THE BEATLES COLLECTION BOX SET *ALL 13 LPS MINT AND UNPLAYED* Lennon McCartney

	£		144
	$		191

In the first week of November 1978, EMI Records announced plans for a "Beatles Gift Box" to be issued simultaneously in England and America. The package would consist of the Beatles' original twelve British studio albums plus an additional record, Beatles Rarities, made up of the singles that hadn't yet been included on their LPs. The thirteen discs, plus a composite poster of the group, would come encased in a durable blue cardboard box

The American set, titled The Beatles Collection, was delivered to record stores in mid-December 1978, just in time for Christmas. This release marked the first time Capitol Records had ever marketed the Beatles' recordings in their original British formats. The package was issued in a numbered, limited edition of 3,000 copies and sold out immediately.(copyright rare Beatles dot com)

Here we have one of these rare boxed sets in almost perfect condition, a rarity indeed. The Vinyl Albums condition is mint/new and would suggest not been taken out of the box, certainly never played I would guess again by the bright shine of the pristine vinyl. Mouth watering stuff to any serious Beatles collector.

The Box has very very slight wear to corners and edges , but again as per the photos is in brilliant VGC condition.

The box contains the Posters as issued with the collection when it was new(inside the White Album) and the Mint titles are all there as follows:

The Beatles
The Beatles Collection - Blue Box
BC-13
UK Pressing
 
Original UK pressing of The Beatles' "Beatles Collection / Blue Box" 13 LP Box Set on the Parlaphone/Apple label.
 
This collection contains the original stereo versions of all UK studio releases (sourced from the original analog tapes), as well as "Rarities". The records are housed in a flip-top textured blue cardboard box, which has each of the band member's signatures embossed in gold on the front.
 
1 - Please Please Me - PCS 3042
Mint cover and vinyl 
2 - With The Beatles - PCS 3045
Mint cover and vinyl 
 
3 - A Hard Day's Night - PCS 3042
Mint cover and vinyl 
 
4 - Beatles For Sale - PCS 3062
Mint cover and vinyl 
 
5 - Help! - PCS 3071
Mint cover and vinyl 
 
6 - Rubber Soul - PCS 3075
Mint cover and vinyl 
 
7 - Revolver - PCS 7009
Mint cover and vinyl 
 
8 - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - PCS 7027
Mint cover and vinyl 
 
9 - The Beatles (White Album) - PCS 7067/8
Mint cover and vinyl 
 
10 - Yellow Submarine - PCS 7070
Mint cover and vinyl 
 
11 - Abbey Road - PCS 7088
Mint cover and vinyl 
 
12 - Let It Be - PCS 7096
Mint cover and vinyl 
 
13 - Rarities - SPRO 8969
Mint cover and vinyl 
 
The box itself has some shelf-wear, but is in great overall condition.. 
  
 
Good luck

PLEASE NOTE THAT AN ADDITIONAL £7 POSTAGE WILL BE REQUIRED IF YOU CANNOT COLLECT AS THIS BOX IS AROUND 3KG'S AND THE CHEAPEST PARCEL COURIER I CAN FIND WANTS £14.99

important-please read

Something relating to the date on this set has arisen with one watcher asserting that this is a 1984 reprint of the 1978/79 Emi release. We are a record shop and do have a wholesale trading account with EMI(Now Parlophone) We were assured that as a Dark Blue Boxed BC 13 set that this was one of the 1st batch. We did locate another variant on Discogs which came in a light blue box with different type face. This box is not light blue. However the watcher has informed me that this may be the 1984 version. I do not want to mislead and have not deliberately set out to mislead anyone so can you please watch this space for an update. I have pasted the email from the watcher below. Anyone else that can , with proof, help establish the date of this set then please send me some links, web addresses that verifies any thoughts. The reason why I ask this ais, with respect, much of Beatles Indentification has almost become folkore such as the Yellow Parlophone denoting a 60's original etc..At 50 I can confirm that I had many Beatles singles as a lad IN THE 60's with the yeloow Parlophone Label.

