BEATLES SGT PEPPER MONO PRESSING SIGNED BY PETER BLAKE

	£		155
	$		205

An amazing item for both collectors of Pop-Art and Beatles memorobillia, is this mono recording of Sgt Pepper.

The sleeve and at the Sgt Pepper cut-out have been signed by the artist PETER BLAKE, who staged the album sleeve concepts and illustrations.

I do not recall ever seeing such an item before on ebay and my guess would be that it will be a long time before one is seen again.

The record is a mono pressing on the UK black & yellow Parlophone label (PMC 7027) with the Side 1 matrix (XEX 637-1) and the Side 2 matrix (XEX 638-1).

The embossed KT tax-code is visible on the label of side 2.

The Stamper Numbers are 9, AO D, 9, AR O.

I believe this information indicates that the record is not a first pressing but I cannot say with any certainty.

As far as Audio quality is concerned there is crackling and clicks audible on both sides - on the run-ins and intermittently during tracks. There are no jumps however and the needle certainly doesn't stick anywhere. I would say the audible quality is Good or Very Good but it is no museum piece in that respect - please bear in mind I am no expert at grading vinyl recordings and do not have sophisticated audio equipment.

Visually the vinyl is a bit dull (but may just need a good clean) and there are a few surface scratches/marks visible. The disc does not appear warped.

The album sleeve is not a wide-spined variant and bears the legend Printed and Made by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd which, I believe,  indicates a third edition. The inner sleeve is a plain white version (a trifle tanned and tatty) and states, "Patents Applied For & Made in Great Britain".

The album sleeve is in Very Good bright condition - rubbed with  loss of laminate at the top of the spine, bumped at the four corners with tiny loss of laminate. The spine is crushed a little and marked and the titles are not particularly clear or bright. The sleeve is otherwise bright and glossy and scratches are visible to the gloss surface in places when held up to the light. There is a faded, small previous owner inked-name to the top margin of the rear panel above the lyrics but not interfering with them. Overall VG condition but clearly a used sleeve

. The cut-out is in excellent, clean, condition - Fine.

Peter Blake, often referred to as the Father of Pop-Art, has signed the album sleeve along the top margin of the front cover in permanent marker (see scans) and the cut-out at the bottom margin adjacent to his printed signature. Just about the next best thing, I would have thought, to having a copy signed by one of the Beatles themselves.

If you are an admirer of the artist then here is a signed copy of his most widely recognized art-work. If you are a Beatles or popular music fan then here is a contemporary souvenir with a fantastic association.

Thank you for looking, any questions - please ask!

N.B. If you are planning to bid on this item but are newly registered and have 0 feedback please use the Ask-Seller-a-Question link to contact me before doing so. Failure to do so may result in your bids being cancelled. Thank you. Thank you, also, to those of you who have written to me to make offers to buy this album now but with 31 people watching the item I really don't think it would be fair to end it now. I do use the buy-it-now feature regularly but this is such a one-off item I would have a hard job setting a suitable price. Thanks anyway for your interest and good luck if you intend to bid.

I have had a few questions about issue points for both disc and sleeve which I will try to clarify in one go.

The album sleeve lacks the NEMS ENTERPRISES LTD legend which was apparently added to later printings of the sleeve and apparently this is a very desirable attribute as it signifies that it is a very early printing indeed.

The album sleeve at the top right corner of the rear cover states, Long Play 33 1/3 rpm PMC 7027 Mono

The disc label has the full title of With A Little Help From My Friends.

A Day in the Life is listed on the disc label

I understand that it may indeed be a first pressing after all but as I said above I am no expert in the matter.

The picture of the 4 Beatles with the yellow background is in excellent, clean condition with a strong and bright gloss.