Artwork, letters and photographs from the abbreviated life of Stuart Sutcliffe - the 'fifth Beatle' - went on display yesterday prior to auction.
Sutcliffe, who left the fledging Beatles in 1961, pursued a promising career as an artist before his death from a brain haemorrhage in 1962. He was 21.
His sister, Pauline, arranged the collection at the Proud Gallery in London.
"The Stuart Sutcliffe collection is, undeniably, one of the most exciting collections we've had the good fortune to represent," auctioneer Mick Fleetwood, co-founder and drummer of Fleetwood Mac, said.
"It offers an insight into the very beginnings of one of the biggest and most revered bands in the world and into the man who helped shape them."