A woman flew all the way from America to The Chorleywood Bookshop to collect a rare Paul McCartney signed book she bought for £1,500.

The store was inundated with requests to buy 1964: Eyes of the Storm when one copy was given to the shop by Penguin Random House (PRH).

There are only 175 signed copies available in the world of the book. It includes pictures taken by Sir Paul on a 35mm camera towards the end of 1963 and the beginning of 1964 when Beatlemania erupted in the UK and America.

Watford Observer: Joan flew all the way from America to collect the rare signed copy of the book.Joan flew all the way from America to collect the rare signed copy of the book. (Image: The Chorleywood Bookshop)

The shops co-owner Sheryl Shurville jumped at the chance to be involved in the limited sale.

She said: “When a list of shops were announced on the PRH website we had loads of phone calls and emails from people wanting to buy it.”

Requests were from all over the UK, Canada and America, but Ms Shurville was worried that posting the book to someone could be a problem.

She said: “But Joan Borreli, who lives in the US, phoned and emailed early on and said she had a friend in London who could pick it up.

“Joan had to pay for the book there and then. It was very exciting. I had never rung up so much money on the till before.”

Watford Observer: Joan is a huge fan of The Beatles and Paul McCartney Joan is a huge fan of The Beatles and Paul McCartney (Image: The Chorleywood Bookshop)

Later, Joan decided to collect the book in person and did so on June 20, the same week as Independent Bookshop Week. 

Ms Shurville said: “She is not doing it to sell, she is really keen on the Beatles and Paul McCartney and before she collected the book she did a Beatles tour in Liverpool.

“Only last week, Joan was one of 900 people at a launch held by Sir Paul to promote the book.”

The bookshop decided to hold a celebration for Joan when she collected the book and had balloons and champagne ready when she arrived.

Ms Shurville said: “When Joan opened the book, she saw it was number 20 of 175, she was near to tears.”

Watford Observer: Joan's book was number 20/175Joan's book was number 20/175 (Image: The Chorleywood Bookshop)

Until the book was collected it was kept in a safe place and away from a leak that the shop has.

Ms Shurville added: “Interestingly, it was privately couriered to us, like in a taxi, not via big firm.”