THE BEATLES White Album 1968 UK non-EMI STEREO No. 0422772 TOP OPEN complete VG+

	£		119
	$		158

THE BEATLES - DOUBLE WHITE ALBUM

A sought after copy of this increasingly rare 1968 UK STEREO top loading, 1st pressing on the UK APPLE label, MONO, PCS 7067/8 in overall very good+ condition with nice shiny vinyls, overall impressive audio quality, and complete with original photos (+ spacer), poster/lyric sheet, and single-sided die-cut black inners

The dead wax matrix numbers are :

Side 1  YEX 709 - 1 with stampers "G" and "0 D" at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock respectively

Side 2  YEX 710 - 1 with stampers "4" and "PG" at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock respectively

Side 3  YEX 711 - 1 with stampers "1" and "L" at 8.30 o'clock and 2 o'clock respectively

Side 4  YEX 712 - 1 with stampers "2" and "GG" at 8 o'clock and 1.30 o'clock respectively

The overall appearance of each of the heavy duty vinyls is VG+. Each vinyl is flat and each side of each vinyl has retained much of it's original lovely glossy sheen and nice luster. In normal daylight it is possible to detect a few light scuffs and wispy hairlines and a single 1.5cm light scratch on side 1. Under a bright light, and when tilted at the right angle, quite a few more hairlines and small light scuffs come into view (more so on side 1); but the only light scratches which are feelable (and even then only just) are the aforementioned 1.5cm scratch on side 1 resulting in some mild clicking, and a further 8mm light scratch towards the end of side 3 which results in some light clicking right at the end of "Helter Skelter" and at the beginning of "Long, Long, Long".  That's not to say that there are no further light scratches, I think there are because there is the odd light click here and there spread across the entirety of this album, it's just that they are non-feelable. Overall I would grade the condition of both vinyls as a solid VG - still highly presentable and impressive considering this record's 50 year antiquity.

The labels are excellent+. In normal daylight each label comes across as near perfect. It's only under a bright light and with close inspection that a few very light spindle trails can be identified adjacent to the centre hole on each label. The side 4 label contains the "K" and "T" tax codes. Note that these are the dark green Apple label variants, indicative of very early UK pressings. Note the absence of the text "An E.M.I. Recording" on each of the four labels, making this the rarer first pressing.

The top loading and low numbered (0422772) laminated Garrod & Lofthouse laminated outer sleeve is in very good+ condition. All edges remain firm with barely any scuffing on the bottom edges and just a little mild fraying on the spine which remains firm and with all text fully intact. There is the occasional small, light laminate crease adjacent and perpendicular to the front right edge and another in the bottom left corner, but nothing significant and overall the laminate remains in excellent condition inside and outside the gatefold). There is some vertical, stripey yellowing age discolouration (very mild but nonetheless noticeable) on the front side and again (even milder) on the inside of the gatefold. The inside of the gatefold is truly excellent with jus ta couple of very light laminate creases but with all text and photography totally intact - impressive. On the reverse side there is a small depression/laminate crease towards the bottom right corner but other than that and the aforementioned minor blemishes the gatefold cover remains in truly impressive and highly presentable condition, with the embossed "The BEATLES" lettering and the "No. 0422772" in perfect condition.

The four photos are in excellent condition - no blue tac or glue residue and no pin prick holes with the rich vibrancy of the original colouring and photo clarity still perfectly intact. There is just a few specks of age discolouration at the top of the Paul McCartney photo. Comes also with the original spacer, a rarity in itself!

The folded lyric/photo poster is in excellent minus condition with no unwanted writing, no fraying, no blue tac residue or pin holes, but there is a 20cm split on the left bottom fold. Otherwise excellent.

