Ringo Starr is auctioning off the first printed copy of The Beatles’ ‘White Album’, with all proceeds going to the Lotus Foundation.

The 1968 self-titled The Beatles was their ninth studio album, and is commonly referred to as the ‘White Album’ due to its plain white album artwork.

The albums were all printed with serial numbers, with the first four going to each of the band members. No. 0000001 was rumoured to have gone to John Lennon, who Paul McCartney said “shouted the loudest” for it when the decision was made to number the pressings, but is now apparently in the hands of Starr. As for No. 0000005, well that was sold at auction in 2008, selling for a little under $30,000 (£20,000).

The ultra rare copy of the ‘White Album’ will be up for auction at Beverly Hills based Julien’s Auctions, where the auction house has estimated it will fetch up to $60,000 (£40,000). Earlier this month (7th November) Julien’s also hosted a rock memorabilia themed auction, with the cardigan Kurt Cobain wore during Nirvana’s legendary MTV:Unplugged performance selling for nearly $140,000 (£93,000).

Ringo Starr's UK 1st pressing White Album No 0000001 is part of our auction on December 4th! #TheBeatles #Auction pic.twitter.com/NpJgRzQk4e

— Juliens Auctions (@JuliensAuctions) November 5, 2015

The Lotus Foundation, where all the proceeds of the first ‘White Album’ are going, was founded by Starr and his wife, Barbara Bach, to “fund, support, participate in and promote charitable projects aimed at advancing social welfare in diverse areas.” The album already has an opening bid of $20,000 (£13,000), and Starr is also selling non-music related items such as art and heirlooms through the auction house.