THE BEATLES - LET IT BE RARE 1970 ORIGINAL BOX SET 2U/2U RED APPLE G+/VG+/VG- LP

	£		250
	$		331

The Beatles

LET IT BE BOX SET 

CAT. NO. PCS 7096

Masters YEX 733-2U / YEX 734-2U

Released May 8, 1970 as a deluxe box set for a very short time only, this is how Let It Be appeared when it first hit the stores. Complete with Outer Slip Case, Let It Be 1st Pressing 2U/ 2U vinyl LP with Red Apple logo sleeve, Book resting inside Inner Tray, and advertising poster. This RARE set also comes with some original portrait photos of The Beatles that were issued inside The Beatles 'White Album'. 

 Outer Slip Case and LP Sleeve:  Have graded as Very Good Minus collectively.

The outer Slip Case is only in Good Plus condition as it has some creasing and significant corner wear. It is intact along the edges so everything slides in tightly, and has held its original colour well on the four iconic front photographs. The back of the Slip Case is jet black with the 'Designed by John Kosh Photographed by Ethan A Russell Printed and made in Great Britain by Garrod & Lofthouse Limited (Patents Pending)' text clear and legible. There is some laminate bubbling here and there. 

The LP sleeve grades as Very Good. It is firm and holds the record tightly. All edges sharp with minor storage signs and corners are rather well defined. Lamination completely intact over the iconic glossy front pictorial, spine, edges - no lamination bubbling. Very clean and bright clean. A couple of marks. intact at all seams, no rips or tears, no repairs. 

Has the red Apple logo - this was quickly changed.

The spine is completely intact and all title text clear and readable.

There are no stickers, sticker residue, handwriting or handwriting imprints to the LP sleeve or the outer Slip Case sleeve.

Inner LP Sleeve: This is a standard EMI 'Made In Great Britain' and 'Patents Applied For' inner LP sleeve. By the time Let It Be Box Set was released this should have had a patent number registered, but somehow this one is still awaiting the patent!

The Vinyl Disc: Good Plus (Good Side 1, Very Good Side 2)

The vinyl surfaces have retained a bright glossy sheen on both sides with the vast majority of the surfaces being smooth with no groove wear or dulling. 

The record does show light superficial stylus hairlines/ cleaning trails over both sides commensurate with age, popularity and number of plays, all mainly visible under bright light. 

The disc lays completely flat on the turntable and sits perfectly on the spindle point.

Made on robust EMI vinyl this disc weighs 150 grams. 

There are no warps or dinks in the vinyl.

This record has two circular scratches (feelable with finger tip) on Side 1 which will cause interference to the audio quality. Both are concentric inwards toward the run-out area and are as a result of being used on a worn sixties stylus, probably part of the same instance as they are close to eachother on Let It Be and Maggie Mae. 

There are no other major marks or blemishes of this kind anywhere else on the surfaces.

The labels are Very Good Plus, near Excellent having retained the dark green and darker Apple white which were only on these first presses, they still look striking. 

Do have with spindle line traces but they don't reach outside of the centre circle areas, and are not overly heavy.

The spindle location point is near on the label paper around its perimeter. 

The black outline is not wear to the centre spindle point - this is a misalignment from where the label was printed on in the EMI factory.

All label text is clear and readable.

No sticker or sticker residue or writing.

Has the smaller 'p' for publishing.

Early Mother/ Stamps Combination:

Side 1 : 2 GP

Side 2 : 2 MP

The Audio: Very Good Minus

 The record plays smoothly with crisp original vocal clarity and full stereo channeling definition throughout with the exception of the track 'Let It Be' and 'Maggie Mae'.

At this point it is very likely there will be jumps twice on Let It Be and then again on Maggie Mae where it nears the run-out. This will depend on whether modern equipment is being used or whether a heavy stylus arm as in sixties equipment is being used - as this can usually play over the marks. This LP should not be considered as an audiophiles dream, but is still a playable example.

Track changes and interludes are generally smooth and noise free for the most part on this LP and it is still is a playable and respectable example - especially considering this is a very first pressing. Most tracks play well with no major audio detractions such as loud ticks, pops, skips or background noises that overcome the audio.

There is light crackle/ static ticks to some of the songs on each side.

The robust early sixties vinyl presses usually ensures that the audio quality tends to be better than the appearance of a played surface may suggest.

The 2U/2U  matrix number was only pressed for relatively small quantity run of these RARE deluxe box sets. This is how The Beatles new LET IT BE tracks sounded when first released.

The Inner Tray, Book and Poster:

All in a Very Good Plus condition. The book has lasted surprisingly well, it is very hard to find one in such a neat condition, near Excellent. It is firm and flat and all pages are glossy. There is hardly any storage wear to it and it is plain to see it has hardly ever been removed from the inside. The only small faults are a few marks here and there on the front and back cover. 

All pages are neat with no corners creased. No handwriting or writing imprints. Spine intact with all pages in place, none of them loose.

Inner Tray is neat with just some light wear to the underside of the fold-over flaps. The poster is in superb condition.

Somehow the four portrait photos of The Beatles in a fair condition from the White Album have found their way in - these were not part of the original box set issue of Let It Be.

If looking for a perfect sounding vinyl LP then this is probably not for you. This RARE set should be considered as a piece of Beatles history, an artifact or even an heirloom, its value will only increase in time. 

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The LP will be delivered in a quality deep cardboard LP mailer with stifferners. 

The record placed separately in a plain generic inner to prevent wear to the original.

Item will be marked as fragile and sent quick dispatch as special delivery.

Overseas will be fully tracked, insured and will be given the tracking number.

To grade this LP I am using the official Grading System for Rare records from 

The Record Collector Magazine.

Happy to refund on return if not satisfied.

If any further info. required please ask.