Ringo Starr's drum kit and first-ever copy of The Beatles' White Album sell for record sums at auction

The drum kit sold for £1.4 million

Beatles beat man Ringo Starr

Beatles memorabilia has been known to fetch huge sums of money, but Ringo Starr’s latest auction of personal items has made record sums.

First off, a white Ludwig drum kit played by the Beatle on hits such as "Can’t Buy Me Love" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand" sold for $2.1 million (£1.4m).

The kit was apparently used in more than 200 performances since 12 May, 1962 when Starr first purchased the instrument.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the most expensive drum set ever sold at auction before was Keith Moon’s Premier drum kit used between 1968 and 1970 with The Who. It made £139,650 in 2014.

Secondly, the very first copy of the White Album, the band’s ninth studio album, sold for $910,000 (£600,00). Each copy of the album came with a serial number stamped upon it, this copy having been numbered 0000001.

It was previously though John Lennon owned the album after Paul McCartney said he had “shouted the loudest” for it. No. 0000005 sold in 2008 for a fraction of the price, making $30,000 (£20,000).

Both items, along with a numerous others from Starr including a guitar given to him by Lennon in 1968, went up for auction via Julien Auction’s website.

Proceeds will go in part to the Lotus Foundation, which was started by the drummer and wife Barbara Bach.