Beatles for sale...last snap of John and Paul together

THE price for this last known picture of John Lennon and Paul McCartney together is expected to soar after the release of The Beatles' final song.

- Ross Kaniuk

The black and white snap was one of a set taken by the assistant to the late Who drummer Keith Moon in 1974 - four years after The Beatles had effectively split up. It goes under the hammer in London today, along with others in the set of 23 photos taken at a Californian beach house.

Auctioneers Propstore said the release last week of single Now And Then was a happy coincidence and likely to boost the price. The photo collection includes Ringo Starr peering through a tambourine, along with other shots of John and snaps of Paul sporting a moustache relaxing by the swimming pool and playing the piano.

They were taken during John's so-called "Lost Weekend", which lasted 18 months. He had separated from Yoko Ono and was living with 22-year-old May Yang.