Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet LP UK Mono First Pressing

$

93

Label and Year: Original "Unboxed" (see pics) Red Label Decca, LK 4995, United Kingdom Mono, First Pressing (shows first six of Matix upside down on both sides on top of the "LK 4995")
Matrix: Side A XARL-8476-4A  Side B XARL-8477-3A
Note: I have been a record collector for many years and I have graded this album using the Gold Standard both visually and audibly. Two things jumped out at me right away:
1. The sleeve, inner sleeve and record are in fantastic shape.    For being manufactured in 1968, only 4 years after I was born, this album was probably only played a dozen times by previous owner and then put away.  They say you are either a Beatles fan or Rolling Stones fan.  This guy was a Beatles fan.  He had only two Rolling Stones albums but he had many Beatles...all in shall we say well played condition.  
Record: The record especially is in impeccable condition.  Only light scuffs from the inner sleeve. A solid M-.     Sleeve: The sleeve is in  excellent (Ex) condition.  Maintains glossy laminate apprearance throughout front and back.  Has 2 extremely small indents on front cover (less than 1/8 of an inch.), which are very shallow where it was bumped against something. Not readily noticeable, only on close inspection. Has some dark ring wear on front and back but only upper and lower and is very "muted" with no loss of laminate.  Inner gatefold picture of the "Banquet" with band members is Mint.  Some very slight edgewear to seam corners from opening and closing and outer top corner but only along top edge not on front or back of cover (usual for taking in and out of shelf)  for 1/2 inch (see pics to see that this is minimal) absolutely no splits, writing, labels, etc. Extremely clean copy!    Inner Sleeve: The plastic within the inner sleeve has become separated a bit from the paper but there are absolutely no tears or splits and the paper is crisp. Grade as Excellent.  
2. The second thing to jump out at me was the clear fantastic sound that this Mono record hits you with.  For many years I thought Mono was substandard to Stereo but I find this to be untrue especially on this record... it is so crisp and so clear you feel like you are hearing it for the first time.
A note on shipping: I am sorry Italy and Russia but I cannot ship to you.  If you are out of the U.S. you are responsible for duties and taxes if any.
A TRULY FANTASTIC ALBUM...IN MY OPINION THE BEST STONES ALBUM THEY EVER CREATED.