BEATLES UK, Sgt Pepper Fourth Proof sleeve, original 1st issue UK 1967 mono LP.

	£		156
	$		207

BEATLES UK, Sgt Pepper Fourth Proof sleeve, original 1st issue UK 1967 mono LP.

PMC 7027, original first issue UK 1967 mono black and yellow Parlophone record labels.

A UK issue in original condition, featuring:

1. this unique sleeve variant of this album features what was a 'pre production' sleeve. The first three ‘Proof’ sleeves never saw the light of day, but these ‘Fourth Proof’ sleeves were passed around at EMI for final agreement. Never meant to be released, but a small number of these sleeves did find their way out into the shops. As these were ‘Proof’ sleeves they should NEVER have left the printers. There are a number of unique features to these ‘Proof’ sleeves when compared to the final 'agreed' production sleeves:

a. the printed text of, ‘Fourth Proof’, and ‘AR D 13217’ printed upside down, found on the top right ‘flip back’. The story of this is that the old style of ‘visual flip backs’ were on the way out and the sleeve for the latest Beatles LP, Sgt Pepper was to feature the new ‘hidden inner flip back’ design, (but this never happened !) it was therefore thought that the above text would NOT be seen. Apparently the ‘A R’ text stands for the designers initials and the ‘D 13217’ text is the internal catalogue number for the printers of the sleeve, ‘Garrod and Lofthouse’,

b. the rear of the sleeve features the text ‘Printed and made by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd, 'Patents Pending’. It is only the ‘Fourth Proof’ sleeves and a very small number of very early UK ‘flip back’ Pepper mono sleeves that have the text, ‘Patents Pending’. The sleeve normally just states ‘Printed and made by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd’ (G&L). By the time of the official UK launch of Sgt Pepper in June 1967, G&L had got their ‘Patents’ agreed and the text, ‘Patents Pending’ was removed from the rear of the sleeve,

2. comes with its original earliest, 'dark green' card 'cut out' sheet insert,

3. comes with its original red and white 'wavy' pattern inner sleeve.

CONDITION:

THE MAIN SLEEVE: is in excellent condition, the sleeve is fully laminated. The sleeve has retained its excellent quality clean glossy laminate. The spine is in very good++ condition, a very good solid / strong spine, the spine has remained clean, white and straight, to the centre of the spine there is some slight lifting of the laminate, so not all of the text on the spine is readable. The four opening edges of the sleeve have remained clean and sharp. When the ‘gate fold’ sleeve is opened the original two top, ‘flip backs’, ie 'fold over' edges can be seen. The inside of the sleeve has remained very clean and super glossy. There are NO tears, splits, pen writing, stickers or sticker residue on the sleeve. To the rear, left bottom corner there is some creasing.

THE CARD INSERT: is in very good++ condition and is the original earliest, 'dark green' insert. The rear of the 'insert' is clean. There are NO tears, pen writing, stickers or sticker residue on the 'insert'. There is some creasing to the lower edge.

THE INNER SLEEVE: is in very good++ condition and is the original ‘wavy’ pattern red and white inner sleeve. The two opening edges have remained clean. Theres NO pen writing, tears, stickers or sticker residue on the inner sleeve. There is a slight split to the bottom edge and a slight split to one of the side edges and some age related marks to each side.

THE RECORD: side one, is in near excellent condition. Side two, there is a light 'scuff', non audible that runs over the first half of track one, otherwise side two is in excellent condition, note the condition of the record has been judged under 'normal daylight' conditions. The record is made from the period 1960s, quality ‘thick, heavy’ vinyl and has remained dark and glossy.

The records engraved 'matrix' is: XEX 637 - 1 and XEX 638 - 1,

The records engraved 'mother / stampers' are: ‘4 AGD’ and ‘4 RHM’,

THE AUDIO: each side plays very good, each side plays with 'crackle', the audio may improve with a professional clean as the condition of the playing surfaces are so clean. The record lays flat on the turntable.

THE RECORD LABELS: side one is in near MINT condition, side two is in excellent++ condition. The letters 'KT' are embossed around the spindle hole on side two. Each of the record labels are free from any pen writing, stickers or sticker residue.

TO GRADE THE CONDITION OF THE RECORD I AM USING THE OFFICIAL GRADING SYSTEM FROM THE ‘RECORD COLLECTOR’ MAGAZINE.

PLEASE WAIT UNTIL I SEND YOU AN INVOICE BEFORE YOU SEND PAYMENT.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE.

ALL PHOTOS AND RECORD DESCRIPTIONS ARE MY OWN AND ARE ALWAYS OF THE ACTUAL RECORD FOR SALE.

PLEASE ENSURE THAT ALL ITEMS ARE PAID FOR BY AT LEAST ONE WEEK FROM THE END OF THE AUCTION. I RESERVE THE RIGHT THAT IF PAYMENT IS NOT RECEIVED AFTER ONE WEEK OF THE END OF AN AUCTION THE ITEM WILL BE OFFERED TO THE NEXT HIGHEST BIDDER, OR THE ITEM WILL BE RE LISTED.

POSTAGE AND PACKING.

POSTING IN THE UK -

ALL RECORDS POSTED TO A UK ADDRESS WILL BE SENT FIRST CLASS ‘SIGNED FOR’ POST.

THERE MAYBE AN ADDITIONAL COST FOR INSURANCE AS THE SELLER HAS NO PROTECTION IF THE ITEM GOES MISSING IN THE POST, THEREFORE POST AND PACKING CHARGES MAY VARY.

PACKING - ALL RECORDS ARE POSTED WITH MULTI LAYERED CARD STIFFENERS FOR PROTECTION. BEFORE POSTING, THE RECORD IS REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS ORIGINAL INNER AND OUTER SLEEVE, THE RECORD IS THEN PUT INTO A SECOND PAPER INNER SLEEVE TO MINIMISE ANY DAMAGE THAT MAY OCCUR WHILE IN TRANSIT. THE RECORD / SLEEVES ARE THEN PUT INTO A NEW PLASTIC SLEEVE FOR FURTHER PROTECTION.

DISCOUNTS WILL BE GIVEN ON POSTAGE FOR MULTIPLE PURCHASES.

POSTING OVERSEAS -

I WILL SEND RECORDS ANYWHERE OVERSEAS.

ALL RECORDS THAT ARE POSTED OVERSEAS WILL BE SENT ‘SIGNED FOR’

THERE MAYBE AN ADDITIONAL COST FOR INSURANCE AS THE SELLER HAS NO PROTECTION IF THE ITEM GOES MISSING IN THE POST, THEREFORE POST AND PACKING CHARGES MAY VARY.

IN NON EU COUNTRY’S AN ‘IMPORT TAX’ AND A COURIERS ‘CLEARANCE FEE’ MAY NEED TO BE PAID, THIS IS DOWN TO THE BUYER TO PAY THESE FEES.

POSTAGE COSTS MAY VARY, THEREFORE PLEASE WAIT UNTIL I SEND YOU AN INVOICE BEFORE YOU SEND PAYMENT.

SEE MY OTHER ITEMS FOR SALE.