John Lennon Imagine Vinyl LP 12" 1971 UK First Press BBC Library Small Blemish

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Artist: John Lennon (with The Plastic Ono Band and The Flux Fiddlers)

• Album: Imagine

• Label: Apple Records

• Catalog Number: PAS 10004

• Release Year: 1971

• Country: United Kingdom

• Format: 12” Vinyl LP, Stereo

• Provenance: BBC Gramophone Library Copy

Cover Stickers:

• BBC Gramophone Library barcode and return slip.

• Large “Look After This Record – It May Be Irreplaceable” BBC sticker.

• “PROPERTY OF BBC GRAMOPHONE LIBRARY” stamp on the back cover.

• Matrix / Deadwax:

• Side One: YEX 865-2U

• Side Two: YEX 866-1U

• Label Variants:

• Custom “Apple” labels featuring John Lennon’s face over the apple on Side One and the Apple core on Side Two.

• EMI mention on label (“An EMI Recording”).

This matches a first UK pressing from 1971, based on:

• The -2U / -1U matrix numbers (early stampers).

• Correct Apple labels for 1971 release (with the distinct “face-on-apple” design).

• EMI mention, as EMI had absorbed Apple distribution by then.

This was pressed at EMI’s Hayes plant, UK.

Sleeve:

• BBC stickers and library stamps present.

• Noticeable edge and corner wear (consistent with institutional use).

• Some general wear but no large rips or tears visible.

Vinyl:

• Side One shows some debris and scuffs.

• Close-up image reveals light to moderate surface marks and some embedded dirt.

• Side Two looks cleaner, but close examination would be needed to confirm.

• Based on the visible marks and debris, it would likely grade between VG (Very Good) and VG+ (Very Good Plus) after professional cleaning.

• Audible impact: light pops/ticks but still enjoyable play.

Please understand that this is an official UK archival record from the British Broadcasting Corporation and the sleeve(s) may contain archival stickers from the BBC. Some of these stickers are 'on top' of the plastic with some 'underneath' (i.e. on the sleeve itself). Some sleeves have been 'laminated' either by way of 'punching' the plastic wallet to two parts of the sleeve or by fully wrapping the plastic to the sleeve. Where sleeves are laminated stickers can be removed with the use of appropriate sticker removal fluids however it is unlikely that stickers can be removed from any sleeves that are not laminated. The sleeves as such in this collection are generally graded as VG with the records often VG+ to Ex+.