Anyway, here's the email from this guy, if necessary I will pull and relist. But the info from EMI is different to this info , especially the "1984 onwards" bit as the Beatles boxed set was deleted for years until 2011  which incidentally we have 2 off in stock with the EMI logos still on in anyone is after one?:)(Universal now have the Beatles back Cat)

Jakes email below:

Hello Paul,
Thanks for your reply. The original boxed set of these were with laminated covers which is why I asked the question. I have many copies/versions of this set in my collection. The basic glossy version with the bar code is from 1984 onwards. Thanks again,
Jake.

Kind regards and thanks..Paul Reflex Records Gosport

Correction re the Yellow Parlophone Label, should read "I had many Beatles singles that did NOT have the yellow Parlophone label" which according to latter day Beatles experts mean that this singles that I had then in the 60's were in fact 1970's reprints which of course was impossible:)

stop press: I have found this link which lists details of all the Beatles Boxed Sets apparently and importantly it DOES NOT identify a 1984 release only a 1987 "black/blue box of Mono LP's(presumably worth a lot more than this collection:)),

Here's the link:

http://www.jpgr.co.uk/boxlp.html

Latest Email From Jake(Thanks Jake:))

Hello Paul,
You said that the boxed set was a 79 re release so I don't feel that it is missleading. I do not have a link for a site. But I am a record collector and I have a huge collection of over 1000 beatles uk albums alone. The 13 lp set has indeed been re released a few times, well at least there are a few variations. I don't recall the actual box being a lighter shade but I might be wrong. The original set was definately with laminated covers and some sets with unlaminated covers had no bar codes. From my memory bar codes were introduced in 83 on the Beatles albums in the UK. I first noticed the bar codes on german and french imports for the UK. If I am wrong with the years then I appologise but a lot of information that is published especially on Ebay that people see take for granted on many occasions, I know are wrong as you who have a shop I am sure are aware of. If your set was with the laminated covers I would have bid on it because it is a lovely thing to have and sometimes you can strike lucky on Ebay.
I appreciate your time to reply and I wish you luck with your auction.
Jake.

Dear 77-77-88-77-77,

Hi Jake

Thanks for your further info, I have added a link that I have found that would indicate that there was only one release of these , further research would indicate that they may have remained available until circa 1982. There is also a suggestion that "a boxed" set based on this collection was made under licence with 25000 copies worldwide. This is definitely a Parlophone/Apple Release so is not the copy made under licence. I have also found a link re barcodes and barcodes first appeared in 1975 of records although not commonly used until 1980/81 onwards.

forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/what-year-did-barcodes-start-being-used-on-records.232735/(justadd an http : / / to this address.

So I would conclude that it's very difficult to establish the year for this set , it certainly was not commercially available as a Parlophone/Apple BC13 pressing after 1982 and in 1982 the Black Boxed Mono version was released WITH barcodes . The US 3000 Limited Edition I apparently did not have barcodes. I also have the EP set with Laminated sleeves without barcodes (will be listing this one soon if it doesn't sell in the shop)

Thanks for all your help here , it remains a grey area as to dates but I feel fairly certain that there was only a 3 year window on this set.

Kind regards

Paul

NEW EMAILS:

Hi Bob

Thank you for your email...Yes these are indeed the analogue beasties, not the adulterated digital rubbish :) If I want to use binary code I go to my computer, I certainly do not want a digital encoder converting my music into a series of "0's" and 1's the decoding it to form a numerical interpretation of what the music should sound:) No not for me either.

All the LP's have the PCS number plus a barcode, if you would like the barcodes too I will try and email these through to you tomorrow when at the shop..

Regardless it's a lovely set and I hope that it doesn't go too high as to be prohibitive for you to buy with the shipping fees back to the States.

Thank you once again

Kind regards

Paul