text: This garden gnome might not look like much but he is now worth £17,000 – with a little help from his friends. The cardboard gnome was signed by all four members of the Beatles after starring on the iconic cover of the Fab Four's 1967 album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Cardboard cutouts or waxworks of more than 60 celebrities including Bob Dylan and Marlon Brando were on the cover picture, which was the brainchild of artists Peter Blake and Jann Haworth and photographer Michael Cooper. The cardboard gnome was signed by all four members of the Beatles after starring on the iconic cover of the Fab Four's 1967 album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band . The tiny cardboard gnome is next to the legs of George Harrison, who is wearing red on the album's cover art . The gnome is next to the legs of George Harrison, who is wearing red on the album art. Following the shoot on March 30, 1967, Mr Cooper's photography assistant was given the 20-inch tall cardboard gnome as a souvenir by the band, who each signed it. The model has emerged for sale almost 50 years later after being listed for auction by a private collector. Auctioneers in the US have valued the gnome, which has some water damage, at about £17,000. Dean Harmeyer, of Heritage Auctions, said: 'This is a true rarity and a cornerstone piece of any Beatles collection.' The album cover ended up being so extravagant that the final cost of producing the artwork was £3,000 - a whopping £50,000 in today's money. The front and back of the gnome were then mounted alongside an unopened copy of the Sgt Pepper's vinyl LP. 'Designer Peter Blake worked with the Beatles to stage the cover of Sgt. Pepper's, which was filled with life-size cardboard likenesses of famous figures - Mae West, Bob Dylan, Marlon Brando - behind the Beatles,' Mr. Harmeyer explained. The Gnome has been valued at £1,700 and was singed by all four members of the band after the shoot . On the shoot: Assistants organise the set for the artwork which cost £3,000 - the equivalent of £50,000 today . 'At the end of the cover session on March 30, 1967, the gnome was chosen as a memento by an assistant to cover photographer Michael Cooper, and it was signed by the Beatles immediately following the shoot. 'The gnome is in two parts - both front and back were created by Blake for the shoot, and presumably joined together, which may explain the small holes at the top and bottom of each. 'The Beatles have all signed the back in the lower, lighter portion in green marker. 'There appears to have been a liquid spill to on the back after the signing, which has affected the Ringo and John signatures. 'Both the front and back elements measure approximately 20 inches high by 5 inches wide. Both gnome elements are framed with a vintage, unopened stereo copy of the LP. Mr Cooper's photography assistant was given the 20-inch tall cardboard gnome as a souvenir by the band. The model has emerged for sale almost 50 years later .
target: The tiny garden gnome is signed by all four members of the iconic band .
  It appeared with celebrities and world figures on 1967 Sgt Peppers artwork .
  It was given to an assistant photographer following the shoot for the cover .
  The cardboard garden ornament has been valued at £17,000 by US experts .