The Beatles White Album UK 1st Press MONO NO "An EMI Recording" PMC 7067/68

$

178

Collecting Beatles since 1976
All offered Records are 2nd, or more copies from my own collection located in good old Berlin, Germany.
100% Genuine Vinyl Vintage ~ No Counterfeits

The Beatles
»White Album«

U.K. 1968 ~ 1st Press ~ Dark Green Apple ~ MONO
TOP Opener with Black InnerSleeves
NO ?An E.M.I. Recording? remark on labels

Record Details   Origin   United Kingdom Release Type   Original Release Format   2 LPs, 12", GFC Opens to   to TOP Label   Dark Green Apple Catalog No   PMC 7067/68 Copy #   345,905 Pressing   1st THIS Copy issued   3rd week of November 1968 Sound Mix   mono Overall Grading   VG(must see details) Matrix Side A   XEX 709-1 Matrix Side B   XEX 710-1 Matrix Side C   XEX 711-1 Matrix Side D   XEX 712-1 Stampers noted at 0300 0900 position, unless indicated otherwise Stamper Side A   GRT 1 Stamper Side B   GDG 3 Stamper Side C   LP 3 Stamper Side D   TG 4   Overview Pressings (U.K. MONO)   [1st ww   October 29, 1968, Germany (SMO 2051/52 stereo only)] 1st   November 22, 1968, Apple PMC 7067/68 2nd   November 27-30, 1968, corrected ?An E.M.I. Recording?) 3rd   July 1981 thru August 1982, light yellow-green Apple   General Description   This is a true first pressing, available in U.K. stores for barely a week. In an era, when pressings were shifted from Parlophone to Apple labels, initial mistakes were hardly avoidable. So it was here, when whoever was in charge "forgot" to mention ?An E.M.I. Recording? on any of the White Album's labels, thus constituting a clear copyrights violation. Only five days later, on November 27, 1968, officials corrected that error (most probably unaware of the fact to (by strictly adhering to the rules) just having created a highly sought-after collector's item, namely a "true first press variation").
First label variation have ?33 1/3? text at the top line of the left side and ?Sold In U.K. subject to resale price conditions, see price lists? text. Publishing year printed with small copyright symbol (p). The labels are quite dark although the actual shade of green varies greatly among copies.

Copy up for auction here is a gatefold cover top opener, with its original black inner sleeves. It comes with all the details aforementioned to distinct a first press from other releases, and it certainly has all four glossy John Kelly color portraits as well as the While Hamilton collage poster with the lyrics on the back.

This copy is numbered #345,905. And although the sequential numbering of the covers remains somewhat of a mystery, it appears that the first 400,000 numbers were generally held for mono covers, and the numbers 400,001 to 600,000 were held for stereo. First 400,000 numbers were not used exclusively for mono covers. Numbers from ZERO to 50,000, and some numbers in the 200,000 to 300,000 range were (also) used for stereo covers paired with export albums having Parlophone labels. Some later mono covers were printed with numbers over 600,000, perhaps as high as 630,000.
Last but not least, every collector should bear in mind that numbering in U.K. and Germany were completely independent on each other, regarding both its sequencing and numbers themselves, hence both countries started with "000001". Moreover, the Germans' pressings were a) the worlwide first, starting to release roughly a month prior to the album's publication in the United Kingdom, and b) came as stereo mixes only.   Aesthetics: I am a Collector, hence every record is stored (and will be sent) in a sophisticated way. Original cover, inner sleeve, prospective inserts, and/or whatever may come across, are stored separated. The vinyl sits in a neutral antistatic, padded inner sleeve, which is housed in a stable, neutral hard cover. For 1st pressings I use black, everything else goes to white ones. All together, it is protected by one (or more) transparent plastic sleeves. When sending out, this package goes to a brand-new professional record mailer.   Important: There's several options that are not changeable thru eBay's posting API. Please see remarks on bottom of offer regarding payment, shipping, etc. NO RETURNS.   Visual Grading   Cover Front   EX Cover Inside   EX Cover Back   EX Inner Sleeve Disc #1   VG- Label Side A   EX Label Side B   EX Vinyl Side A   VG- Vinyl Side B   VG Inner Sleeve Disc #2   VG- Label Side C   EX Label Side D   EX Vinyl Side C   VG Vinyl Side D   VG   Audio Grading   Side A   VG- Side B   VG Side C   VG- Side D   VG   Remarks   Let's start with the album's audio. Aware of the scarcity of a White Album's mono copy, I gave it a deep listen, all four sides, today, which is/was January 07. I hope it goes without saying that I (as any serious collector) certainly use a superb vinyl equipment with its heart being an Ortofan Diamond System and gold plated contacts all around. It's virtually impossible to miss the slightest noise, crack, whatever, which isn't always a pleasure, in particular when it comes to "non-mint" vinyl.

