THE BEATLES Help LP UK 1st Mono MINT/NEAR MINT

	£		64
	$		85

whiplashrecords Store

Whiplash records : est. 1989

THE BEATLES - Help!

Original UK 1st Press Mono LP

Parlophone (PMC 1255)

Scroll to the bottom for 20 super sized images.

Very rare (in this condition) and very early UK Mono pressing on the yellow and black Parlophone label. These seldom hit the market in anywhere near this condition and are extremely sought after. A genuine very early press original with "Sold in the UK..." and "The Gramophone Co Ltd" text on the labels. This comes in the correct front laminated Garrod and Lofthouse Patents Pending sleeve with outline mono on the front.

We are so thrilled to be able to offer this Beatles rarity for sale. Sometimes an item is just so desirable that i get more of a kick from being able to offer it for sale than if i bought something off my own wants list.

As you will have gathered by now, if you have your speakers switched on, we have recorded the entire album for you. We have nothing to hide here and want you to be really happy with your purchase should you win the auction.

This whole album was recorded on our most sensitive set up. A Nagaoka cartridge with a Nagaoka elliptical stylus. This is one unforgiving set up and any problems can be heard all too easily.

I've listened through two times before recording and the playback is simply incredible. You really would be hard pushed to find a better quality audio experience. Lets not forget this is a Beatles album from 1965, most copies are absolutely trashed, but not this one.

The playback is deep and punchy with superb clarity. There are no pops, no clicks, no sticks, no jumps and not even any crackle during any of the songs including the quietest ones. There is some very low level crackle between the first three tracks on both sides, but after that even the silent parts between tracks are crackle free, even the sound wave on the recording software was nearly completely flat. This album has been played but only carefully on the best of equipment. Absolutely no groovewear whatsoever. Just imagine what it sounds like on your deck, so much better than the soundfile.

Just incase you're worried that this is leading to a vg record with great sound, rest assured the visual grade is just as good. A nice shiny record that has not been overplayed. Please read on for full details.

If you win one of these records rest assured that we do not use those flimsy record mailers. We pack with the record outside of the sleeve (inside a new plain inner sleeve), placed in a polythene sleeve and then inside a cruciform box with stiffeners. All packing materials are new. We want your item to reach you in the condition it leaves us.

HELP!

An incredibly hard to find and genuine first issue record and first issue sleeve in wonderful condition. Nice early matrix markings. Scarce first issue sleeve with basically no wear, as good as the day it left the shop. A stunning m/nm copy that would be a fabulous addition to anyones collection, especially considering the superb near mint audio. Would be impossible to upgrade the sleeve on this copy.

This is the rare first issue sleeve. A Garrod and Lofthouse patents pending flipback sleeve with laminated front and outline mono on the front. The first thing you notice is how white the front and back are. You very rarely ever see this white sleeve this crisp and white, most have browned with age. Even the flipbacks are ultra crisp with no wear. The sleeve opening is pretty much crisp as well. I can't see any wear that would not be on any brand new sleeve. If i was to be ultra critical there are just a few of the tiniest laminate creases that really are very small and really have to be searched for. Basically as good as it left the shop.

No Ringwear

No Tears

No Writing

No Splits

No Corner bumps

No Bends

No Indentations

No Rubbing

No Sticker tears or residue

No Pressure marks

The labels are genuine first issue too. The labels are the so called yellow and black Parlophone labels. These labels have the correct "Sold in the UK" and "The Gramaphone Co Ltd" text that all first pressings should have. A slight variation on this copy, it has textured labels. Most copies come with ultra smooth labels but thse are textured like you find on some contract pressings.

Comes with correct poly lined Emitex inner sleeve in excellent condition.

The labels are in excellent condition. A very light touch of ringwear with some spider marks around the spindle hole, but just very short ones. A record that has been played, but obviously carefully on very good equipment and then stored away for years.

No Writing

No Tears

No Finger marks

This copy also has early matrix stampings:

Side 1) XEX 549-2 (4 ATM)

Side 2) XEX 550-2 (1 over 3 ALD)

The record surfaces still have a nice sheen to them and look near mint in indirect daylight. When angled under two very bright 50 watt halogen bulbs i can only make out some wispy paper scuffing.

No Scratches

No Hairlines

No Scuffs (apart from paper scuffs)

The playback is near mint. There is only light crackle on both run in grooves and extremely low level crackle between the first three songs on both sides. There may be the slightest touch of occasional crackle during Yesterday but i was listening very careful and wasn't sure if i could make out just a touch or not. Best playback for Yesterday i've heard on any copy of Help. We have not used any noise reduction on the soundfile, no other software, just recorded directly into the computer with our most sensitive set up. The sound through our system is just incredible, crisp, clear and strong with no sign of groovewear.

No Crackle during songs

No Clicks

No Pops

No Sticks

No Jumps

Please note that we grade all records the same way, whether they're 40 years old or one year old.

CONDITION

Sleeve:

Mint

Record:

Visual: Near Mint

Playback: Near Mint

Our grading is strict so as not to disappoint, we have been selling on ebay since 1998 & know how important this is. Grading of records is done with the record angled under a 100 Watt bulb. Scans are of actual item up for auction. All records are packed securely & most importantly packed outside of the picture sleeve (in a plain inner sleeve) so as to avoid seam splits during shipping.

SHIPPING COSTS

U.K: £4.00 (Special Delivery)

Rest of Europe: £10.00 (International Signed For)

U.S.A./Canada: £12.00 (International Signed For)

Rest of the world: £13.00 (International Signed For)

If the final price is low enough we will remove the cost of Registered Post.

PAYMENT DETAILS

Paypal
Payment within 7 days please.

We can only ship to the following countries by International signed For mail: France, The Netherlands, Russia. Please wait for an invoice. We no longer ship to Poland under any circumstances.

Near Mint
Almost mint. Very minor paper scuffs and very little else can appear on the vinyl. This will most likely have occurred during packaging, or removing the record from the inner sleeve but obviously it had been handled with extreme care. Any flaw should be very hard to see. The cover should look as close to perfect with only minor signs of wear and/or age. Minor impressions to the cover (due to the outer edge of the vinyl resting inside) may be acceptable, however the artwork should be as close to perfect as can be.

Excellent
An excellent condition for vinyl will allow minor scuffs (Scuffs lay on top of the grooves) which are visible but only slightly.The wear should be minimal.The play should be close to perfect as well. Some impression to the cover (minor outer ring wear) but no ink wear. Some slight creases to the corners, but not wrinkled and obtrusive to the eye. The corners can show a little white, meaning slight wear. No seam splits or writing on the cover or taped repairs.

VG++
As Excellent but with a larger number of scuffs, maybe a couple of hairlines (very light scratch that can't be felt) or a couple of marks. Sound quality should still be very close to that of an Excellent record with only minor crackle in quiet segments only, NO scratches that can be felt. Cover as Excellent but there may be a small seam split on the cover, or a very minimal amount of writing like a name written in small writing or a number. A VG++ record should be an acceptable record to live with if you aren't looking to pay the price of a Near Mint copy.

Please add us to your favourites list!

Please look at my other items!