Rare 'White' Album Proves to Be....

...A VERY FAB 5TH AT AUCTION!

A numbered copy of The Beatles self-titled (so-called "White") album has sold for 24,550 euros (31,365 dollars), on eBay, according to French news service AFP. An unknown seller out of Linz, Austria sold the album. It is numbered 0000005.

The originals 1-4 were given to the individual Beatles - John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr - when the album was released. Each of the bandmates signed the album (pictured) that sold at auction.

It is known that this particular album was in a private stash held by John Lennon and it is known that John gave it to a friend who was visiting his house. The friend was a musician, but he remains unnamed.

The sale marks the 40th anniversary of the release of the album. It came out on November 22, 1968. The album will change owners on Sunday.

SIDEBAR: We got a kick out of some of the reportage of this story. The web site Moldova.org reported that this exceptionally rare album had sold for a mere $28. Let this be a lesson about the current age. At a time when everyone is publishing, not all self-styled journals are proof-read or fact checked very well.

(Photo AFP/Getty Images/Stephen Chernin)