BEATLES FANZINES - NOW & THEN : eBay Guides

Beatles Fanzines also known as Beatles Newsletters became very popular before, during & after the Official Beatles Fan Clubs.  These are not done by professionals but by dedicated fans.  Although many of these publications fell by the wayside over the years, there are still many in existence today.

These publications contained not only the usual editorials & reviews by the editors and/or president but by anyone with a pen, typewriter (this was before the computer age) and of course, a camera!  Fans would submit their own personal reviews of anything and everything on The Beatles - movies, records, books and of course personal experiences. 

A few of these publications were given out for free, while others would ask for dues in the form of postage stamps for mailing.  While many others would charge a small amount of dues for membership & a very few even distributed membership cards!

There are very few of the original fanzines/newsletters still in publication today.  However, should you ever come across the now defunct:  "McCartney Lovers & Friends," "With A Little Help From My Friends," The George Harrison Fan Club," "5 Bites Of The Apple", "Paulism", "The Paul McCartney Chapter'"and/or "MacLen", you have found a rare treat and insight into The Beatles & their fans.

Another more professional fanzine, "Strawberry Fields Forever" is an excellent example of what a real fan who truly loved The Beatles and this was the beginning of one of the first professional fanzines.  And for a short time, the Editor even included flexi-discs in place of  the typical newsletters from time to time.  There were approximately 3 or 4 of these.  Should you ever come into possession of SFF whether a printed copy or one of the flexi-discs, you indeed have a real treasure.

Conventions and flea markets are not the only places where you may come across original Beatles fanzines.  Yard sales & auctions are also another source.  Prices depend not only on the condition of the publications but also depending on what the Seller feels is fair (not always so) market value.