The Beatles White Album 1st press stereo EX- sleeve, rare crossover label

	£		27
	$		35

The Beatles White Album stereo first press numbered 0391055 

YEX 709-1 / 1 / PG

YEX 710-1 / 1 / OT

YEX 711-1 / 5 / LH

YEX 712-1 / 1 / HM

Both LPs are clean and shiny with crisp clean labels with no writing, well centred and flat on heavy 145gm vinyl.  They are the original dark green colour.  Spindle marks show the records have been well loved!  

All sides have Sold in the U.K. subject to resale price conditions, see price lists 

Sides 1, 3 and 4 have An E.M.I. recording (not in inverted commas) 33 1/3 and mfd in U.K.

Sides 2 does not have An E.M.I recording... but otherwise as sides 1/3/4

The cover is very clean and uniform white inside and out; unusually there is no yellowing and just a small blemish on the top edge near the middle.  The inside of the card (where the records go) is correctly pale grey.   

Generally it's very crisp, the corners are hardly damaged at all and the laminate is intact apart from a few tiny spots.   There are a couple of light lines in the top LH corner.  There are a few indentations and marks but they don't show much unless you look closely under a bright light.  "The BEATLES" is nicely embossed almost horizontally at 4 O'clock with the number 0391055 clearly printed below, tilted slightly downwards.   There is very little ring wear. 

The spine is clean with some cracking of the laminate down the centre but the lettering is clearly visible top and bottom.  The back has 'stereo' in small lettering top right, denoting an authentic early stereo cover.  There is very little corner damage at all, they are all very square, a little abrasion bottom left but excellent otherwise. The top opening is mostly sharp and straight with some minor laminate loss on the top LH edge also described above. The inside of the sleeve nearly perfect, sharp and white with both flipbacks nicely glued and unfrayed.  I can supply some more photos on request (eBay only allow 12).

I grade the sleeve as VG+ bordering on EX, not bad for a 43 year old cover most of which were used and abused back in the day!  

In general there is some background noise typical of the age of records when played on modern hi-fi which were rare and expensive in the 1960s.   There are visible auto-changer marks on all sides but few 'feelable' scratches and no sticks or jumps.  To be frank the vinyl is only average condition but still eminently playable, I've seen and heard far worse.  Sides 3/4 look and play better than 1/2.   There is some background noise apparent between tracks and during quiet passages but they don't seriously detract from the music and it is mostly at the beginning of each side getting better towards the middle.  Sides 3/4 have less overall crackle and just a few quiet ticks here and there.  Nothing really bad or any sticks or jumps, G+ for sides 1/2 and VG- for 3/4 in my opinion.   This clearly is subjective and also depends on your own equipment, static charge and playing conditions - the vinyl medium is hard to keep pristinely clean so that is a factor also. 

Bear in mind this record is 43 years old and although it has almost certainly seen service on a Dansette auto player it's in pretty decent shape - not perfect by any means and obviously this is subjective but in my opinion it holds up well on my Project RPM5 and Ortofon 2M blue cartridge pictured.

There is a colour poster printed by garrod and lofthouse and is the original uncensored first press with the 'kiss' decal, the lyrics are on the rear.  It is flat and square with no marks but with some sellotape (evidently from a long time ago)  and one other seam has come apart;  I believe it to be original with the record (the same old sellotape is used on the photos).

The four  original photos are on thick paper but they've had sellotape removed from the corners which has resulted in paper-lifting (see photos) - also George has a short tear top-middle.   Overall flawed but still presentable.  Like the poster I believe them to be original to the record, the wear on all items is commensurate to their age and use.  

The black inner sleeves are poly-lined replacements which are in very nice condition.  The original inners were very fragile so it's not surprising that they were changed at some point.

This is an interesting numbered first press White Album with a rare 'EMI/no EMI' crossover on sides 1/2.  Not perfect by any means but most definitely still listenable-to.  The iconic white sleeve is in lovely VG+ to even EX condition.   It also has all the authentic and original 4 photos and poster/lyric sheet in reasonable condition.  Arguably the imperfections add to the charm and authenticity of this record but your mileage may vary!

Any questions about anything please ask.

It will be packed in a professional, stiffened mailer (either new or recycled) and sent recorded delivery.

Gradings are from Record Collector magazine guidelines. I try to be conservative and list all the flaws I find.

Postage and packing is at or below cost but regrettably royalmail.com have hiked the prices for items of unusual size like records,  free local pick-up from Milton Keynes is welcome.

International prices on request but I insist on tracked and signed-for airmail so will be more expensive.  I have sold to the EU and Ireland, USA and Canada and Japan in the past.

Any questions please ask.

Happy bidding on this very nice, rare first pressing of a classic LP.

Low start and no reserve

Good luck!

Copies of the White Album with the 'An E.M.I. recording'  on one disc but not the other are not that unusual but it's very rare to see it on one side and not the other.