B37157 – The Jam Eton Rifles Signed 7 Inch Single (UK)

An original issue of the Polydor single entitled ‘The Eton Rifles’ by The Jam. The single has been signed on the front by all three members of the group. Bruce Foxton, Paul Weller and Rick Buckler have each signed their full names in blue pen.
The sleeve measures 18cm x 18cm (7 inches x 7 inches). There is some minor creasing and slight ring wear to the sleeve. The condition is very good plus.
Provenance: the signatures were obtained in the dressing room of Preston Guild Hall on 5th July 1981 and come with a detailed letter from the original recipient an excerpt of which is below:
“The Jam signed five album sleeves and various 7” single sleeves in one sitting with the band backstage at Preston Guildhall 5th July 1981 on their ‘Bucket and Spade’ tour. Here’s how it happened… I had become quite smart at hanging around and waiting for the band and the gear to arrive. Also, I had discovered that an air of confidence seemed to get me a long way. Having lived in Preston as a student at the famous Polytechnic, I knew my way around the 70’s building attached to the bus station. I had also found a way to enjoy the gigs at close hand without even buying a ticket. Yes I would ‘sneak in’. This could be achieved as on many occasions no formal backstage pass was required in these heady days. So arriving early and spotting the van with the gear I simply walked from the backstage door so I looked like I worked for the staff at Preston Guildhall. Then carrying in a guitar case or pushing a box meant I went straight in. I had done this several times at both Preston and Blackburn. The benefit for me was that the band thought I was with the Guildhall staff and vice-versa. When inside I simply blended in. The Jam arrived and I listened to the sound check from a safe corner. Once the sound check had finished we went to the dressing room where it was really easy carrying with me a plastic bag full of record covers to ask as politely as possible with a smile, ‘Would you please help me out with some autographs as I’d been a fan from the early days?’. I was sat at a table in the dressing room with Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler and as we were chatting I passed around my record sleeves in chronological order. The Jam duly signed each of my record sleeves.”