Original Sgt Pepper collage by Sir Peter Blake expected to fetch £80,000 at auction

A slice of Beatles' history goes on sale next month when the original collage designed by Sir Peter Blake for the insert of the band's Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is auctioned.

A copy of the design, which depicts the character of Sergeant Pepper, was included in the original release and intended for fans to cut out and keep.

James Rawlin, Sotheby's senior specialist in modern British paintings, said: "Sir Peter Blake's collage is a tangible slice of rock history. Sgt Pepper had a huge impact on the cultural landscape. It was the first concept album, when music, story, image and studio expertise all came together. In this work we witness the creation of the eponymous Sgt Pepper himself, with his familiar accoutrements of moustache and sergeant's stripes, originally intended for fans to cut out and keep."

The collage comes from the collection of architect Colin St John "Sandy" Wilson and is expected to fetch around £80,000 in the sale on 13 November at Sotheby's.

The work was presented to Wilson's wife by Sir Peter shortly after it was completed.

Other works from Wilson's collection going on sale include another work by Sir Peter and paintings by Patrick Caulfield and Howard Hodgkin.

PA