This is part of a privately owned collection of around 250 LP’s that I am offering for sale on Ebay over a few weeks. Please check my other listings and also my completed listings to see how far through the collection we are. The majority of the albums are FOLK based but there are a decent number of CLASSIC ROCK albums and some real obscurities. Among the run of the mill you will find some VERY RARE albums, some HIGHLY COLLECTABLE albums and a number of SCARCE FIRST PRESSINGS. Please be sure to check all my other listings both now and over the coming weeks.

CHECK MY OTHER LISTINGS HERE

John Lennon was an idol of mine and I remember buying this LP as soon as it was released. I therefore believe that it is a genuine first pressing and one of the earliest available. Obviously when I bought it I had no thoughts of it being collectible or scarce and until I began selling this collection I wouldn't have known how to identify a first pressing but I have checked as many sources as I can, including those copies sold on  Ebay in recent months, and have set out below what seems to be the defining points to identify this as a genuine first pressing. Please check the details below to satisfy yourself.

Artist

JOHN LENNON

Album

Imagine

Label

Apple

Cat. No.

PAS 10004 (YEX.865)

Year

1971

Pressed in

UK

Matrix no’s

Side 1 - YEX 865 1U with 'PORKY' etched in run off

Side 2 - YEX 866 1U with 'PECKO' etched in run off

CONDITION

(Please see lower down for an explanation of grading)

Record

There are one or two marks on the record but by Record Collector standards this would certainly be regarded as EXCELLENT

Sleeve

Laminated sleeve in EXCELLENT+ condition - there are a couple of creases within the laminate along the spine which were most likely there when it was manufactured and barely discernible ring marks from the LP and minor wear where the back cover overlaps the front slightly (unavoidable) but there are probably very few better covers on a used record

Inner Sleeve

Original printed inner with credits in EXCELLENT condition

Inserts

Classic John Lennon at the white piano POSTER in excellent condition plus POSTCARD of John with a pig

Additional Comments

The following points I believe identify this as a geniune first pressing

1. Side Two has the copyright 'All Songs Published by Northern Songs. NCB' but also has copyright for Track 2 - Oh My Love - as 'Joint copyright claimed by Ono Music 1971'. Once the Beatles copyright situation was sorted this did not appear on later pressings.
   
2. The labels are matt 'soft feel' unlike later labels
   
3. The cover is laminated on both sides unlike later pressings
   
4. The cover has 'Printed in England' only and does not identify the actual printer
   
5. The ends of the spine are 'pinched' unlike later pressings
   
6. The top and bottom of the front cover are 'bowed' rather than flat
   
7. The lamination on the rear does not wrap round but leaves about an eigth of an inch on three sides
   
8. The poster is printed on woven (i.e. textured) paper unlike later pressings which were on plain paper
   
9. The inner sleeve has lyrics and credits and was only available with the first pressings
   
10. Almost forgot - thick, heavy, vinyl

I won't pretend that this is a mint copy - it isn't as I bought it as just one of many records in a collection that was played and loved. It is used but is a damned fine copy of now RARE FIRST PRESSING. Don't expect perfection just a hugely collectible LP that has only had one owner and has been looked after and that has not been played since 1976.

Please view and enlarge all of the photographs (particularly of the labels)

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PROVENANCE

With a few exceptions (which will be noted) all of these albums were purchased by me and my girlfriend in the late 1960’s/early 1970’s and many were purchased on the day of release. None of these are secondhand and none have been traded before. Many are US imports because UK releases of many of the artists I liked (particularly folk artists) simply weren’t available at the time. The records were very well looked after and were not played that much. Overall we had over 800 LP’s and used to buy 2 or 3 a week. Albums were played often in the first few days but only occasionally afterwards as new ones took their place. None of these albums have been played at all since the 1980’s. The majority of the collection I sold several years ago but these 250 were those that my girlfriend had when we split up and I am now selling them on her behalf. Looking through them it seems that she had some of the scarcest ones!

CONDITION

The descriptions of condition above are based on the criteria used by Record Collector magazine as follows

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.

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

GRADING

Please note that all grading of records is by visual inspection only as I no longer have a turntable to play vinyl

A NOTE ON THE PHOTOGRAPHS

Several of the photos of the records have reflections of the camera shown in them. Please be assured that the records themselves are not marked in any way unless specifically mentioned in the description above

PACKING

All albums will be packed in custom purchased folding cardboard boxes specifically designed for mailing LP’s.  Generally the albums will be packed ‘as is’ but if you have specific requests such as the record being removed from the sleeve please ask.

SHIPPING COSTS

I try to get as close as possible to the actual costs of shipping and packing. The custom mailers cost me 65p each and shipping is added based on what Royal Mail charge. This is rounded up or down to a sensible figure. Sometimes it’s a few pennies over actual cost but often I charge less than actual costs. Whatever it comes to I try to be as reasonable as possible since your purchase is the album itself and I don’t want to or need to make any profit on the shipping costs. Shipping costs are shown on each listing but if you win more than one LP I will combine shipping and generally quote you a lower cost than the individual amounts.

QUESTIONS

I will happily answer any questions you might have. My feedback of over 2,100 positives should reassure you that I regard buyer’s satisfaction as extremely important.