Beatles Sgt Pepper **DECCA CONTRACT PRESSING** STEREO

	£		491
	$		651

RECORD SALE

YEX 638-1

This record is part of my personal collection that I have been recently sorting through with the intention of selling duplicates of discs I don't need. Some of my current records for sale on eBay are *highly* collectible, so please take a look at my other current auctions. Postage discounts are of course available. NO RESERVE is set on this album.

This is a ONE OF A KIND auction. The history behind this record is a mystery, the last two copies which were sold on eBay were sold as Decca contract pressings. This is now known to be incorrect but the fact still remains that this is NOT an EMI / Parlophone pressing - the record I'm selling here is an unknown contract pressing. And to top off its rarity, this is the ONLY known stereo copy in existence. Of course, more must exist as there are two mono copies - surely there must be more out there - but no other copies have knowingly turned up in 40 years...

Being a serious Beatles collector myself I am understandably reluctant to sell this LP. The chances of me finding another copy are almost nil - I'd be very surprised if I even *see* another one in the future! But due to its high value I have to sell it, I can't afford to hold on to a luxury such as this. So here's an opportunity to grab a highly prized disc from my personal collection...

Please take a look at an article I wrote on the BeatlesCollecting website a couple of months ago where I (attempt!) to uncover which company pressed this disc: http://www.beatlescollecting.co.uk/pepperdecca.html

The stereo disc on display there is my personal copy which is the same one I am selling here, this IS the only copy. Therefore all the information regarding the stereo copy on the weblink is relevant to the disc on sale here.

I can't stress enough, this is the ONLY chance of finding this LP in the forseeable future. Many Beatles experts have stated that they've only ever seen the two mono Sgt Peppers that sold in the past few months as contract pressings - *none* that I've spoken to have seen a stereo contract copy in all the time since this album was released in 1967. I hate to overhype my auctions with generic "IMPOSSIBLY RARE!!" and "MEGA RARE!!!!" phrases but in this case it really is true, this is "mega rare" in the true sense of the phrase - it's guessed that only a handful could possibly exist and *not one* has ever appeared for sale except for this one now...

As you would expect for a contract pressing disc, there are no stamper numbers at the 3 'o' clock position in the deadwax, only the following machine printed etchings:

- Side 1 at 9 'o' clock = 3
- Side 1 at 3 'o' clock = (blank)
- Side 1 at 12 'o' clock = (blank)

- Side 2 at 9 'o' clock = 3 3 (one above the other, although the top one is messy)
- Side 2 at 3 'o' clock = (blank)
- Side 2 at 12 'o' clock = (blank)

An interesting note to this disc's deadwax is that it doesn't conform to the standards of the other Parlophone discs. The matrix numbers are at 11 'o' clock to the label's position on both sides, thereby making the 9 'o' clock figures stated actually being visible at 1 or two 2 'o' clock in relation to the labels. Its consistency on both sides indicates to me that it could be standard practice for the company who actually pressed this disc.

Vinyl Visual: EX-
The vinyl is lovely and clean and has a deep shine, but there are a few light markings across both sides. None of these are major or seem to make an audible noise and only one or two are visually noticeable. If it wasn't for those one or two I'd grade the disc visually as EX. The vinyl is of course unbanded which gives the impression of one long track. No warps at all, perfectly flat.

Vinyl Audio: VG+
There are the usual crackle and clicks which clears up at times. There is background noise here and there throughout but as I said this does tend to clear up further into both sides and at times almost disappears completely. No skips or jumps were noticed on my turntable. These background noises really don't interfere with the listening experience and really aren't that bad. Besides, this particular disc isn't really to be bought for a Mint listening experience after all!!

Vinyl Labels: EX+
The first thing I will say about these labels is that they are not made of the usual EMI paper. The grain of the paper doesn't feel or look as tightly woven as usual which therefore makes the text look a bit thicker and not as defined. There is very minimal spindle hole wear and very faint spindle scratching, these are lovely labels! Due to the composite of the paper I doubt that you could get better looking labels even if you *could* find another contract pressing example of this LP, as I would imagine they would wear quicker than the smoother EMI labels.
The famous ridge underneath the labels is, as described in my article on the BeatlesCollecting website, of a different shape to a Decca ridge. It is also not as sharp edged as Decca, I cannot find a likeness from any UK pressed LP of this era. There are definite similarities with USA discs though such as Atlantic. Whatever record company were contracted to press this record must have been a very small independent label who used an older American pressing machine, no large American company based in the UK seemed to have used this type of under-label design.

Sleeve: VG+
This is a standard '67 G&L stereo sleeve with no "patents pending" or the like. Front and back have very minor laminate creasing and there are no sleeve bends. Spine is complete and unworn except at the very extreme top and bottom edges, but the laminate is not as tight as it could be in a couple of places along the length. It has not torn though. The opening mouth is quite sharp still but through use it has softened a little. There is a small split at the top edge of the left hand gatefold perhaps 1cm long. It's minor and has not penetrated into the inside of the sleeve to make a hole so with a little glue it could easily be remedied. It's really not that noticeable though, I'm only stating it for the sake of it! This is a used sleeve but overall it's pretty nice. The cut outs unfortunately aren't present and I haven't got a spare one to slip in there, but they're easy to come across anyway.

Inner Sleeve: G
The correct "patents applied for" Fools Inner is present but has a split in the centre of two sides. There is also the remains of sellotape at the bottom edge and some writing on one side. It has wear along the opening edge but has no tears. Not perfect, but usuable and again quite easily replaced.

*****************************************************************************

*****************************************************************************

**If the winning bidder is in the UK, Paypal can't really be accepted - a cheque would be prefereable.**
Owing to the nature of this LP, it is advisable to use a postage option that has a high insurance. I will discuss this with the winning bidder.

SMALL PRINT
- Securely packaged in a custom mailer with cardboard sheets inside for protection. If you'd like further packing inside let me know and I'll see what I can do.
- Postage costs cover ACTUAL Royal Mail postage and packaging costs only. I do not make profit on postage.
- Cash is accepted but sent TOTALLY at the winning bidders risk. This is not an advised method of payment and as such I will accept no responsibilty for loss of monies in the post.
- Returns are accepted if there is a genuine problem with the item you have received from me, although I'm not responsible for damage in the post. I'm very careful with packaging - I send my items the way I like to receive them!! I will not be responsible for postage costs for returns. I reserve the right to refuse a return if I believe the circumstances to be unworthy and/or dubious.
- If the item is not sent by recorded delivery or with insurance (the buyer's choice) then I can not be held responsible if the item gets lost in the post. If the unfortunate does happen then I always get a proof of postage receipt and will help you as much as I can.

 Phew! Best of luck!

International Signed For with up to
£500 Compensation

These prices are for ONE LP only. Postage discounts on multiple items are of course available, I only charge actual costs for more than one LP which is why I'll contact the winning bidder with a total p&p figure in case some of the records are lighter, therefore making actual postage more accurate than a general figure I guess at beforehand.

Please wait for me to send you an invoice before you pay if you have won more than one item. Please let me know which postage option you have chosen when you send payment. Thanks!