Beatles White Album MONO low number 0106007 top-opening wide spine EX/VG+

	£		208
	$		276

The Beatles White Album

Mono very early pressing, very low number top-opening  0106007 with very wide spine!

Matrix / Mother / Stamper

XEX 709-1 / 7 /  GRT

XEX 710-1 / 3 /  GDG

XEX 711-1 / 1 / RO

XEX 712-1 / 3 / RD

Both LPs are clean and shiny with crisp clean labels, unmarked, well centred and flat on heavy 145gm vinyl.  The labels are pristine and are the original dark green colour.  

All sides have Sold in the U.K. subject to resale price conditions, see price lists

There is no 'An E.M.I. recording' on any side denoting the very earliest press (the labels were printed in error which was corrected in later pressings).

The visual appearance of the vinyl is excellent, very shiny with no visible scratches and no warps.

There is some background noise typical of mono records played on modern hi-tech stereo decks - it is noticeable between tracks but at a level lower than the music.  It is definitely audible and consistent but the strong, rich mono sound shines through thoughout.  There are no major scratches or ticks.

In my opinion allowing for the fact that this has hardly been played at all in the intervening 40+ years it easily meets VG+ and could benefit more from professional deep cleaning (eg on a Keith Monks machine).   It holds up well on my Project RPM5 and Ortofon 2M blue cartridge for which it was never envisaged that it would be played on.  Obviously this is subjective and bear in mind modern equipment reveals a lot more of the deep mono groove than would have been the case when this LP was played in its heydey!

The cover is very clean and uniform white inside and out and there is no yellowing from 1960's cigs even on the spine.  The edges are nice and square with very little wear or discolouration on the openings (see photo), the corners are hardly damaged at all considering its age and the laminate is intact apart from about an inch of lifting on the spine.  There are a few indentations and marks but they don't show much unless you look closely under a bright light.  "The BEATLES" is crisply embossed leaning upwards at 4 O'clock with the number 0106007 clearly printed leaning downwards below.   There is very little ring wear front or back.  The back of the record is clean with a few minor spots and no yellowing. 

The stem is clean with some cracking of the laminate down the centre but the lettering is clearly visible top and bottom.  There is a light crease in the bottom LH corner and very little corner damage. The top opening is mostly sharp with some minor laminate loss on the top RH edge. The inside is sharp and white.

I grade the sleeve as EX- not bad for a 43 year old cover most of which were used and abused back in the day!  

There is a colour poster printed on thick paper by garrod and lofthouse with the original 'kiss' decal and the lyrics on the rear.  It is flat and square, no evidence of being pinned up and the seams are crisp with no tears.  Even not allowing for its age I'd grade this unhesitatingly as EX+ and I believe it to be original with the record.  It's the best condition of any original poster I've seen, no cracks and as near perfect as can be.

All the original photos  are present on thick paper in EX to EX+  with both original rarely available spacers.  One spacer is in pristine condition, the other is slightly foxed along its top edge.   Like the poster I believe them to be original to the record. 

I have included the original NEMS poly bag for historic purposes - this indicates that the record was almost certainly purchased at the famous North End Music Store in Liverpool once owned by Brian Epstein.  I have no reason to doubt the person I bought it off so it's very likely that this poly-bag is contemporaneous with the LP which means it was most likely bought at NEMS.  The intervening years have not been kind to flimsy polythene so it's sadly no longer fit for purpose - but the NEMS label is clearly visible on the top! 

The black sugar-paper inner sleeves are original and are in very good condition which I rate EX-.  I have included anti-static poly liners.  This is a really clean, nice example of this iconic LP with a low-numbered top-opening sleeve in excellent condition for its age.   It will be packed in a professional, stiffened mailer (either new or recycled) and sent recorded delivery.

If you've never listened to this album in mono it's a real treat; the mix is so much richer and in a few places completely different to the stereo pressing.  It also has all the authentic and original sleeve, inners, four photos with the very rare original spacers and poster/lyric sheet all in super condition.

Gradings are from Record Collector magazine guidelines. I try to be conservative and list all the flaws I find.

Postage and packing is at cost, local pick-up from Milton Keynes is welcome.  If anyone would like to come to audition the discs before bidding they are most welcome (but contact me privately first).

International prices on request, I regret that I may have to decline to send to certain countries but I have sold to the EU and Ireland, USA and Canada and Japan in the past.

Any questions please ask.

Happy bidding on this very nice, rare low-numbered first pressing of a classic LP.

Low start and NO reserve (I'm going to be brave and trust the market on this!)

Good luck!