Beatles - Please, Please Me 1963 *GOLD* Label MONO Parlophone LP

	£		1,380
	$		1,829

THE BEATLES - 'PLEASE, PLEASE ME'
This fine & rare UK MONO pressing dates late-spring 1963 and is on the 2nd GOLD & black Parlophone label: PMC 1202

This pair of gold & black labels bear the then newly formed 'Northern Songs' credits on tracks 1 & 2 on side 1 and tracks 4 & 6 on side 2.

The side 2 label has a circular groove from one of EMI's 'old-style' presses which were being phased out as this album was being pressed.

An 'MT' purchase tax code is visible in the centre of the side 1 label.

Matrix numbers: XEX 421-1N & XEX 422-1N

Stamper codes: 1/T & 1/H

Vinyl weight: 165g

Housed within a correct-type front laminated, tri-flipback 'Ernest J. Day' printed mono cover with photographer Angus McBean's credit positioned in the extreme lower right corner.

Complete with its original poly-lined inner-sleeve.

CONDITION

Disc

Labels: EXCELLENT +

An outstanding clean & unworn set with 100% perfect gold print on both labels. There are no spindle marks or trails around either centre hole, both of which are honest and unworn with no touch-up to either. There are two faint hairline scratches on label 1, but overall you will struggle to find a cleaner, more attractive pair.

Visual: EXCELLENT

Both playing surfaces are perfectly clean and retain all of their factory sheen. The grooves on both sides appear unworn with NO trace of any whitening in strong light, suggesting this copy has received very little play through the years. In detail, side 1 bears a small handful of minor inner-sleeve removal scuffs together with a single non-feelable single stylus hairline & a tiny 2mm scratch on track 1 which I can just feel beneath my fingertips. Side 2 is just as clean & glossy with a small handful of light fingernail scuffs together with a single, slightly deeper 1.5cm mark on the final track, just feelable beneath my fingertips. Both sides of this rarely played copy lie 100% flat on the turntable when playing.

Sound Quality: EXCELLENT

This outstanding copy has received only a small number of plays on excellent equipment and is without any trace of any groove/playwear distortion on any track. I would have graded a comfortable 'EX+' if it were not for an unfortunate single groove jump on 'I Saw Her Standing There' which is caused by the aforementioned scratch. However, apart from minor distraction, the remainder of side 1 plays flawlessly. Side 2 plays just as cleanly & clearly with the only audible distraction being a handful of soft pops in the bands before 'Do You Want To Know A Secret' & 'Twist & Shout'.

Cover: EXCELLENT -

Stored in a clean, non-smoking environment, this very clean & firm example bears just some minor storagewear issues to show for its almost half century.

The front panel is bright & clean and retains an unscratched, unworn high-gloss laminate free from any 'thumbnail' wrinkles or creasing. There is however a 4 cm split to the lower right corner seam and slight shelfwear to the other three, but no damage to either of the opening edges. The exposed rear panel is very clean and very white with just a few light marks from storage, but certainly no writing or missing paper. There is a small repair to the upper right corner flipback but otherwise they are all fully intact and undamaged.

Both seams are smooth & unstressed and the spine is clean & fully worded.

Inner-sleeve: EXCELLENT

Very clean & white with some gentle storage wrinkles but no writing, seam splits or tears.

• This item is located in and will be shipped from AUSTRIA. Priority signed for airmail postage to UK addresses will be 12 GBP**

• Our grading is strict & conservative grading under strong daylight & directly beneath a halogen desk lamp to UK 'RECORD COLLECTOR' standards.

• We carefully play every record I sell on an EMT 950 transcription turntable fitted with a 'TSD 15' cartridge at volume and list all visual and audible faults.

• Every image in this listing has been taken by ourselves (with a Canon G12 camera) and are of the actual item for sale. We do not copy from other listings or use stock images.

• Each record is professionally & securely packaged in custom-made record mailing boxes with the disc removed from the cover.

• For more information on our grading and packaging policies, take a look at my About Me page.

• If you would like to get the best price for your rare records, why not let us do all the work for you. Contact us for details about our commission selling service.