Beatles - Please Please Me - UK 1963 1st Press *GOLD* Label MONO Parlophone LP

	£		3,600
	$		4,770

THE BEATLES - 'PLEASE, PLEASE ME'
This outstanding UK 1st MONO pressing dates from initial March 1963 release on the gold & black Parlophone label: PMC 1202

Both sides have 1st variant labels bearing the 'Dick James Mus.' credits on tracks 1, 2, 6 & 7 on side 1 and 4 & 6 on side 2.

The side 1 label has a noticeable groove running approximately 1cm inside the edge of the label. This was a result of being pressed on an old-style press which were being phased out as this album was in production.

An 'MT' purchase tax code is visible in the centre of the side 2 label.

Matrix numbers: XEX 421-1N & XEX 422-1N

Stamper codes: 1/H & 1/GD

Vinyl weight: 172g

Housed in front laminated, tri-flipback 'Ernest J. Day' printed mono cover, with 'Angus McBean' credit in the extreme lower right corner.

CONDITION

Disc

Labels: NEAR MINT

An outstanding pair with 100% perfect gold print on both labels

  As you can see, there is very little wear to the centre holes.

Visual: EXCELLENT +

Immaculate, deep-gloss playing surfaces which retain all of their original factory-shine. There is no whitening to the grooves from excessive play, confirming the fact that this copy has barely been near a turntable during the past 49 years.

  This only visual blemishes in strong daylight are a single 10mm 'feelable' scratch, of which only 3mm is on the playing surface (the rest is on the run-out) & a very faint 1cm scuff on the final track of side 2. Aside from those two blemishes, both sides are unmarked and would grade as 'NEAR MINT'. Even close examination directly beneath my powerful halogen desk lamp reveals only a few barely visible wispy paper hairlines & a sparkling rainbow shine. Both sides of this very impressive copy lie 100% flat on the turntable when playing and would be a significant challenge to upgrade.

Sound Quality: EXCELLENT +

This outstanding sounding copy has clearly been played just a few times and every track plays cleanly & clearly without any crackle or groove/playwear distortion whatsoever. Even the most easily and frequently worn tracks such as; I' Saw Her Standing There' & 'Twist & Shout', play superbly. The only only distraction, during my single careful play-check which prevented a 'NEAR MINT' audio grade, were some intermittent repeating clicks extending from the final verse to the end of 'Please, Please Me', which were due to the aforementioned scratch. However, apart from that, there is really is nothing to fault audibly and the clarity and power of the sound quality will not disappoint.

Cover: EXCELLENT

Stored in a clean, non-smoking environment all its life, this impressive example is still strong, clean and free from any significant or major wear. The front panel is bright and unworn and the high-gloss laminate finish is without any 'thumbnail' wrinkles or other such creasing or wear.

There is minor corner bruising & a small shelfwear rub to the lower right, but no significant damage or wear to either opening edge.

The exposed rear panel is unblemished and most importantly white, with no fingermarks, stains, foxing, writing or missing paper to any part. The delicate flipbacks are all still fully intact and in-place and both seams are smooth and unstressed with no flaking or missing laminate.

The spine is totally unworn and retains a flawless unworn text.

Inner-sleeve: NEAR MINT

• This item is located in and will be shipped from AUSTRIA. Priority signed for airmail postage to UK addresses will be 12 GBP**

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