The note, found folded in a book at a Liverpool yard sale, offered an audition to someone who had advertised their availability in the Liverpool Echo newspaper four days earlier. The unsigned ad said simply: “Drummer_Young_Free.”

The letter was dated Aug. 12, 1960 – two years before the band bounced drummer Pete Best in favor of Ringo Starr.

Christie’s said a European buyer made Tuesday’s 34,850 pound winning bid over the phone.

The auction house had estimated it would fetch more than 7,000 pounds ($11,000).