The Beatles White Album, MONO top-opening VG+/EX-

	£		99
	$		131

The Beatles White Album

Mono very early pressing, top-opening  0419506

Matrix / Mother / Stamper

XEX 709-1 / 5 /  OM

XEX 710-1 / 7 /  OL

XEX 711-1 / 1 /  RA

XEX 712-1 / 4 /  OD

Both LPs are clean and shiny with crisp clean dark green labels on sides 1 and 3.  The records are well centred and flat on very heavy 155gm vinyl.   

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

An E.M.I. recording  is absent on all 4 labels, only  33 1/3 and mfd in U.K. denoting a very early pressing

In general there is some background noise typical of mono records played on modern hi-tech stereo decks which were barely conceived of back in the day!  There is a visible mark near the start of side 1.  It doesn't sound in 'Back in the USSR but clicks for a minute or so in Dear Prudence with a couple of slight skips.   The rest of the side is very good, the strong, rich mono sounds great. The rest of sides 1/2 are excellent and easily meet VG+.  There is some light surface noise between tracks but it doesn't much intrude on the music.  A previous owner's initials show on the white labels on sides 2 and 4 but these are small and discrete.

Sides 3/4 have some visible marks but they don't intrude.  Apart from this once again I'd rate both sides VG+  Bear in mind this record is 43 years old!!!

The cover is very clean and with only a very slight yellowing near the spine and top.  The inside of the card (where the records go) is pale grey.  There are some slight corner creases bottom left and right (see photo) but generally it's very crisp, the corners are nice and square and the laminate is pretty well intact.  There are a few indentations and marks from normal use 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 0419506 clearly printed leaning slightly downhill below.   There is very little ring wear. 

The stem is clean with some cracking of the laminate down the centre but the lettering is clearly visible top and bottom.  The back has no lettering whatever denoting mono.  There is a light crease in the bottom LH corner but very little corner shelf damage. The top opening is mostly sharp with some minor laminate loss on the top RH edge. The inside is sharp and white.

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

There is a colour poster printed by garrod and lofthouse with the original 'kiss' decal and the lyrics on the rear.  It is flat and square, no evidence of being pinned up and the seams are crisp with no tears but there are couple of small stains (looks like tea) near the top which don't detract from the overall appearance.  Even not allowing for its age I'd grade this as VG+ even EX-

The four photos on thick paper are in VG+ to EX condition, Ringo has a small crease bottom left and all four have neat pinholes in the corners.  

The black sugar-paper inner sleeves are original, one has a small tear above the the die-cut centre, the other has a short split on the LHS, easily VG+.  I have included anti-static poly liners from when the records were last cleaned on a professional Moth machine.  This is a really clean, nice first-pressing of this iconic LP with a numbered top-opening sleeve in very good condition.   It will be packed in a professional, stiffened mailer (either new or recycled) and sent recorded delivery.

If you've never listened to this album in mono it's a real treat; the mix is so much richer and in a few places completely different to the stereo pressing.  It also has all the authentic and original sleeve, inners, four photos and poster/lyric sheet all in decent condition.

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

Postage and packing is at cost, local pick-up from Milton Keynes is welcome.

International prices on request, I regret that I may have to decline to send to certain countries but 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 fair reserve!

Good luck!

BUY-IT-NOW PRICE REDUCED!