BEATLES RARE 1968 UK Parlophone Single - Help / I'm Down - SOLID CENTRE EX+/NM
£
83
$
110
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Description
THE BEATLES
Help / I’m Down
Mega Rare SOLID CENTRE UK Pressing with SOLD IN THE UK Text!
On offer here is a highly sought-after solid centre UK pressing of The Beatles' classic 1965 single "Help! / I'm Down", one of the rarest variations of this iconic release.
What makes this copy so desirable is that the vast majority of UK Beatles singles from this period were manufactured with push-out centres, designed so the middle section could be removed for jukebox use. Genuine solid centre examples are exceptionally scarce, particularly for Beatles releases originally issued before 1967.
This copy is believed to be a late 1967 to 1968 pressing, produced several years after the single had already enjoyed its chart success. By this time, demand for older Beatles singles was extremely limited, making production runs very small. Most record shops either still held unsold stock of earlier pressings or customers simply bought readily available second-hand copies.
As a result, very few people would have special-ordered a fresh copy of "Help!" during this period, and only a tiny number of those later pressings were manufactured with a solid centre configuration. This makes surviving examples exceptionally difficult to find today.
For Beatles collectors, solid centre copies of pre-1967 releases are among the most desirable and elusive UK pressings. Unlike standard copies, these were produced in extremely small numbers and very rarely appear for sale, making this a genuine rarity and a superb addition to any serious Beatles collection.
Artist: The Beatles
Title: Help / I’m Down
Tax Code: KT (stamped at 12 o’clock in the deadwax)
Side 1 Stampers: 15 / ROM
Side 1 Matrix Number: 7XCE 18280-2 :
Side 2 Stampers: 17 / ROA
Side 2 Matrix Numbers: 7XCE 18281-2 :
(Yes, both matrix numbers end with a comma, for some reason)
(Please be aware that my gradings are *visual*)
Vinyl Condition: EX+/NM-
The vinyl retains a beautiful, clean shine to it and the playing surface looks virtually un-marked bar a few very light little wispy scuffs in one or two places. Really nice condition!
Label Condition: M-
The labels look virtually untouched with no whitening around the spindle hole, no spindlewear, no running or writing on the labels. The only issue I can see is one, solitary little scuffline on the Help label just top right of the song title.
Sleeve Condition: EX
The sleeve has general signs of light use with some light creasing and disc impression, but there’s no major damage and everything is holding up tightly with no seam splits or tears. The sleeve is looking remarkable for being nearly 60 years old, especially as the paper used to make these sleeves was so flimsy and prone to damage.
Record will be posted Royal Mail tracked and signed for 1st Class to the UK, International Tracked and Signed to the rest of the world.
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