Beatles LP 1965 Early Beatles First Pressing RARE Dark Cream Cover in Shrink 1A

$

26

(Note:  If you win multiple items in a week’s listings, please wait for the end of all of the auctions for me to invoice you, so that you can take advantage of my combined shipping offer.  Thanks!)

READ THIS! These records are NOT sold for perfect sound quality. They’re sold for their scarcity and VISUAL grading. They’ve been in storage for a decade, and they WILL play with surface noise that can be addressed with D4 or a VPI cleaning.  I can’t test-play at the minute. Please don’t bid if this is a problem for you.

Beatles LP 1965 Early Beatles First Pressing RARE Dark Cream Cover in Shrink 1A Plates!

Collectors of a certain age might remember that when you saw ads for Beatles albums in magazines pre-1966, they had a darker cream color to the covers.  This was to differentiate the white backgrounds from the glossy white pages of the ads, so that the graphics of the album covers didn’t appear to be floating in space. 

On very rare occasion, I find copies of early Beatles albums whose covers bear an exact resemblance to those ad covers.  I’ve owned two in my lifetime.  A few years ago, I sold my copy of The Beatles’ Second Album.  This is the only other title I’ve been able to find, and it’s in the shrink.

Vinyl--- VG/VG+.  Both sides actually have at least 90% original shine. 

Unfortunately, Side 1 has a long scratch through the last four songs (Anna chains boys.  Ask me why.)  The scratch is feelable through the last two tracks, but is only a light scuff through the first two.  You’ll hear a pop on each rotation for a little while.  There are also one or two soft marks.

Side 2 has a few soft marks as well.  All of them are non-feelable.  But as mentioned, the rest of the vinyl shines like new.

Plates--- A1/A1.  Definitely a first-day pressing, which is consistent with these darker covers being used for photographing. 

Dead wax has the older-style Scranton insignia, which is the anvil marking.  Some say it looks like an open book.  This insignia was retired in 1963/1964.

Cover--- EX.  Still in the shrink, which did a beautiful job protecting the cover.  All four corners have minimal wear.  Borders are still snow white after 60 years.  The only issues are that on the front cover where the original price tag still is, there is some dirt under the shrink at the mouth.

The back cover has some yellowing down the mouth, some specs that found their way under the shrink, and a boldly-stamped name, “PRATT.”

NO SPLIT SEAMS.

Breathe Holes--- There are two breathe holes on the front cover.  One is directly under the song title, “Do You Want to Know a Secret,” and the other is due south in George’s hair.  Remember when I said that George usually gets a breathe hole?  No exception here.

Inside cover has always had some kind of sweet chemical smell to it.  It’s faint now, but it used to be stronger, once upon a time.

Labels--- NM/NM.  Labels look 1964-brand new.  NO SPINDLE MARKS.

Capitol Inner Sleeve--- VG+.  Original olive green Capitol inner sleeve is present.  Has some wrinkles and very light record outdent, but NO SPLIT SEAMS.  Colors and graphics are still bold, punchy and new-looking.

A generic inner sleeve will be provided, so as not to damage your original Capitol inner sleeve en route.

RIAA: 3

As these records have been in storage for many years, they will play back with crackling and tics, however; a good moisturizing and cleaning with either D4 Discwasher or a VPI machine always clears them up.  Thanks!)

Note:  All LP’s ship outside of their album covers in order not to damage the covers during shipment.

CAUTION!  There has been a startling increase in bidders canceling their bids.  A word to the wise, I have started blocking any and all bidders who retract their bids regardless of the reason.

Please don’t bid unless you’re willing to honor your amount, okay? Thanks!

(Please note:  Regarding play-testing, my Technics turntable has somehow seized.  The tone arm is stuck in the up position, and I can’t get it to fully return to its cradle.  Is there anyone out there, who can tell me if this is an easy fix?  Thanks!) 

Check out my other auctions for more hard-to-find vinyl!

Shipping is $5.38 for Media Mail for up to 3 single or double albums, excluding boxed sets within the U.S.  $5.38 covers shipping for up to 5 singles within the U.S., and within the same auction week.

Winners in all other countries will be charged actual shipping to their locations, so please wait to be invoiced.  You will be quoted for the cheapest shipping to your country that the US post office can afford me.  Please let me know if you would prefer to pay for a faster means of shipping, but do NOT ask me to declare packages as gifts, or any other means of defrauding the postal services.  Much appreciated.

I ship on Mondays and Thursdays.  This means that immediate payments will be shipped out the following morning, and later payments must wait until the first available Monday or Thursday after payment is received.  Please pay within 7 days of the auction ending.  I do leave negative feedback for non-payers.

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