Uber Rare THE ROLLING STONES Sticky Fingers LP 1971 GATEFOLD UK 1st Press

	£		47
	$		62

Uber rare 1st pressing of the withdrawn (rude gatefold) pressing of sticky fingers.  This is the stones record collectors holy grail. 
I stumbled on it by accident and didn't know what it was until I started checking out the value of my records and noticed they didnt originally come in a gatefold version.  
Anyway the record is in excellent condition and plays fine, the sleeve has a few marks on it, the most noticeable is in the bottom left front cover and it hasnt got a picture insert only the original paper stamped one. 
Im not a record dealer just a fan who's got lucky so if you need to know any thing just email and ille do my best to answer it.  
Also I have a 1st pressing of "exile on main-street" with the all postcards up for sale if your looking for that.
Only selling as xmas is coming up and I could use the money more than something thats just sitting on the shelf.
Cheers
Paul
Sorry for the high postage but this will be sent very securely wrapped and signed for.
Below is a copy of the information that another dealer used to sell his.

Title : The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers

Label & year : Original Rolling Stones Records COC 59100 LP , PHENOMENALLY RARE GATEFOLD ANDY WARHOL ZIP SLEEVE 1971 Withdrawn Stereo UK 1st Press!!!

Matrix's : Side A : ROLLING STONES RECORDS COC-59100-A4 , Side B : ROLLING STONES RECORDS COC 59100 B4

NOW THIS IS A SERIOUS RARITY!!! WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE VERY RAREST STONES COLLECTIBLES OF ALL TIME - THE ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLY RARE WITHDRAWN GATEFOLD SLEEVE VERSION OF STICKY FINGERS!!! THIS SIMPLY NEVER EVER TURNS UP!!! IT IS SAID THAT ONLY AROUND 300-500 OF THESE WERE EVER PRESSED BY MISTAKE BEFORE BEING SWIFTLY WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH THE TOP LOADER THAT OBSCURED THE INNER UNDERWEAR SHOT!!! 

QUITE SIMPLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND!!! EASILY IDENTIFIABLE AS 100% GENUINE BY THE FACT THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY ZERO GLUE RESIDUE ALONG THE RIGHT INSIDE EDGE - THEY HAVE CLEARLY NEVER EVER BEEN BINDED TOGETHER!!! AND IF THAT WASN’T ENOUGH, PREPARE TO GET YOUR MIND BLOWN - THIS IS IN ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL CONDITION!!! UNBELIEVABLY UNAGED, EVEN THE SMALL FLAP ABOVE THE STILL WORKING ZIP IS PERFECTLY INTACT AND UNCREASED - ALMOST ALWAYS BADLY CREASED OR MISSING!!! THIS REALLY IS AN ABSOLUTELY ASTONISHING ONE OFF EXAMPLE!!!

AND IF THAT WASN’T ENOUGH, THE VINYL ITSELF HAS BARELY SEEN A TURNTABLE AND HAS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME AUDIO!!! 100% FREE OF ANY DISTORTION WHATSOEVER!!!

WHAT A TRULY INCREDIBLE HISTORIC RARITY!!! MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH ANY STONES RARITY, IT EVEN EQUALS THE 2:52 TELL ME 1A 1A DEBUT IN TERMS OF SHEER SCARCITY (IN FACT, I’D SAY EVEN THEY TURN UP MORE THAN THIS)!!! 

A TRULY INCREDIBLE ONE OFF EXAMPLE OF THIS WITHDRAWN GATEFOLD VARIATION OF THIS TRUE MILESTONE IN ROCK!!! BARELY PLAYED WITH FANTASTIC AUDIO AND A TRULY PHENOMENAL GATEFOLD SLEEVE!!! Do NOT miss out on this IMPOSSIBLY RARE historic withdrawn Sones collectable, bid now!!!

About : Ultra Rare Original 1971 WITHDRAWN Gatefold UK 1st Press!!! This MASSIVELY RARE LP initially sold barely anything (LP's were also really expensive to most people back then!!!) and therefore had a very small run, and is INCREDIBLY HARD TO FIND, especially in this condition!!! AN absolute classic LP from this incredible band!!! An astonishing album that really DESERVES to be in EVERY serious 60's / 70's record collection!!! Don't miss out on this MEGA RARE LP!!! If you like good music, bid now!!!

