Introducing the Beatles album Authentic.

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On July 22, 1963, Vee Jay Records released what was the first Beatles' album in America. It was released in two versions; the monaural (#VJLP1062) and in stereo (#SR1062), and is today one of the most valuable of all The Beatles' albums, and one of the most counterfeited. Therefore, in order to determine if you have an original or a counterfeited one, it is good to know the differences.

Initially in 1963 until late 1964, Vee Jay Records produced this album at their factories at Chicago, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri. The easiest way to determine the original from the fakes is by looking at the cover. The original albums had glossy, almost an enamel looking finish, and thus any albums that have a flat finish are in fact counterfeited.

Additionally, although the color shades may vary, the photographs are very sharp and clear, and those that feature poor quality, that is not very sharp, are too in all probability fakes.

When examining the cover. The originals had a quarter inch piece of cardboard that was folded over the top and bottom of the inside cover, that was either gray or tan in color. Counterfeited covers had this flap as well, but all seemed to be much larger, easily identifying it as a fake, or having no flap at all.

But then Vee Jay changed things around a bit. In 1964 they moved their headquarters to Santa Monica, California, but their factories remained in Chicago and St. Louis. But, some covers were manufactured in California that were identical to the others except that the back covers had a slightly less glossy finish, and the quarter inch piece of cardboard was now gone. There were less copies produced in California, thus fewer were distributed than from the other factories. Consequently, the California manufactured ones are ever rarer.

As there are many versions and many label colors etc., if you have a copy that you want to determine it's authenticity, the best source for this is: "The Beatles Price and Reference Guide For American Records" by Perry Cox and Michael Miller.

According to "The Beatles Price Guide and Reference Guide for American Records," here are some of the more common characteristics found on the COUNTERFEIT COVERS and RECORDS:

• Covers with a brown border around the front cover photo are fakes.
• Covers with a bright yellow tint and the word "STEREO" printed in black at the upper left are fakes.
• Covers without George Harrison's shadow, which is visible to his right of where he is standing near the edge are fakes.
• Covers with red, blue and yellow dots, unmistakable under the top of the back cover are fakes. These dots are that which are used by the printers during the printing process. On the originals, these dots are in a different area and are not normally visible. It is important to note this fake due to the high quality of the front cover photograph. As a result, this cover has fooled many collectors. One needs to look for these dots. The fake covers are also almost always accompanied by a fake record or disc.
• Covers for the stereo issue that list Love Me Do and P.S. I Love You, among the two columns of tracks on the back cover are fakes. It is said that there are originals like this that exist but none have been verified. Stereo copies with Please Please Meand Ask Me Why are the only ones verified as originals.

AS TO THE RECORD ITSELF:

• Any record that has a flat textured rainbow colorband is a fake.
• Labels that have "THE BEATLES" and "INTRODUCING THE BEATLES" separated by the center hole are fakes.
• On the record, if the width of the vinyl trail-off, that is that area or gap between the last track and the edge of the label is wider than one inch, it is a fake.
• Any record with black labels that DO NOT have the rainbow colorband, that are printed on glossy paper stock are fakes.
• Records with rainbow colorband labels that have a faint print and or a weak color brightness and a lack of clarity are fakes. Now, here are some of the more common characteristics found on ORIGINAL COVERS and RECORDS

• So Bid Loud and Proud!
• This album is an VG condition and the record is in fabulous shape!