Ringo Starr absent from 'rare pic' of The Beatle's up for auction

LONDON, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- A "rare" photo of The Beatles playing in Liverpool's Cavern Club without Ringo Starr is set to be auctioned later this month along with other never-before-seen pictures of the band.

The Mirror reports the photo without Starr was taken in 1961, one year before he replaced Pete Best as the drummer of the band. Paul McCartney appears at the front of group in the photo with John Lennon and George Harrison by his side.

Stephen Bailey, The Beatles Shop manager in Liverpool, said the photos where brought to the store by a man who said: "My father was a professional photographer and these might be of interest to you."

The man reportedly turned in a series of negatives with photos that ended up being in perfect condition. According to Bailey's findings, the image that features Best instead of Starr was taken on June 14, 1961, when the band played its first show upon returning from Hamburg.

Baily said there would be 330 lots at the auction, including the photo without Starr and the first, second and third editions of Merseybeat magazine. He expects the pictures to bring in somewhere around 1,500 pounds and the magazines to go for 2,500 to 3,000 pounds.