Labels :

Classic UK 1st Press yellow RS labels!!! Both sides are AMAZING with NO signs of age, NO writing, NO stickers, and NO tears whatsoever!!! Just has an absolute MINISCULE amount of ultra light spindle marks which suggests that you can EASILY count the number of plays this has had on just the one hand!!! INCREDIBLE for a 46 year old record!!! Both must grade overall at least as Excellent++++!!!

Record : Visual -

Spectacular Original 1971 UK Vinyl!!! Nice bright, clean and shiny as if it was just pressed!!! Fantastic jet black mirror like surfaces, it looks INCREDIBLE with NO nasty scratches, groovewear, or nasty deep scuffs whatsoever!!! The only blemishes off perfection are just one or two BARELY VISIBLE totally non-sounding cosmetic scuffs, a few of the lightest, wispy sleeve traces/cleaning lines (only visible in strong angled light) and only one or two tiny hairlines from where it has sat or been removed from it's cover over the years!!! Of course, none of these ULTRA light blemishes affect smoothness of play AT ALL!!! FANTASTIC for a record of this age and rarity!!! You'll be amazed by how generally clean and unworn it is!!! Must grade overall at least as Very Good++!!! (graded STRICTLY to the UK RRPG standards, not overgraded AT ALL!!! Customer satisfaction is of 100% importance to me)

Record : Audio -

Thankfully, it plays AMAZINGLY with fantastic stereo separation and clarity!!! It really sounds incredible with NO hisses, hops, distortion, sticks OR skips!!! Only has just a few light ticks only on very rare occasions, and just the MEREST TOUCH of low level static in the rarest few and far between places such as on the run in grooves and between some tracks, but that's about it!!! The vast, vast, majority of the music is TRULY crystal clear - It really does mostly play with a CD-like near black silence, but with that depth, bass, warmth and clarity you can only get from UK 1st Press vinyl!!! EVEN most of the quiet sections!!! Absolutely ESSENTIAL!!! FANTASTIC for a record of this age and rarity!!! Must grade overall audibly at least as Very Good++++!!! (graded STRICTLY to the UK RRPG standards, not trashed or overgraded AT ALL!!! Customer satisfaction is of 100% importance to me)

Sleeve :

Original 1971 unlaminated Andy Warhol designed WITHDRAWN GATEFOLD zip sleeve complete with insert and original unsplit inner!!! IMPOSSIBLE to find this sleeve in anything approaching a good condition - most are spent, torn and worn due to age and the lifestyles of the buyers of this particular LP!!! This one is NOT, and looks FANTASTIC, especially considering the nature of these fragile sleeves!!! NO tears, NO staining, NO writing, NO graffiti, NO bad marks AT ALL, and still ULTRA strong and solid after all these years!!! This sleeve only has a TINY amount of ULTRA light signs of ageing such as just the most miniscule amount of incredibly light ink rubbing in few and far between places (being extremely picky - virtually zero) and literally one or two of the vaguest near invisible creases, ony or two tiny little indents (barely anything AT ALL - none of the usual rubbing to the centre of the back like virtually all - UNBELIEVABLE!!!), some vague zip outline signs on the inside pic where the zip has rested (unavoidable with this cover, though the amount of wear is truly minimal for once), and POSSIBLY (just to be sure!!!) one or two other minor signs of age here and there, though nothing that really stands out to note at all!!! And that's truly about it!!! I tend to bring it down by listing the most minor negatives I can possibly find, but this truly is an utterly PHENOMENAL sleeve, and a SERIOUS rarity to find one as virtually new as this - most have been virtually destroyed or are just about being held together, but not this one!!! It remains ultra strong, solid, unsplit and unspoilt, and even the spine remains ultra strong, solid, and totally readable!!! Must grade overall at the least as Excellent++++!!! (graded STRICTLY to the UK RRPG standards, not trashed or overgraded AT ALL!!! Customer satisfaction is of 100% importance to me)

Summary : An absolutely INCREDIBLE one off example of this INCREDIBLY RARE WITHDRAWN GATEFOLD VARIATION of this rock classic original 1971 UK 1st Press LP!!! Hard to find in ANY condition, but UTTERLY IMPOSSIBLE RARE TO FIND ONE AS TRULY PHENOMENAL AS THIS!!! YOU MAY NEVER GET THE CHANCE AGAIN, so don't miss out on this scarce opportunity to own a true piece of 60's/70's music history!!! Bid now!!!

