The Beatles Please Please Me Gold Mono 1st Press RARE 1GR/1GD Stampers TOP AUDIO

	£		295
	$		391

 The Beatles - 'Please Please Me' 

1st "Gold" Pressing - Earliest 'Dick James' Credits 1GR/1GD Stampers

Side 1: XEX 421 - 1N (6 o'clock)

Side 2: XEX 422 - 1N (5 o'clock)

Mothers/Stampers:

Side 1: (9 o'clock) 1      (3 o'clock) GR

Side 2: (9 o'clock) 1      (3 o'clock) GD

You are bidding on an incredibly rare copy of the most significant album ever made. This was the album which changed music forever. This copy is rare not just by its '-1N' matrix (indicative of a first press), but also by its earliest 'Dick James' credits and very rare mothers/stampers: 1GR/1GD!!! 

Undoubtedly, this is one of the rarest albums there is out there, particularly with this variation. With this in mind, you are not just bidding on a remarkable album, but also on a significant piece of history. A solid investment for your collection, for this piece is genuinely rare.

Grading 

(According to the ‘Rare Record Collectors’ Guide’s Criteria/ My personal audio setup) With regard to all gradings, it is useful to 'give or take' to allow for some room either side. That being said, I really do try to be accurate, or to even lean on the stricter side of grading rather than the lenient, so that you recieve an accurate or better grading. To most this is common sense, but I add this just to avoid any time-consuming dispute. Thank you for understanding! 

Cover: G    The cover is presentable and free from any major defects. 'Printed and made by Ernest J. Day & Co' can be seen on the back in the bottom right, as you would expect from this press. Laminate front holds reasonably well, barring some creasing. There are some tears towards the top right, top left and lower right (as can be seen from the photos), alongside some pieces of tape towards the lower right and lower left which, being at the edges only, are not too intrusive nor distracting from the main body of the cover photo. There are a couple of indents on the cover - inside the yellow 'the beatles' text: in the 't', and towards the top right. Again, I wouldn't say these are too distracting. 

The back is legible and free from any writing. There is some discolouration as consummate with age and use. There are no tears on this side. All the text is clear and legible. The 3 'flipbacks' are present as expected with this issue; of which the bottom one has an inch and a half or so missing, although still allowing for the 'Ernest J. Day & Co' part to be visible. The spine is fully legible barring some slight creasing. Overall, I would say that this is a reasonable copy given its rarity and how it compares relative to most other copies. Usually these copies are found in heavily defected/torn/graffitied condition, so considering this, this is a realistic and sensible expectation of this press, and one which still remains practical, usable and displayable. Please feel free to inspect the photos provided.

Vinyl (Visually): VG  The playing surface retains a lovely deep lustre and shine all around. The 'gold' labels are reasonably clean and hold a good aesthetic barring a few handling marks. Very little spindle wear - certainly compared to most others! Again, there is no writing or nasty marks. The surface has the usual sleeve removal marks, other wispy hairlines, and some other, perhaps, more 'noticeable-to-the-eye' marks. Having said all this, the majority of these marks are superficial or light, and none are deep/feelable. Therefore, whilst there are many wispy lines etc. I feel like VG is still justified, and is a fair grading. I have taken photos of the more 'noticeable' marks so you can get an idea of what I am referring to. However, please consider that these marks can only be seen under strong light - for under normal light conditions most are invisible. If you go searching for marks, you can of course find them, but if you are just casually pulling the vinyl out of the sleeve to play, you probably won't notice them. Please zoom into the photos provided, as they are high quality and will allow you to inspect the surface thoroughly, particularly the 9th photo, which I would say is the most noticeable mark of all the total playing surface. Even so, this is only noticeable when held at a certain angle - turn it the other way and it virtually disappears. Again, I am deliberately trying to display the disc under revealing light for the purposes of selling - ordinarily you won't be able to see that many.

Playback (if applicable): VG+  The performance was absolutely fantastic. This was played all the way through (on my sensitive cartridge) at a good volume. It played entirely without any skips, jumps, sticks etc. There was little to no background noise. Most tracks performed with almost no surface noise at all. At most there was some slight static, maybe a handful of light ticks in places, maybe a few pops that you expect with any piece of vinyl, but overall nothing intrusive or overwhelming. Any background noise was very tolerable. The sound was punchy and bright, holding a great dynamic range. The instruments and voices had great spacing and clarity. This is definitely a great playing copy. VG+. Vinyl sits perfectly flat. A light clean could possibly remove the little surface noise there is. But as it stands currently, this is what I personally would regard as top audio. 

Additional comments: Dark brownish gloss labels, holding a slight textured aesthetic - which is a proper 1st issue!!! 

As a gesture of good faith, I have play tested all of my items over £20 (entirely) so that you can grasp a firm and transparent understanding of the performance - please see above for this. This will, in alignment with convention, go alongside a meticulous visual grading (of which I aim to be as fair and accurate as possible). As shown, detailed photos of the item are provided, allowing you to view it with great clarity: please feel free to inspect it for yourself. For the purposes of certainty, I will complement the photos with a supplementary description. As a bonus (for all my items), I ensure the item is packed in a strong purpose-built mailer, with stiffeners and bubble wrap. I will also clean the vinyl, attempt to remove any present static and place it and the sleeve in a protective cover (as further reinforcement to the packaging). I do not, unlike most other people, charge for such extras – and so postage remains at its lowest cost for the chosen delivery! I am happy to answer any additional questions about the item, if there is something i've missed. 

All items above £15 will be 'signed for', for seller & buyer protection. Again, I will happily absorb this cost! 

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Thank You.