The Beatles' "Love Me Do" drum kit went under the auction block on Thursday.


The bidding price for the musical artifact, which was being auctioned off at Nate D. Sanders Auctions, was $150,000 (£113,300).


"This is a piece of rock history," auction house manager Michael Kirk.


"There is only one drum kit that was there that day that this first track was laid down - the track that launched the Beatles."


The drum kit was originally played by one-time Beatles drummer Andy White, who sat in for Ringo Starr on the recording of the track.


Later the kit was brought into the hands of Clive Edwards, who studied drumming with Reg Weller and was a friend of White's.


The drum kit also comes with a letter of authenticity from White's widow Thea.