I've just been emailed for the matrix numbers these are

ROLLING STONES RECORDS LABEL: COC 59100. 

MAITRIX:  COC 59100  A4 / COC 59100 - B - 4
   The correct maitrix for UK first pressings, the only lower ending digt I have ever seen was '- B - 3, anything lower will be one
  of the uncountable re-issues, they did have '- A1' & '1 B1.'   Yet again a CBS record with an unclear/ streaky maitrix, at least 
that was only on Side 2, by taking that side in a shadow it is much clear and readable.  I compiled all three very first items in 
the run-out grooves into one picture.  12 pictures are just not enough for a cover like this, plus this astonishing immaculate 
condition very first pressing, still has the appearance of when it first put on sale in May, 1971!  That is not an exaggeration,
even though a first edition "Sticky Fingers" cover is one the most prone to be in a battered, stained and plain worn out state.
That record shop appearance includes the nentioned original 1971 UK record 'HMV' shop sticker, not a price sticker but way 
before bar codes were introduced, HMV invented a price code format using individual letters in the early 1970's.  As it happens,
  the pink colour compliments the front cover's red titles,"The Rolling Stones" & "Sticky Fingers," both set of titles are also
on the left side and I'm sure that was why it was carefully placed directly above them.  I never remove original record shop or 
record company stickers, they have great historic details from the era they originated from and for my generation, a familiarity
and authentification. Sellers and collectors damage the covers by removing them, why???  If a genuine sticker like this has
been there for 46 years...it belongs there, aespecially for an unplayed record and all round May,1971 record shop condition. 
  One of the twelve pictures includes a close-up view and that doubles up a close look at the top left corner, usually crushed if 
not torn because the very first edition zip covers, had the left side's spines endings tapered into points.  This is the 'HMV' 
shop sticker's format;
TOP LEFT OF THE FRONT IS A SMALL OBLONG 'HMV' DEEP PINK  & WHITE STICKER WITH;

THE HMV SHOP
Price Code  J

MAITRIX:  COC 59100   A4  /  COC 59100 - B - 3 
   The correct maitrix for UK very first pressings, the lowest end digits I have ever seen was the same a this record's  'A4 / B3,' 
anything lower will be one of the uncountable re-issues, they did start at '- A1' & '1 B1.'  Machine stamped by CBS at the
12 o'clock position as usual, a very common feature of the stamping was a streaky effect, making it hard to read but I did 
take pictures that are just about legible, the same effect is on the handwritten Rolling Stones' new label logo at 6 o'clock:

'TML    Rolling Stones Records'


UNUSED FIRST ISSUE THICKER, PICTURE & CREDITS DOUBLE SIDED INSERT, IN MINT- CONDITION
Making it's first appearance on a Rolling Stones album, one side has the huge red lips and tongue logo, printed above the track
listing with full details and comprehensive album credits.  The reverse side has a full size picture of the Stones, in unused condition, 
uncreased, unhandled with all the edges crisp and flat, showing no ageing at all, just a gentle record impression.  First issues were
made from thicker matt card than the flimsy paper of all later printed inserts.  Printed on the bottom right corner of one side;

"Printed In England By Richard Davis Ltd."


RARE VERY FIRST 1971 WARNER BROS. INNER SLEEVE, EXCLUSIVE TO FIRST PRESSINGS, CURVED EDGES WITH A 
A DIE-CUT CENTRE.  THE CORNERS FINISH WITH POINTS, A 1970 TYPE AND THE LAST REMAINING FEW WERE USED
ON THE VERY FIRST PRESSINGS, THE FRONT BOTTOM RIM HAS HAS THE PATENT NUMBER AND "Made In England" 
PRINTED IN A PALE BLUE COLOUR. 
As this is the earliest possible pressing, as mentioned the 1970 inner sleeves were still being used until they were gone, 
replaced by a similar sleeve with standard corners.  The 1970 -  April, 1971 earliest sleeves, were distinctively and uniquely
  shaped,the top and bottom meeting points with the curved corners, finish with points.  Made from soft paper, printed on the 
front bottom edge, the light blue text, "Made In England" and the Patent number, was retained for the inner sleeves made in 1971.
  

