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Mania Days, The Beatles 1964 US Tour

The Photographs of Curt Gunther

Curt Gunther

On August 18th 1964, one week after A Hard Day's Night hit theatres, The Beatles left London for their first full tour of the USA and Canada. Beatlemania had touched down in America, and the Fab Four were in for a frantic ride.

Although Brian Epstein wanted no photographers to accompany The Beatles on the tour, Derek Taylor - Press Officer and friend to The Beatles - persuaded Epstein to allow Curt Gunther to join the touring party. Exquisitely produced as a limited edition book, Gunther's photographs and text from Derek Taylor come together, giving an intimate insiders view into the beginnings of Beatlemania.

'Mania Days is a gift of a Beatles book. Its contents are as gilt-edged as its gold-leafed pages. It's something to treat yourself to and to treasure.' – Record Collector
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The Photography

Mania Days, The Beatles 1964 US Tour

'Every day Curt Gunther, drawing deeply on a cigarette, his wise and cunning eyes boring into mine, would say: "Derek, we gotta have some special pictures, something original."' - Derek Taylor

Over 350 of Curt's unique and beautiful photographs are now showcased in this limited edition. His lens captures the mania of the tour and its rare moments of relaxation - from farms to screaming fans and hotel suites to huge stadiums, with an omnipresent police force.
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The Manuscript

Mania Days, The Beatles 1964 US Tour

Derek Taylor's recollections introduce Curt Gunther's photographs and paint a picture of life on tour with the biggest band in the world.

'It was chaos, shambles, imbroglio, bedlam, hysteria, riot, fracas, melee, hurly-burly and a lot of other things that no one from a little seaside town should have been expected to cope with; but by now, frenzied by the excitement and impetus of the tour, I was able not only to deal with it but to enjoy it.' - Derek Taylor
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The Author

Mania Days, The Beatles 1964 US Tour

The late Curt Gunther arrived in New York City from Berlin in 1941 to pursue a career in photography. By 1955 he was chief photographer for Keystone Pictures, and later set up his own photographic enterprise.

In 1963, he photographed The Beatles in London, followed by a shoot in Central Park on their first US visit. Gunther was one of the select few allowed to accompany The Beatles during their 1964 tour, resulting in Mania Days - a lasting tribute to his talent.

'Brian's decree that no press were to accompany us on the chartered Lockheed Electra was already being challenged by a number of very persistent journalists, including the star of the press gang, Los Angeles freelance Curt Gunther, who was to become my closest friend in America.' - Derek Taylor
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The Limited Edition

Mania Days, The Beatles 1964 US Tour

Mania Days is an essential complete photo-documentary record of life on the road with The Beatles - a unique opportunity to board their chartered Lockheed Electra jet and join them on their historic travels across America.

Strictly limited to 2,500 numbered copies, individually signed by Stephen Gunther, custodian of The Gunther Archive, this large format volume of over 350 images also includes several stunning double-page spreads of colour montages and additional wrap-around sections on a variety of specialist Italian art papers.

Master-printed on acid-free 200gsm matt art paper, and quarter-bound in black leather, Mania Days is housed in an exquisite silk-screened slipcase - the historic record of the ear-splitting, mind-blowing experience known the world over as Beatlemania.

'I think there was real, genuine affection between the Beatles and my dad. He was there on every plane ride and in every hotel room.' - Steven Gunther

Mania Days in presented a special solander box bound in white buckram with silkscreen printing and gold foiling, commemorating 50 years of The Beatles in the USA.

Mania Days, The Beatles 1964 US Tour

The Photographs of Curt Gunther

Select from the following editions:

Mania Days, The Beatles 1964 US Tour

Mania Days, The Beatles 1964 US Tour

  • ISBN:
    0904351785
  • Collector:
    2300 copies
  • Signed by:
    Stephen Gunther, custodian of the Gunther archives
  • Contributors:
    Stephen Gunter, Derek Taylor
  • Binding:
    Quarter-bound in leather with an inlaid photo strip
  • Box:
    Housed in a lithographed slipcase
Collector £265
Available from £87.45 per month. Learn more >

An essential photo-documentary record of life on the road with The Beatles. Board their Lockheed Electra and join them on their historic travels across America.

  • Page size: 250mm x 315mm
  • 144 pages
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The story of your book

Since 1974 Genesis has created signed limited edition books on behalf of authors and artists ranging from the Beatles to Buckingham Palace.

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