in Halifax, Bedford and Dartmouth.

For the dedicated early fan monthly books could be obtained by mail order from the U.K. The first Canadian Beatles Fan Club Newsletter issued in February, 1964, advertised the Beatles Monthly as available from the U.K. by mail order for an annual subscription of $3.00.

Beginning in early 1964 the books could be special ordered in Canada through news agents or book stores such as W. H. Smith in larger centers.

The most valuable monthly is #1 which in excellent condition has a value of $75 to $100+.  The second most valuable book is the April, 1966, issue "Special Repeat - all the best pix from the first six issues".  The value of this compendium issue in excellent condition is $50 to $80.

The Sgt. Pepper special issue from June, 1967, attracts collectors and in excellent condition has a value of $35 to $60.  The last issue #77 also attracts interest and sells for a value of $45 - $60. 

Below is an advert for issue No. 47 along with the front and back cover.

 

The "Beatles Book" was also published in French and titled "Les Beatles Magazine" and with a large number of French speakers in Canada finding copies of "Les Beatles Magazine" is not uncommon. I believe only three issues of "Les Beatles" were published with some of the initial copies released in a brown vinyl bag with the inscription "Toute La Vie", roughly translating to "All the life". The bag is very difficult to find with only a few examples known. Copies of Les Beatles sold in Canada had .50 cents on the front cover.

In 1976 the publisher reissued all 77 original issues with a wrap around of eight or more new pages.  The reissue program was completed in the fall of 1982.  After that date the magazine continued until 2003 with a completely new format and was also made available in Japan in Japanese.       

All other issues in excellent condition sell in the range of $15 to $25 each. Some issues came with flyer inserts, such as renewal reminders and merchandise ads. Any of these inserts add approximately $5 to $10 to an issue.

Copies of "Les Beatles Magazine" have a similar value to the English version.

Buyer beware! All "Beatle Books" have been reproduced and reissued and are commonly found for sale online. It is reported a slightly altered copy of the hard to find "Special Repeat" issue was reproduced in Japan.  Reproductions of #1 are frequently sold online as originals.  Fortunately, there are a number of ways to tell an original #1 from a reproduction.  The most obvious difference is on the cover title header.  On the reproduction/reissue the "S" in Beatles touches on the "A" of August in the title header while on the original it does not.  

Original on left and reproduction on right