STRICTLY FIRST ISSUE ONLY, TOP OPENING REAL ZIP COVER, IN OUTSTANDING CONDITION.  EASILY IDENTIFIED
AS A FIRST ISSUE,THE LEFT HAND SPINE WITH THE PRINTED TITLES, IS ALSO IN THE UNIQUE SHAPE FOUND IN
   THE 1960's DECADE AND EARLY 1970's.   THE ENDING'S ARE TAPERED INTO POINTS, WITH THE MAIN PART FLAT
IN BETWEEN.  THERE WERE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS IN MAY, 1971 FOR GENUINE FIRST PRESSINGS, BECAUSE ALL
FOLLOWING COVERS CAME WITH STANDARD, UNIFORM SPINES. 
The matt cover is totally unyellowed, unstained, unscuffed & unfaded, giving a stunning insight into how the covers first looked
in the Spring of 1971.  The belt at the top of the cover is a thin die-cut strip of card and virtually every original and re-issue 
have a map like system of very heavy creases.  Becoming the weakest point of the cover, particularly on the joining section and
  once heavily creased and weakened, like perforation, that was always in real danger of tearing clean off and most did!

I took close up pictures of the shaped top of the spine, the front top left position with the 'HMV' sticker, and also the most 
  vulnerable section of all, the middle with the die-cut belt along with the top of the zip.   Views that positively demonstrate 
  how it still looks like brand new, particularly along the top opening's perfectly crisp edges. As I have done on other occaisions 
  I decided against disturbing the belt's closely together die-cut edges for the first time it was made, which also involves not 
  opening the zip, due to fantastic condition'a, my policy about taking pictures is never just for the sake of displaying Mint  
  items, covers of this complexity and extreme vulnerability to wear take priority.  I must stress this is an un played record and
  the cover has not been used since May, 1971, an astounding 46 years ago, it's unreal to see that entire area around the zip 
  completely unworn and exactly how it left the factory all those decades ago, in fact there is not really any wear beyond the
  initial factory packaging, distribution to record shop and my record removal and replacement.  As anyone with a real zip cover
  from brand new in 1971, the zip itself scratched the back of the cover in front, when packaged without any form of a cardboard
  divider, just treated like a standard cover.  Then the problem of the full length zip against the record, causing scratches and 
  indentations, fortunately the thick insert was between the zip and the inner sleeve & record, no indentations or deep scratches,
  any ultra thin feather light, traces here are no different to virtually every record's initial factory handling. Usually the deep
  impression and scratches from the zip damaged both sides due to constantly differing side replacements, but as an unplayed
  record, that one factory insertion was made to the same side, for once both sides does not have any traces from the zip at all or
  any visble factory handling traces. This very first pressing is an exception to the common rule, the back has a zip impression of
from the cover directly behind when packed in a delivery box. The same would have applied to the matching position on the 
  vinyl, had it been regularly played, I have never seen such minute zip impression, this was perfectly stored in a plastic outer
  sleeve ever since with the greatest care taken not to allow any pressure against the cover.  I recommend seeing the pictures, 
  especially the amazing  close up of the 'belt', the zip fastener and the most vulnerable sections of the top edge.

The zip, in particular the fastener, has an untarnished, unrusted shining brass colour, Mint condition applies to an as new zip.
 Do I really have to say the record pictures were not taken on the front because of the zip?  I will point out both sides were
taken on the soft velvet cloth I take all pictures on, not easy to read but you only need to look for the Stones red logo position 
on the labels,an explanationwill be given fully below.

The pointed spine endings /left side corners, have no more than a little standing pressure signs and brushing and the same applies to
the outstanding bottom edge. The main part of the actual spine is absolutely perfect with superbly clear unworn black titles, and so
is the untitled right side or second spine.  The right side top corner is perfectly square shaped and only has  the slightest brushing.
The factory assembling was difficult to say the least,gluing an actual zip to cardboard was hardly a normal procedure for an
LP cover, then the record insertion, packaging and distribution, record shop storage and handling, all before they were sold, so 
allowances must be made for such an unusual cover from 1971, my grading most certainly will include that, but because I did buy 
"Sticky Fingers" in May, 1971, I am in the perfect position to know how the first edition covers looked like when first bought.

