The Beatles White Album. With Photos. Excellent+. Stereo. Immaculate Album

	£		26
	$		34

 

The White Album


Rare EMI Pathé Marconi 'Strike Breaker' Pressing

Excellent Plus & Photo Set

Stereo PCS 7067-8

YEX 709-1, 710-1, 711-1, 712-1

This is a superb, rare copy of The White Album, which was an EMI 'Strike Breaker', pressed in 1973, utilising the
EMI Pathé Marconi Pressing Plant, in France.

In the 1970's Britain became known for its strikes, its unions and industrial action, especially with Austin River and its other car plants, but also with the miners' strike and it seemed, any company with an axe to grind and a wage or hours issue.
EMI Hayes was no exception and in 1973 it, too, went on strike. The White Album was one of the companies biggest selling albums, even five years after the initial 1968 release and so EMI decided to press and import, for its UK sales,
EMI Pathé Marconi Apple labels and these were the only presses on sale in British record shops that year. This is one of them and it is firmly dated, as it has the Customs & Excise Import Label, being ''Made in France'', on the back of the Garrod 7 Lofthouse sleeve!   

The vinyl seems to me to be virtually unplayed, as far as I can see, with little in the sign of marks or play. Only under bright light can I see mild hairline, surface marks, which are probably more due to paper rubs, than anything else. I would say this is in Excellent Plus, possibly ++, with nice clean spindle holes, with no wear and no spindle rubs, either. At least I can't see any!


Its Matrices are as with the UK first Matrices of YEX 709-1, YEX 710-1, YEX 711-1 & YEX 712-1.

he Garod & Lofthouse gatefold sleeve is fullY laminated and un-numbered, being a little later and is still very white, clean and crisp, with just odd wear and fading of colour. This is the same as all previous Garrod & Lofthouse sleeves, printed and produced in the UK and then exported to France and re-imported back, as a packaged White Album! 

It has the plain white inner sleeves, without the EMI UK Copyright & Care guide and they are nice, clean and without damage or seam-splits. 

It has the four photo-card inserts, which are in really superb condition, having no pin hopes, tape or blue-tac on them. Sadly there is no poster with this, though and I am not sure if these came with the poster, as there may have been a shortage.

Grading is very subjective and all I try to do is look, listen and be honest, using my feelings, but for those of you unsure, I have copied the Record Collector's Guide below.


Sales and postage to the UK only and please bear in mind, that it will be sent Second Class Recorded, unless it acheives a price above £50, when it will be posted First Class Special Delivery, which will cost a littl more, so, please wait until I invoice you, but I will only charge what Royal Mail charge me.

Thanks. 

MINT: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

EXCELLENT: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear and / or creasing.

VERY GOOD: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

GOOD: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc.

FAIR: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and / or defaced.

POOR: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

BAD: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection filler."

As well as the above grades, Near Mint is often used as well; this is really for a record that appears new but is known to have been played because the label has light spindle marks or because it has come from a previous owner and is assumed to have been played by them. For records which appear to fall between the accepted grades, + and - are also often added to the grading.

In addition to the basic grading, any individual faults should be noted separately such as if an otherwise Excellent cover has a name written on it, or a 7" single is missing its original centre etc.