LOVE: Out Here (Blue Thumb / Monarch TEST PRESSING)

• Condition : Covers are VG++, some ringwear from storage. Everything else is NM except for a few bits of scuff on "Stand Out" that make a few light tics, like some grit got into the innersleeve.
• Description : VERY RARE 1969 test pressing of 2LP set. Basically, Blue Thumb used these test pressings as a sort of promo package for their distributors. Each LP is in its own cover: these are plain white covers with Blue Thumb address stamps in blue ink and "Love" logos stamped in red. Both covers note "Titles & Times: Enclosed" and which sides are in that cover. The first LP's cover adds a handwritten note from Don Graham, one of the three owners of the label. The person the note is addressed to was the main guy at Blue Thumb's distro in Florida in 1969. I've seen one other copy of this package in person (in a friend's personal collection) and one more complete set shows up on Popsike (plus one loose disc of sides 3&4 only). All of these sets had the first LP's jacket noted the exact same way, with a handwritten note from the label guy to the main man at a distributor. I don't know how many independent distributors Blue Thumb had in 1969 but I assume that number would equal the number of these sets that were sent out. Each LP has the normal generic Monarch Test Pressing labels, with the sides noted in marker and a "Love" logo ink-stamped in BLUE on Side One and Side Two and in RED on Side Three and Side Four. For tracklist info, they included what appear to be printer's layout instructions for each side's label design. Interestingly, these appear to be photocopies (which have yellowed considerably with age) of the actual instructions used to typeset the labels at a Columbia plant (which was one of the other pressing plants that Blue Thumb used, aside from Monarch in L.A.) These are four of these sheets included, stapled together in sets of two (i.e. one set for each LP). Finally, there is a poster (approx. 11"x18", found quarterfolded) which appears to be a printer's proof for a full-page trade advertisement, which I suppose would have run in Billboard, Cash Box or Record World at the time. This says "Truly Cosmic" and hypes the Love LP as well as Southwind's "Ready To Ride", "Memphis Swamp Jam" and Ike & Tina Turner's "The Hunter". I have scanned part of the poster, you can see the color bars and alignment marks in the scan. Again, only a few of these sets were made, I know personally that three exist today including this one, the one on Popsike and my friend's; how many more could have survived? Reasonable reserve.

• Buyer pays $7 for priority / delivery conf. shipment OR $3.50 for media mail / delivery conf. shipment in USA; foreign billed at approximate cost (see rates below). Combine multiple wins to save on shipping. PA residents must add 6% sales tax. NOTE: shipping to Mexico is the same cost as to Canada, and shipping to South America is the same cost as to Europe, generally. Ebay's lsting format does not let me break out South America separately from Mexico and Canada for shipping costs so it appears as though I don't ship there, but I do. I ship WORLDWIDE.
• GUARANTEE: Condition of this item is guraranteed to be as stated in the above description. Grading is strict and visual. All used LP's are cleaned on a Loricraft machine before grading. Sorry, I do not guarantee "musical content". If you are going to bid high on an unfamiliar album, consider first checking out the sounds online or via a reissue, etc in order to avoid potential disappointments. You cannot return a record simply because you don't like the music.
• Records are shipped in a cardboard record mailer with sufficient padding, and the disc is removed from the jacket to prevent seamsplits.
• I do not end auctions early. No offense, but if you ask, you will not receive a reply, sorry.
• Please do not ask me to email you with a list of every song on an LP. If you are looking for a specific song, inquire with the name of the song, I'll check ASAP to see if it's on the LP and reply promptly, but I don't have time to type out the names of every track, sorry to say. Also, sorry but requests from underbidders along the lines of "I didn't win, could you A) dub the record to CD for me B) ask the high bidder to dub the record to CD for me or C) give me the winner's email so I can ask" are ignored due to legal and privacy concerns.
• I have been selling records via mail order since 1989. Bid with confidence!
• ALL US shipments are sent with delivery confirmation included in the shipping cost. I will insure any package sent within the USA worth over $100 for no extra cost. OVERSEAS: the cheaper shipping option on your invoice (First Class Mail International) does not include insurance or tracking. With FCMI service, Registered Mail (includes tracking number and requires your signature upon delivery) is available for $10.80 extra per parcel; if you want Registered Mail added to your FCMI parcel, ask. The higher price option on your invoice (Priority Mail International) includes a tracking number and, to most countries, around $80 in insurance coverage, as part of the shipping cost. However, Registered Mail service is not available with Priority Mail International service.

SEE MY OTHER EBAY AUCTIONS for similar items. Nice lot of rare items this week, mostly 1960s / 70s psych, rock and private pressings, all are from a massive private collection I purchased recently. Also check my store (link above) for SEALED vintage rock & psych warehouse find LPs from the 1960s-early 1970s. All of the records listed for auction are ORIGINALS, not reissues! If you need to ask me about any label variations, matrix numbers, etc., please do so BEFORE you bid. Thanks.

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