Recording contract signed by pre-Ringo Beatles in 1961 sells for over $90,000 at NYC auction

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This undated photo provided by Heritage Auctions shows a 1961 contract written in German and signed by the Beatles. The document was sold at an auction by Heritage Auctions in New York on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015 for about 3,750. (Heritage Auctions via AP)

NEW YORK, N.Y. – A New York auction house says it has sold the first recording contract ever signed by the Beatles for over $90,000.

Heritage Auctions says the 1961 contract was for a recording of a rock and roll version of “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.”

The single from the recording session in Hamburg was released only in Germany. But it led to the Beatles being discovered by manager Brian Epstein.

The session was before Ringo Starr joined the Beatles. Drummer Pete Best signed the contract along with John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison.

The contract was sold Saturday by the estate of German Beatles collector Uwe Blaschke (OO’-vah BLASH’-Kah).

Heritage Auctions did not identify the buyer who paid for $93,750.

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