Finally, the quality of the audio is overall very good+. In fact much of the audio quality is excellent and there is no doubting that each and every track still makes for a great listen.  With absolutely NO skips, NO jumps. and NO repeats there are some minor blemishes, however : the aforementioned light clicks on the last three tracks of side 1, a further x5 light clicks on "Yer Blues", a few light clicks on "Mother Nature's Son", some (x17) light clicks on "Long, Long, Long", and the occasional light click on "revolution No. 9". There is the further odd light click on occasional other tracks but I stress that this is all light, non-intrusive, absolutely nothing nasty, and does not prevent every track from being a great listen. There is also some occasional, very light crackle but this is non-intrusive and I stress that the overall quality of the stereo audio quality is a solid very good plus (ranging from very good to excellent plus).

The tracks are :

Side 1 :

1. BACK IN THE U.S.S.R.

2. DEAR PRUDENCE

3. OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA

4. WILD HONEY PIE

5. THE CONTINUING STORY OF BUNGALOW BILL

6. WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS

7. HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN

Side 2 :

1. MARTHA MY DEAR

2. I'M SO TIRED

3. BLACKBIRD

4. PIGGIES

5. ROCKY RACCOON

6. DON'T PASS ME BY

7. WHY DON'T WE DO IT IN THE ROAD

8. I WILL

9. JULIA

Side 3 :

1. BIRTHDAY

2. YER BLUES

3. MOTHER NATURE'S SON

4. EVERYBODY'S GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE EXCEPT ME AND MY MONKEY

5. SEXY SADIE

6. HELTER SKELTER

7. LONG LONG LONG

Side 4 :

1. REVOLUTION 1

2. HONEY PIE

3. SAVOY TRUFFLE

4. CRY BABY CRY

5. REVOLUTION 9

6. GOOD NIGHT

Comes complete with original excellent condition one-sided die-cut black inners each of which have no tears or splits, just a little fraying round the die-cuts, and remaining 100% fully functional. Excellent!  Note that I always post the record(s) in a new plain white inner sleeve(s) in order to protect the original(s).

In summary a highly collectable copy of this increasingly rare and sought after 1968 UK 1st STEREO pressing Beatles classic, a worthy addition to any serious Beatles vinyl collection and only continuing to gain in value.

 If you require any further information, including photos, then let me know and I'll do my best to oblige. 

If this record interests you then take a look at my other 60's & 70's classic vinyl listings.

A bit about myself : I have been collecting vinyl for more than 49 years and have amassed a huge collection covering a varied genre, but mostly of 1960's and 70's origin. Most of my records were originally bought by myself for my own collection, but during the past 30 years I have embellished my collection by buying records from a variety of sources : friends/acquaintances, car boot sales, auctions, and even through putting up a "vinyl wanted" notice in my wife's shop! I am now retired and take great delight in being able to spend more time scouring the country and attending boot sales and auctions in the hope of unearthing more vinyl gems...I am 64 years of age now and am still discovering bands and music of the 60's and 70's that I have never come across before. Wonderful! Richard

My ebay feedback speaks for itself so rest assured that you are buying from a trusted seller and in the very unlikely event that you are unhappy with your purchase just e-mail me and I'll sort out the problem. I offer a "no quibble" refund policy. 

On the subject of postage, I take great care in the packaging of all items, using a proper vinyl thick cardboard crucifix style mailer along with at least two cardboard stiffeners. I take great care in separating the record from the outer sleeve in order to help prevent sleeve damage in transit and I always insert the vinyl, outer sleeve and inner into a clear plastic sleeve, thus adding further protection. 

For this item postage & packaging will be Royal Mail 1st class signed for  : UK £5.00; 

and Royal Mail 1st class tracked and signed for continental Europe £12, and Rest of the World £16. 

 I do discount post & packaging costs for multiple purchases. I do NOT profit from postage.

Good luck with your bidding! Richard

NOTE : My vinyl descriptions comply with the official Record Collector vinyl grading guidelines :

Mint

The records itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items, such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

Excellent

The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear and /or creasing.

Very Good

The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

Good

The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc.

Fair

The record is still just playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents are torn, stained and/or defaced

Poor

The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents are badly damaged or partly missing.

Bad

The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler