The White Album (1st Mono Press - G1 stamper on Sides 3 & 4! No 'EMI Recording' - Low Number 157634)

This first mono pressing is a superb find and plays with fantastic clarity and depth for the vast majority and there are no clicks or pops.  This has the relatively low number of 157634 and has the holy grail of all stampers on Record Two of 'G1' on both sides!  As any avid collector will know this is the stamper to have as it the very first one off the production line.

Interestingly the Beatles-collection.com site states that the first pressing has a matrix of 1/1/1/1 but as can be seen this one is 1/1/1/2 and it is the second record with the 'G1' stamper that has the 1/2 matrix.  This could be a massive rarity, a paradox perhaps, but either way this is a highly collectable album and especially in this condition.  The top-loading gatefold is also very impressive and is so 'clean' for such an early first pressing.  The four 'John Kelly' colour photos are all in superb condition and the lyric poster is also in great shape with only very minor wear.

Just to elaborate a little on the stamper info - based on EMIs GRAMOPHLTD system where G = 1, R = 2, A = 3 etc a record made with a 'G' stamper letter was produced with the first stamper.  So when you consider anything between 300 - 500 records were made with each stamper you can see just how early and rare this 'White Album' is.

First Mono Press on Apple Records.  'Sold in U.K. subject to resale price conditions' on labels but no 'An EMI Recording' text.

PMC 7067/8 // XEX 709 - 1 / XEX 710 - 1 / XEX 711 - 1 / XEX 712 - 2 // OH 5 / HG 2 / G1 / G1

The audio on S1 is Ex+ (Near Mint in many sections)

The audio on S2 is Ex+ (Near Mint / Mint- in many sections)

The audio on S3 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / tracks 5 & 7 Ex+)

The audio on S4 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / track 6 Ex)

The gatefold is a strong Ex-

The collage poster is Ex+ and the four photos are Near Mint

The inner sleeves are G+

The labels are Ex+

 Visual grading

  The vinyls are very impressive and they both retain a lovely glossy sheen.  Record One has a few faint hairlines on each side with a couple that are a little more obvious but they have no bearing on the high quality of the audio.  Record Two (with the G1 stamper on both sides) is even cleaner with a smaller number of hairlines and only a couple of more obvious ones on S3.  I must re-iterate that they are in excellent condition overall and any hairlines are purely superficial and that is reflected in my audio grading below.  There are no scratches, no radial lines or groove wear and in my opinion there cannot be many first mono pressings that are visually as good as this and the same applies to the gatefold also.  There is some spindle wear, but not an excessive amount, so the vinyls have been played a number of times although that just goes to show just how well this 'package' has been preserved down the years.  I will just point out that the first record has a minor 'kink' on one edge but is certainly not a warp and does not affect the audio or stylus in any way.  The labels and run out grooves are also in superb clean condition.

Play grading

'Back In The USSR' has some light static on the 'plane' intro and then plays loud and true with no distortion at all.  It is a superb version and has no clicks or pops, no interference at all.  'Dear Prudence' plays with great clarity and there is only a little static in the background here and there.  However, it is minor and the music and vocals can still be heard very clearly.  The quiet fade out is very impressive and has very little static.  'Glass Onion' plays incredibly well and has no intrusive interference at all i.e. no clicks or pops and has only some static on the fade out.  'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' is stunning from start to finish and easily grades as Near Mint it is that good!  It plays with wonderful clarity throughout and rarely have I heard it play so well and especially on a genuine first pressing!  'Wild Honey Pie' is nigh on perfect with only a couple of light static ticks at the end.  '...Bungalow Bill' has barely any static on the acoustic intro which is rare and then plays with impressive clarity.  There is some underlying static here and there but it is only minor and totally non-intrusive.  This track always has some static on the mono pressings I find but thankfully it is only very minor here.  Actually the more I play it the more impressed I am by the clarity and depth here!  The classic 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' has only minimal static and plays very clearly and there is hardly any distortion on the top end of Clapton's guitar which is a rarity.  A highly creditable version with not one single click or pop!  The long fade out also plays superbly well with barely any 'background'.  The quiet intro on 'Happiness Is A Warm Gun' is stunning with barely any static and then plays with great clarity and depth.  There is very little distortion which cannot often be said for this final track on the side, just a little more towards the end perhaps.  Overall though a superb end to the side.

The piano intro on 'Martha My Dear' plays with great clarity when you consider how quiet it is and the fact they are the opening grooves on the side.  From then on it plays in much the same way and with minimal light static only.  No intrusive 'background' at all.  For an album that is now over 50 years old both 'I'm So Tired' and 'Blackbird' are stunning!  There are a number of quiet sections of course and yet the playback is superb with hardly any static.  Wow!  You can hear each note so clearly, there is no 'muddiness' to the sound whatsoever.  I cannot believe what I am hearing if I'm honest!  It is often said mono recordings play with more depth and 'sound' than their stereo counterparts and it's hard to disagree when you listen to the exceptional clarity on offer here.  Whilst it may be something of an odd example the 'birdsong' is so clear, precise and loud!  The acoustic guitar is also so 'high' in the mix and plays so strongly.  Both tracks grade as Near Mint in my opinion, they are superb!  The quirky 'Piggies' goes one better and grades as Mint- the sound quality is exceptional.  The definition of the audio could not be improved upon.  The intro on 'Rocky Raccoon' plays superbly well and about 20 seconds in there are 4/5 light 'ticks' but they certainly cannot be classified as loud clicks!  The remainder plays to a fantastic standard with no other interference, to a Mint- standard in fact.  'Don't Pass Me By' has next to no static on the intro and then plays very clearly but as is so often the case there is a little distortion on the top end.  No more than what you would expect though.  'Why Don't We Do It In The Road' plays in a similar fashion with just a touch of background static but again no clicks or pops.  The quieter tracks 'I Will' and 'Julia' close the side with wonderfully clear audio.  There cannot be many first mono pressings where these two tracks play as well as this!  There is a hint of mega light static here and there and a couple of very light clicks on the latter but overall they provide a very impressive ending to the side.

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The classic 'Birthday' has stunning audio from the first groove to the last.  It displays great power and such a strong bass sound and there is no distortion at all.  Totally fantastic!  Again the depth and strength of the audio is sublime and it plays 'as new' there is no other way to describe it, Mint- without a doubt!  'Yer Blues' is very impressive with only a minimal amount of non-intrusive light static and for such a quiet track 'Mother Nature's Son' plays with great clarity and only the lightest of static for company.  It is a very 'clean' version and again there is not a single click or pop to be heard.  '...Me And My Monkey' is stunning from the word go.  It plays with tremendous power and is on a par with the best I have ever heard and is easily Near Mint if not better!  The sonic quality is just breathtaking and I suspect this track has hardly ever been played and even the fade out plays with perfect precision!  'Sexy Sadie' has very clear audio from start to finish with only mega light background static here and there, definitely not intrusive.  The long fade out is stunning and is nigh on perfect with no 'background' at all.  'Helter Skelter' just has to be heard to be believed!  It plays with supreme power and a mega powerful bassline from beginning to end.  Amazingly there is barely any distortion and this audio of the highest standard, can you believe this is on a 50+ year old vinyl!  The fade out/in/out plays perfectly with no interference.  WOW what a version!  The super quiet intro on 'Long Long Long' plays beautifully with barely any static and as it continues the audio plays very clearly with only a hint of mega light static here and there.  It is negligible and the playback is very impressive indeed.  For such a quiet closing track the clarity could not be much better in my opinion, another stunning version.

'Revolution 1' has light static on the intro and then plays with incredible clarity for the remainder.  There is just nothing that interferes with the audio and the definition could scarcely be any better.  I never wish to sound repetitive but again I am just blown away by the playback here - it is a stunning version and the fade out plays perfectly.  The super quiet intro on 'Honey Pie' is just immaculate!  No clicks or pops and next to no static.  It then proceeds to play to a very high standard with only a couple of mega light ticks and to all intents and purposes this is Near Mint although the vast majority is better than that!  'Savoy Truffle' has a depth and warmth that is first class and grades as Mint- the playback is 'as new'.  The bass once more is just so strong and adds so much to the sound.  'Cry Baby Cry' again plays with a quality that is unbelievable!  There is a depth and warmth here that is as close to audio perfection that you will find.  With only 4/5 mega quiet dust ticks this is a sublime version from start to finish.  Each note plays with perfect precision and again there is just no 'muddiness' to the sound whatsoever.  The quiet '...take me back' fade out is immaculate and yes I am running out of suitable adjectives!  The super quiet intro on 'Revolution 9' has no 'background' at all and as it progresses there is only a hint of light static but it is very sporadic.  The vast majority of this 'track' is 'as new' and the clarity is stunning with no clicks or pops.  There is no distortion on the louder sections towards the end and it is patently obvious it has not been played that much.  I wonder why!  There are only a couple of light ticks right at the end.  As any Beatles' collector knows 'Good Night' always has some distortion on the first/early pressings and it is just a matter of how much.  I am pleased to say it plays very well and whilst there is a little distortion on the vocal it is not excessive and there is very little 'background' besides, just a little static right at the end.  Not a perfect rendition but then, like I say, it very rarely is.  It still provides an excellent end to this classic album.

In summary this first mono pressing plays with a quality that is so rarely heard today.  The clarity is stunning for the vast majority and there is not one single click or pop across the entire four sides!  Yes there are a small number of 'ticks' on S2 but as I said they are not clicks.  I have graded this album as fairly as I can and as always I have listened to every second so as to provide a comprehensive grading.  There is no intrusive 'background' to be heard and the second record with the G1 stamper I have graded as Near Mint with the exception of the final track.  As can be seen from the photos and my grading below the gatefold is also very impressive and is easily the 'cleanest' I have seen housing a first press.  A superb 'complete' package overall that will impress any collector.

The 'Top-loader' Gatefold

The G & L laminated mono cover is one of the most impressive I have seen in a long time.  The top loading edges are very clean with only minor wear although the top edge of the front cover has just a little more rubbing/creasing mainly on the left.  The wide spine has lost none of its shape with very little wear and you can still read 'The Beatles' and the catalogue numbers if you look closely.  The corners have very little rubbing and this is a rarity.  The front cover is very clean with only a small number of faint 'specks' and some fade lines that run down it vertically but it has not lost very much of its original white colour.  So many are badly discoloured but this is certainly not one of them and the No 0157634 can read easily.  The back cover is similarly in great order with only a couple of tiny marks and the inside of the gatefold is in immaculate condition.  The laminate throughout could hardly be any better and there is no lifting or splitting to be seen.  A lovely example of this iconic cover that will not disappoint.

The Labels

The 'no Emi' Apple labels are extremely clean with no marking or writing and still retain their original colour.  There is some spindle wear although not a great deal.

The Collage Poster and Four Portraits

The lyric poster has no splits or tears and only minor creasing.  It really is in lovely condition for its age and the photos are in near perfect condition with only a couple of tiny corner creases.

The Inner Sleeves

The black poly-lined inner sleeves have seen better days.  There is a fair amount of creasing, a couple of side splits and some tearing on the 'windows'.  Good that they are there though and could be replaced.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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