A 1966 copy of Datebook magazine signed by the late Beatle John Lennon has sold for $12,713 in an online auction.

The magazine contained Lennon's infamous comment that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus, which attracted criticism in the US.

Lennon said: "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue about that; I'm right and I will be proved right.

“We're more popular than Jesus now. I don't know which will go first — rock 'n' roll or Christianity.”

Lennon signed the magazine 'John C Lennon', even though his middle initial was W for Winston.

The copy of Datebook was bought by an orthopedia surgeon at New York's Mount Sinai Medical Centre.

(by Jason Gregory)