George Harrison's Half-Eaten Toast From 1963 Lands in Collector's Hands
A piece of toast allegedly partially eaten by George Harrison in 1963 has been acquired by memorabilia dealer Joseph O'Donnell for an undisclosed amount. The toast, preserved in a scrapbook for decades, has an unusual history tied to Beatles fandom and collectibles.
George Harrison's uneaten toast at auction
The story begins in 1962 when 15-year-old Sue Houghton befriended the Harrison family. In August 1963, while visiting their home, she collected a piece of Harrison's discarded toast crust, storing it in a scrapbook with the note "Piece of George's breakfast. 2-8-63." Notably, this was the day before The Beatles' final performance at Liverpool's Cavern Club.
The toast first gained public attention in 1991 when it sold at Christie's auction house in London for $94,800, alongside a John Lennon love letter. Harrison himself later joked about the toast's authenticity, claiming in a 1992 VOX magazine interview that he "ate all my toast" and "never left any!"
Houghton's relationship with the Harrison family was well-documented. George's mother Louise frequently invited her into their home, allowing her to explore George's room. Harrison even wrote Houghton a thank-you letter for giving his mother flowers and chocolate.
While this piece of toast may seem like an unusual collector's item, Beatles memorabilia continues to command high prices. For comparison, a John Lennon guitar used during the recording of "Help!" recently sold for $2.85 million after being discovered in an English countryside attic.
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