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official Capitol Records store promotional poster from the summer of 1966 for The Beatles' infamous "Butcher Cover" album, Yesterday and Today.
? Background & Controversy
The photograph, taken by Robert Whitaker, depicted the band dressed in white laboratory coats surrounded by raw pieces of meat and dismembered plastic baby dolls. Originally intended to promote the album, the shocking artwork caused immediate public backlash and outrage from disc jockeys and retailers.
Capitol Records quickly recalled around 750,000 pressed copies of the album and withdrew the promotional materials. They replaced the controversial artwork with a much more conservative image of the band posing around an open steamer trunk, which became known as the "Trunk Cover".
?? Spotting an Original vs. a Counterfeit
Because of its extreme rarity, original versions of this 18" x 22" poster can fetch thousands of dollars at auction houses like Heritage Auctions. As a result, it has been widely bootlegged over the decades. Collectors check for specific markers to authenticate original 1966 prints:
• Color of the "Incredible!" Text: Authentic vintage originals feature the headline word "Incredible!" printed in a very bright, vibrant red across the top.
• The Bottom Capitol Logo: On a genuine 1966 print, the round Capitol Records logo at the very bottom edge is printed in a jet black ink rather than a dark brown shade.
• The "Blemish" Flaw: Many common reproduction bootlegs contain a tiny, distinct bluish blemish with a small light dot in its center positioned right next to the word "Yesterday" printed on the depicted album cover jacket. |
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