ROLLING STONES, BEGGARS BANQUET, 1968 UK MONO 1st PRESS

	£		43
	$		57

Here for auction is a lovely example of the brilliant album by THE ROLLING STONES titled “BEGGARS BANQUET”, Catalogue Number LK 4955. This is an ORIGINAL 1968 UK MONO 1st PRESSING on the RED UNBOXED DECCA RECORD LABEL, with 1st ISSUE GARROD & LOFTHOUSE GATEFOLD SLEEVE, and complete with the correct “PATENTS PENDING” inner sleeve. 

The fully-laminated *1st issue* gatefold sleeve, printed by Garrod & Lofthouse International Ltd, is in close to EX condition (strictly graded). Apart from a few light creases and an impression line on the front cover, there is nothing much to fault. You can see from the photos that this one is very well preserved indeed!

The top quality Decca record is very solidly pressed and sits flat and true on the turntable. It retains a deep mirror-like shine. Visually I would grade both sides as VG+. There are several noticeable sleeve removal type rubs and hairlines, in addition to a few light stylus marks. Apart from a short stylus mark on the linking groove between Tracks 1 and 2 of Side 1 (which causes 5 or 6 ticks/clicks), all of these are purely superficial and do not cause any audio problems. Please do not be put off by the visual grading as this really is a top playing copy! The red Decca labels are unmarked apart from some spindle lines near the centres. There is only minor wear around the spindle hole.

PLAYGRADE ASSESSMENT:

This is a particularly vibrant and loud-cut mono pressing. I just can’t stress enough how good this sounds played at loud volume! Both sides play to a very high standard. All frequencies are crystal clear and there is barely any discernable deterioration in sound quality, and barely any unwanted noise at all (just occasional light surface sound which is never intrusive). A significantly better playing 1st press copy may be very difficult to find!

Complete with the correct 1st issue poly-lined white inner sleeve, with “Foreign Patents Pending” text printed at the bottom. This is in very good condition, with no splits or tears, just light creasing and some age discoloration.

GRADINGS

The records that I offer for sale have been critically play-graded, at loud volume, on a Rega Planar 3 turntable fitted with an Elys cartridge. I will only sell records that play to a high standard. My gradings are strict and in accordance with the following descriptions:

·         MINT- Record is superb, almost like new, with just a few sleeve removal type surface marks and no deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve is near perfect in all respects.

·         EX Record is a top quality example, with just a few very light surface marks which do not sound, and barely any discernable deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve has slight wear and/or creasing.

·         VG+ Record has some visual surface marks, but still plays to a high standard without any major deterioration in sound quality – just a few clicks or light surface sound in places. Sleeve has normal wear and tear without any major defects. Still a very presentable sleeve.

PACKAGING & POSTAGE

Records are sent out in new “Wrapro” record mailers. These are rectangular and strong, providing excellent protection to the edges and corners. Records are removed from both inner and outer sleeves in order to prevent seam-splits in transit.

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE COSTS: Europe £5.50, Worldwide £7.95

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS: PAYMENT BY PAYPAL ONLY 

A note about insurance:

The international postage costs listed above do not include insurance. Your invoice will include an insured option. I strongly recommend that you take up this option, but it is entirely up to you. I will not hassle you about it. You either add the required insurance or you don’t. If you do add the required insurance and your record is lost or damaged, you will get a refund. If you don't add the required insurance and your record is lost or damaged, you will not get a refund. I can’t make it any clearer than that!

The UK postage cost includes insurance up to a value of £32. If the final sale price is more than this, your invoice will include an insurance option. The same applies as specified in the above paragraph.