The back is in just as superbly clean condition as the front, as mentioned, there is the usual central indentation from the original
factory boxing of the albums, there before the album even reached the record shop.
A FANTASTIC FIRST ISSUE "Sticky Fingers" COVER, IN MINT- CONDITION.
 

THE LABELS ARE IMMACULATE WITHOUT ANY SPINDLE ALIGNMENT TRACES, AS MENTIONED, I COULD NOT DETECT
  THE USUAL  ZIP IMPRESSION, THERE ARE NO MARKS AT ALL AND THAT EVEN INCLUDES NO HANDLING TRACES. 
I COULD NOT FIND ANY AND THERE IS NO POINT INCLUDING ANYTHING INVISIBLE!  
THE RECORD IS IN UNPLAYED, MINT CONDITION.

SIDE 1
"Brown Sugar"
"Sway" 
"Wild Horses"
"Can't You Hear Me Knocking"
"You Gotta Move" (Fred McDowell / Rev. Gary Davis) 

SIDE 2
"Bitch"
"I Got The Blues"
"Sister Morphine" (Mick Jagger / Keith Richards / Marianne Faithfull, 1968)
"Dead Flowers"
"Moonlight Mile"

Mick Jagger -  vocals, acoustic guitar & percussion 
Keith Richards - electric & acoustic guitars & vocals 
Mick Taylor - electric & acoustic guitars & slide guitar 
Bill Wyman - bass & electric piano
Charlie Watts - drums 
 
Nicky Hopkins - piano
  Ian Stewart - piano
  Billy Preston - organ
  Jim Dickinson - piano
  Nicky Hopkins - piano
  Jack Nitzsche - piano
  Ry Cooder - slide guitar
  Bobby Keys - saxophone
  Jim Price - trumpet & piano 
Rocky Dijon - congas
  Jimmy Miller - percussion
  Paul Buckmaster - string arrangement
  
All Songs Written By Mick Jagger & Keith Richards, Except Where Credited.
Recorded On The Rolling Stones Mobile Studio & Olympic Studios, The Recording Dates Range From; 
December, 1969, February - July, 1970, October, 1970 & January,1971.
"Sister Morphine" Was Started But Not Finished In March, 1969.
Sound Engineers - Glyn Johns & Andy Johns
Produced By Jimmy Miller

After spending the whole of the 1960's decade with only the one record company, the Rolling Stones left Decca to found their own
record label in 1970.  The Beatles and the Moody Blues had been the first 1960's UK bands to seek independence and set up their
their own record company, in reality though the pressing and distribution side of records still needed the long established large
organisations to handle that side of vinyl production & distribution.  It was not until the following year the first LP released
on the 'Rolling Stones Records' label in May, 1971, was one worth waiting for, the magnificent "Sticky Fingers".  The year long
delay in releasing a new album was due to Mick Jagger venturing into acting, he undertook roles in two films,"Performance" and
"Ned Kelly".  The recording and writing for "Sticky Fingers"was spread over two years, well three really, because that build up 
of new material included an inspired song, co-written with Marianne Faithful during the 1968,"Beggar's Banquet" album recording
sessions, when an early version of the outstanding"Sister Morphine" was taped but left unreleased.  The "Sticky Fingers" version
was returned to in March, 1969, just how spread out the recordings were is detailed above, how different that was to the earlier
albums with very tight schedules to stick to.  The whole recording industry had been transformed during that decade of wonder and
the late 1960's had also instigated album covers being turned from functional storage sleeves, into extravagant works of art, the
Stones own "Their Satanic Majesties Request" was the supreme example of how psychedelia changed the concept of a record's
  sleeve.  "Led Zeppelin 3" had carried that flag into 1970 with a rotatable wheel that allowed different colour pictures to appear
in die-cut circles, by 1971 the covers were just starting to revert back to being a little bland, unimaginative and a bit boring.
  Apart from a few exceptions they were again becoming just a functional way to hold the records and read the credits and tracks
  etc. from.... then along came "Sticky Fingers"!   Legendary artist Andy Warhol designed this stunning cover, becoming one of the
most unique of all time.  The back and front had a male torso from the waist down wearing jeans, with the belt die-cut shaped to
open out and directly underneath that was a real metal zip fastener. Like any radical design for an album cover, there were a few
  design changes made while the printers prepared them for the album's release date.  There were two UK variations to the design 
and the materials, as only a few were made and both are extremely rare.  A few of the first covers made with a larger zip but the 
cost of producing the cover immediately saw a smaller zip used on virtually all the UK first issues and every following pressing.
Bigger zips caused bigger damage to the records, although economics count, big zips made factory packaging as difficult as the
record shop would have experienced.   There was an experimental design, opening out like a gatefold cover, so the picture printed
   behind the zip could be fully accessed, but it was not practical and that design was dropped in favour of a glued together cover,
   with a top opening.  The standard issue 1971 cover was a stunning item but for long term use, obviously extremely vulnerable to
  being ripped and torn on the front top and  the die-cut belt above the zip.  Placing an actual metal zip on a record cover was a
  novelty item that was constantly unzipped and re-zipped, causing even further damage to the front.  A matt unlaminated surface
wore very poorly and with the average plays to the record, the handling that involved has left most of the 1971 "Sticky Fingers" 
covers worn out  and battered, unless the worst possible uncaring storage was to blame. I have listed and sold all the variations
on ebay and I do my best to include all possible information, I always mentioned how the covers & vinyl had to have an indentation
from the zips but this time I was amazed to find this record virtually escaped that and only has a tiny impression.  Events around 
"Sticky Fingers" first appearing in a UK record shop was common to every country in the world except Spain, where the design was
not permitted and the famous 'tin can' took the innuendo away from an LP titled 'Sticky Fingers' and undoing the zip on the jeans.
   