Global good news is: The entire album plays thru, even when applying most critical anti-scating and set-on settings. Not that good news is one short skip in the very first song, "Back In The USSR", as well as in "Bungalow Bill", both on Side A. While these skips are really short ones, they're still there, so need being mentioned. Also, Side A and Side C in particular, comes with some background noise. Most notably, however, this background noise shows up with the first third of "Martha My Dear". Last but not least, there's also noises between tracks.
The sound, however, is fine, and reminded me again of the gentle uniqueness, that special flavor, which only the MONO Version of the White Album can come up with. Be that as it may, as a fair conclusion I came to a grading of VG-/VG/VG-/VG for Sides A thru D respectively, trying to take into consideration all aspects of what is given and what one might expect.

As for the visual part of grading: Most notably, the cover comes with an overall shiny, glossy appearance. Away from the corners, which appear to be a litlle "bumpy", there's neither cuts, rips, tears, seam-split, nor whatever. Nothing like that. The Spine is readable. I feel that my photos perfectly show all critical sections. Conclusion for the cover's part: EX.
Labels are free of any type of writings, like names, or initials, sadly often found on old vinyl. Furthermore, there's no spots or tears, every detail is readable. Still, there's here and there a line, and it's obvioulsy not looking "like new" anymore, hence I apply a straight EX to the four of them.
The original black inner sleeves both come with a split on the side. Moreover, they're ocassionally creased, which is good enough for a VG- only.
The vinyl shows hairlines as well as visual scuffs. Most clearly on the first side, which is why Side A is to grade VG-, whereas all other sides earn a VG.
Finally, portraits & poster: They were clearly used, which is most obvious when examining the portraits reverse sides. The folding seam of the collage poster shows some light yellow color. However, no rips or splits, thus a handsome VG.

Note: For a short explanation of my grading approach, please see my remarks on every listing's bottom of page.     Pictures (all pictures taken by myself from the record that is up for auction)                         More rare Collectibles ~ already on auction, or soon to come (all records 2nd, 3rd, or 4th/whatever copies from my own collection)   Brazil, 1st, rare MONO Germany, 1st, rare ZTOX Export Germany, 1st, rare Green OPX Odeon France, 1st, Red Odeon LSO MONO (!) U.K., 1st, rare misaligned Apple Mexico, 1st, Vol.2 MUSART D922 France, 1st, »Horse Cover« Dark Blue Odeon Swiss Export, 1st, Blue Ribbon Odeon U.K., 1st, complete with insert   PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE
If there is whatever question regarding this record or another one, please contact me thru eBay's message system. Also, please note that I am NOT a professional dealer, but a serious collector who possesses a huge Vintage Beatles Vinyl Collection, financed mainly by re-selling records that I own already, 2nd copies, etc. Hence I will not accept returns in case you don't like this item, no matter what the eBay boiler plate says, cos there is no way to change this option.
However, I CAN and I DO affirm that each and every detail mentioned in my descriptions is accurate and to my best knowledge and experience.
Germany, Berlin in particular, is a perfect place to acquire highly sought-after vintage vinyl. If you should have a certain interest, please don't hesitate to contact me, maybe I can help you.  

• Packing Records shipped in brand new professional record mailers. No superfluous tape, strange folding, etc. In case you win more than one record, each single one will still come in its own mailer. I do not charge for that very lavish packaging.
• Grading Every record has been carefully graded visually by myself. Some records are audio-graded, too. I grade NMint, NM-, EX+/EX/EX-, as well as VG+/VG (VG- rarely).
• Shipping Double Album Flat rate, Europe & International, is USD 22, for Asia & Australia USD 28. Please note that there IS nothing like "Four Dollars". I basically ship everywhere. However, I do not ship to Russia as well as all other former Eastern block countries, Italy, Greece. If you reside in Southern America, please contact me prior to bidding. Due to certain experiences of so called "non-arriving" records, signed-in, tracked shipping only. Combined shipping available upon request.
  Buyers from within Germany, please don't hesitate to ask for customized shipping options.
• Payment is expected within 48 hours upon auction end, unless differently arranged prior to bidding. PayPal NON-EU CITIZENS ONLY. I am not a dealer thus not supposed to burn earnings on fees instead of spending it on new records. EU citizens use Money Transfer. Neither checks nor cash accepted. Us-Dollars, Euro, and British Pounds OK.

Design, Coding, Texts & Pictures © 2007-2013 by ginger & ariell david