THE BEATLES SGT PEPPER'S LHCB SUPERB & COMPLETE 1967 UK WIDE SPINE RARER STEREO VERY EARLY 1st PRESS

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Description

The records I offer for sale are from my extensive personal collection of 1960s and 1970s albums which I have built up over the last four decades. During that time I have added duplicate copies of some of my favourite albums to my collection. I've always sought out the very best copies available as I am very particular about the records that I own. Storage space limitations dictate that the time has come for me to pass on a few of these choice albums in order to downsize my collection.

On offer here is a superb copy of The Beatles' iconic studio concept album titled  Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Catalogue Number PCS 7027. It's a 1967 UK stereo first pressing on the Parlophone record label, with a first issue Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. fully laminated wide-spine gatefold sleeve. It comes complete with the correct Sgt. Pepper cut-out insert and the psychedelic red & white "Fool" inner sleeve. [The Garrod & Lofthouse sleeve is the much rarer wide-spine version with the spine measuring 8mm in width. The Parlophone record labels have "THE GRAMOPHONE CO. LTD..." and "SOLD IN U.K...." text. The K/T tax code is embossed either side of the Side 2 spindle hole. The record matrix numbers are the earliest YEX 637-1 and YEX 638-1. The mothers and stampers are 2 P and 2 O (second mothers and sixth and fifth stampers), so it's a very early pressing. The Sgt. Pepper cut-out insert is made from thick card].

The sleeve is in EX condition with only light signs of wear and a few small laminate creases near the edges/corners. The front and back covers and the opening gatefold spread are unmarked. The internal flipbacks along the top edges are pristine. The 8mm wide spine is solid with perfect text. It's a very well preserved example of this most iconic of sleeves. Please study the supersize photos carefully as they form an important part of the item description.

The solidly-pressed record retains a deep mirror-like shine and rotates evenly on the turntable. Visually it is in VG+ condition with just a few very light sleeve-removal/rub type surface marks evident when angled against bright light. These are only superficial and do not have any significant impact on the audio playback. The yellow and black Parlophone labels are unmarked with just some spindle traces near the centres. There is barely any wear to the spindle hole. Both sides play excellently throughout with barely any discernible deterioration in sound quality and a minimum of unwanted noise. The stereo first press mix is very different to that of the mono pressings. For the serious Beatles collector I consider both to be essential.

The Sgt. Pepper cut-out insert is in unmarked MINT- condition.

The red & white psychedelic "Fool" inner sleeve has a split to the middle of the bottom edge and a few minor creases. It is otherwise in great shape.
 

Overall this is a superb and complete very early stereo first pressing of The Beatles' most iconic album which comes with the much rarer wide-spine G&L sleeve. It will make a fine addition to any record collection.
 

GRADINGS

The records that I offer for sale have been critically play-graded, at loud volume, on a Pioneer PL-L1000 tangential tracking turntable fitted with a Nagaoka MP-300 cartridge. I will only sell records that play to a high standard. My grading is strict and in accordance with the following descriptions:

·         MINT- Record is superb, almost like new, with just a few sleeve removal type surface marks and no deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve is near perfect in all respects.

·         EX Record is a top quality example with just a few very light surface marks and virtually no discernible deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve has slight wear and/or creasing.

·         VG Record has some visual surface marks, but still plays to a high standard without any major deterioration in sound quality – just a few clicks or light surface sound in places. Sleeve has normal wear and tear without any major defects but is still very presentable.

     All records can be expected to rotate sufficiently evenly on the turntable for there to be no effect whatsoever on the audio playback. Minor warps or dishing will not be mentioned as virtually all records display these features to some degree and no record is perfectly flat.

    Vinyl is not a perfect medium and even the finest quality pressings will play with a degree of residual surface sound, however minimal. Where, in my opinion, unwanted noise interferes with the listening enjoyment of the record, it will be mentioned in the item description. It is unrealistic to expect a 40+ year old record to play with a background of complete silence. Please bear this in mind when bidding.

PACKAGING         

LPs are packaged with care and well protected to ensure that they arrive safely in the same condition as they leave me. Records are removed from both inner and outer sleeves in order to prevent seam-splits in transit.

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE

LPs posted outside of the UK will only be sent International Tracked with insurance at the following cost:   

EU - £10.50

Worldwide - £14.50