  The most thoughtless stacking and distribution in the history of rock LP covers. began at the printer and the pressing plant, the
covers were tightly packed without anything placed between the metal zips and backs of the next covers pressed tightly up against
them.  With cardboard boxes stacked on top of each other, the pressure forced the zips into the adjacent covers and the back of 
the zip into the vinyl, such utter stupidity went unchecked until the record shop owners complained about them arriving with deep
damaging zip indentations. By then it was too late but the shops still had the problem of storing the large amount they ordered
and needed to meet the demands of such a huge selling Stones album, in effect, their first new studio recordings for two years.
  The indented and often torn covers with scratched records were accepted when we bought them, but the increased damage to
the vinyl needed urgent protection from the zips.  It was solved by pulling the zips down to place the biggest culprit of all, 
the protruding pull tabs, were than positioned against the labels in the centre of the cover, only now there was the increased 
wear you will regularly see to the areas around the zips, including the 'belt' at the top.  Those covers were bought as brand new
in May, 1971, but they all  had zip indentations and if anyone was wondering why the positions on the back & on the front do not
correspond to the closed position of the zips, it was to protect the vinyl and leave the opened zip fastener against the labels 
internally, but externally it was either against the centre of the front or back of the cover alongside.  Personally I place the
full blame onto the Rolling Stones for not supervising their first album on their own label, no way would Decca have allowed the
obvious damage to the covers or to the vinyl inside them. I will return to that subject later on, this cover has the most minimal
and minor effect from the zip, plus the normally mass of creases and severe wear to the belt does not apply here, like brand new
and just as miraculously, the record does not appear to have  any of the zip's pressure, let alone the normal heavy indentations
  and even deep scratches.   I check records and covers very carefully and professionally, but handling is at an absolute minimal
and common sense has to apply to ultra rare Mint items like this.

  This is a stunning all round condition,1971 first pressing, once again proving the formula of an unplayed record was so vital to
the survival of all the items in top condition.  However prone a cover is to damage, that formula is accurate because this Mint
  record has a Mint- zip cover, a Mint insert and not forgetting a  unique inner sleeve also in superb condition.  A rare event for
   Mint a genuine first issue, 46 year old "Sticky Fingers," I mentioned two extremely rare experimental designs for the zip cover
   but for first issues there was a very distinctive feature exclusive to the May, 1971 covers.  A top opening cover does create two
   spines and the left side was the actual spine, in terms of having the LP title and the catalogue number printed. Typical of the late
  1960's and early 1970's, the main part was flat and the ending's were pointed or pleated, the re-issues have a standard shape 
  spine.  I will describe this in full after the record, in my experience this cover is much tougher for condition than any of the 60's
   Stones albums. 
   
