The Beatles SGT. PEPPER'S UK 1st Press Mono NEAR MINT archive copy final upgrade

	£		102
	$		135

I acquired this absolutely remarkable copy of the first mono pressing of 'Sgt. Pepper’s' from a British collector earlier this year. I’m only selling this because I recently got a pristine widespine copy as well and promised my wife to sell the other one in order to raise funds for the widespine . It’s really hard to let this beauty go (the record, not my wife).

I pretty much copy-pasted the British collector’s description of the record because it’s so detailed and perfectly adequate. This first mono pressing is in superlative condition and is easily the best you could find. It is absolutely stunning! Played only a couple of times it comes complete with an immaculate gatefold, that has never been fully opened, and an immaculate red inner and cut out card also.

It’s a first Mono 1/1 pressing on the yellow/black label. 'The Gramophone Co. Ltd' etc. printed around the perimeter edge and 'Sold in U.K. - subject to resale price conditions' also on the labels. Sgt. Pepper's cut-out card and red 'fool' inner sleeve included. KT tax code stamp on S2 label.

Parlophone PMC 7027

XEX 637 - 1 // GTD 4

XEX 638 - 1 // GGL 2

The audio on S1 is Near Mint

The audio on S2 is Near Mint ('When I'm Sixty-Four' is Ex+)

The gatefold is Near Mint

The red inner sleeve is Near Mint

The cut-out card is Ex+

The labels are Near Mint

Visual grading

This is a glorious looking vinyl! I can safely say it has only been played a couple of times, such is the stunning visual (and audio) quality. At first glance you would honestly say it looks 'as new' as it has such a beautiful glossy sheen. On closer inspection there are a couple of mega faint hairlines and one tiny mark on track one of S2 but this has no bearing on the immaculate audio. The labels are so clean and there is only one tiny, barely visible spindle trace on each. It is so rare to find this 50+ year old first mono pressing as clean as this, and this is without doubt the most impressive one I have ever seen or heard.

Play grading

With very little lead in static the classic title track has a couple of dust ticks only on the intro and then plays in sublime style with superlative audio. The clarity and range is 'high end' and it is obvious that this vinyl has been hardly played. A stunning start with no intrusive interference.

'With A Little Help From My Friends' is simply perfect from beginning to end. With no 'background' audio, it does not get better than this. There is not one single dust tick, let alone anything more serious. Absolutely stunning!

With complete silence in the dead wax 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' then equals this impeccable standard and again plays with NM quality. This is audio of the highest caliber and there are no negatives to mention at all. The fade-out has no 'background' either. The clarity and sonic quality of the audio is immaculate, and I'm not sure I've ever heard better.

'Getting Better' and 'Fixing A Hole' again impress with sublime sound and again grade as NM, there is just no interference whatsoever. The more I listen to this album, the more distinctive it sounds. The clarity is first class and the separation is stunning. There is no muddiness to the sound and no distortion anywhere. Wow!

You often find on the first mono pressings that 'She's Leaving Home' has some interference but I am more than pleased to say that this classic plays to a level that I have rarely heard before. Towards the end there is perhaps a minor amount of distortion, but it is very minor and does not detract from what remains a stunning listen.

'Being For The Benefit of Mr Kite' ends the side with superlative sound quality once more. Again, this track is often affected by distortion but not here! For fear of repeating myself the clarity is 'high end' and again there are no clicks, pops or crackle. As less of this static and impresses with excellent clarity and no clicks or pops again. You can hear every note perfectly and it is worth noting again that the separation of all the instruments is just stunning. This is audio of the highest quality.

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'Within You Without You' has no static on the intro, just one very faint dust tick, and then proceeds to play with a great depth of sound where the bass really stands out. Not everyone's favourite track it nonetheless plays with astounding audio that quite simply plays 'as new'. I am confident in grading this as NM again the quality is that good.

'When I'm Sixty-Four' plays very clearly but there is one very quiet dull pop sound on the 'And if you say the word' line but there aren't any marks on the vinyl so it may be a pressing fault. It is not intrusive and let's face it, most sellers would not even mention it. There is also one click further in but the remainder of the track plays with nigh on perfect sound.

Normal service is resumed on 'Lovely Rita' which plays to an impeccable standard with no issues whatsoever. So often it plays with some distortion but that isn't the case here, the clarity and sonic quality is again of the highest standard.

'Good Morning, Good Morning' has a solitary dust tick on the intro and then impresses with wonderful audio and interference at all. For a louder track it plays very clearly and with none of the distortion that is so often prevalent. Even the animals at the end 'play' superbly well!

The 'Sgt. Pepper's' reprise is incredible and plays with stunning audio. The bass on the opening few bars is just so strong and high in the mix. So distinctive from start to finish.

'A Day In The Life' ends this classic album in fine style. The quiet intro has no 'background' and the clarity is second to none. It continues in the same fashion and the first crescendo section up to 'woke up, fell out of bed' builds perfectly and with no distortion. From there on the audio plays so clearly and the second crescendo section plays as well as the first. Due to the high quality of this vinyl it is not surprising that the long fade out plays with very little static.

In summary this is without doubt a final upgrade archive first press. You can see it has been hardly played and the audio pays testament to that. A couple of minor 'indiscretions' on S2 but hey, this is over 50 years old! This is as close to perfect as you will find in my opinion and will certainly add to any 'high end' Beatles collection.

Gatefold cover

In a word – stunning! This G & L laminated cover is definitely the cleanest and most 'as new' one I have ever seen. I did not fully open it as it had that lovely crunch/crackle sound of gatefold that had never been opened before and I didn't want to be the first! The edges and the more common thin spine are in superb shape with no noticeable shelf wear, and the opening edges look barely touched.  There is also practically near to no corner wear. The laminate itself is in fantastic condition with no splits or lifting anywhere. There is just one faint mark towards the top of the front cover and one small crease on the back top left. I was still able to look inside of the gatefold and it is immaculate! The colors are so strong and vibrant and the one mark you can see on the left is an ink spot and has been there since it was manufactured. There is no wear/staining on the inner spine or on the flipbacks. This is near perfect example of this iconic gatefold, visually spectacular, and one that would be quite impossible to improve upon.

Red inner sleeve & Cut Out card

The red 'fool' inner sleeve is again the most impressive one I have ever seen.  It has no splits and only very light creasing. A near perfect example.  So rare to find in this condition.

The cut out card is in excellent plus condition with almost no signs of wear at all.

The Labels

The yellow/black Parlophone labels are in near perfect condition with only one tiny spindle trace on each side. There are no marks or writing at all. The KT tax code is on the S2 label.

Play tested on my Garrard 301 & SME 3012 (stereo setup) and Thorens TD 124 & Ortofon S 212 (mono setup). This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine.

Record ships from Germany in a super safe double box with edge and corner protection. Shipping is £8.50 for registered and insured DHL airmail. PayPal only, please. Payment is expected 2 days after the auction ends. Happy bidding!