  "Sticky Fingers" became the first LP with the famous "tongue & lips" logo, that was designed by John Pasche, although an artist
in America is claiming he designed it.  Well, that is not true, in 1970 the young British artist John Pasche, was given the job by
Mick Jagger, who was delighted with the suggestive logo, so delighted it has never been changed to this day. I mentioned
in my headings,"Rolling Stones Records" is hand etched in the run-out grooves. That red logo is not found on the front cover, it
was  almost hidden away on the back bottom left corner, I am dealing with printing details but I cannot help returning to the
staggering condition of this particular first edition, it still has the original 1971 starchy stiffness thanks to non-usage of the
record and perfect storage inside a plastic outer sleeve, essential to still looking so stunning all those decades later.   This is
pure trivia, first pressing labels have the red logo in different positions, Side 1 has the red tongue' licking the spindle hole,
Side 2 has it on the outside rim at 1 o'clock, 'licking' the word,"Sticky," enough said!

Leaving aside such a beautiful cover, this is "Sticky Fingers" and the most important part about this first issue is the record
being in such incredible condition. 'Rolling Stones Records' were part of  Warner / Atlantic Record Company, the first thing to
establish about their 1970's catalogue number is the pre-fix.   The first issues and the early part of the decade had the first 
used, 'COC' pre-fix  as 'COC 59100', the Rolling Stones sense of humour and the freedom of having their own label to do  as they
pleased, saw the the later 1970's issues with a 'CUN' pre-fix.   Normally for an unplayed record of such massive rarity, I consider 
offering it unplayed by myself, but I cannot do that for "Sticky Fingers" or the next two 'Rolling Stones Records' albums, "Exile"
and "Goat Head's Soup."  I will need to make the same comments made recently about an equally stunning Mint first pressing of 
"Goat Head's Soup," referring back to me blaming the Rolling Stones for not doing as Jimmy Page did and still does on behalf of 
Led Zeppelin, making sure their fans has only the best quality packaging, mastering, pressing, vinyl and sound quality.
 
Over our long years spent selling this album , including while trading on ebay since 2001, I have bought many, many atrocious
sounding first issues of "Sticky Fingers," there were definitely poor pressings made for the first pressings and re-issues alike.
  They have terrible crackles and distortion, as for "Sister Morphine," a very quietly played acoustic masterpiece sounds horrific!
  If they were all pressed that poorly, fair enough, that was how they came, but like the other 70's Rolling Stones titles, there were
absolutely perfect pressings made, I will add here I played this record before embarking on taking pictures and all the text typed
so far. This record is one of the truly stunning sounding first pressings and I was blown away by the sheer power and perfect 
  audio clarity, I could not continue without knowing if it contained a first generation Master Tape transfer, I was delighted to
   hear absolutely stunning sound.  I believe in being honest about individual records, normally the heavyweight vinyl of 1971 would
  guarantee audio perfection, great care is required to make sure 'all that glitters is gold..!  Imagine what a Very Good scratched
  first pressing plays like whem it had poor sound in 1971!  I recoil in horror how other sellers slap visual grading's onto vinyl 
  that should have been and probably were returned to record shops in 1971.  Needless to say, this "Sticky Fingers" had my closest
  attentionto the sound quality and I was mightily impressed!  This is indeed "Sticky Fingers" as perfectly pressed as vinyl gets,
  staggering sound quality!  I  never have and never will compromise, with such minimal minor and insignificant static, it's not 
worth discussing, but I will just the same!   After Decca made sure all the Stones LP's had deluxe lamination in the 60's and did
the same in the 1970's for "Ya-Ya's" and most their compilations, fans deserved a continuation of that, "Led Zeppein 3 "was given
lamination for the die-cut wheel cover,"Sticky Fingers" should also have been protected.   As for allowing poor quality control of
the record's pressings, they once again let down fans who were accustomed to Decca's staggering quality control, surely just a
simple square of cardboard placed between the albums was not too much to ask.  You can't turn the clock back, but as one of the
earliest fans, you will only ever read the truth in my descriptions, I will only sell these first pressings when they do reach the
incredible audio standard I know is possible.  Back in 1971 I returned three copies of "Sticky Fingers" to my record shop and it
was the fourth I kept because the sound was as perfect as this record.   My plays are made with a fanatically changed stylus and
I am as fanatical about 100% aligning the centre holes to a stylus and can't wait to  hear the album again, I will type as much 
info as possible during the second play, I felt it was essential to check the sound reproduction, all part of the service.