THE BEATLES Let It Be RARE ORIG UK 70 BOX-SET COMPLETE

	£		520
	$		689

ONEADAYRECORDS – Delivering Beatles Classics to the World

Please see my Detailed Packing Description Further Down with Picture & All Shipping Rates.

Artist or Band: THE BEATLES

Album Title: Let It Be.

Producer(s): George Martin.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Two of Us; Dig a Pony; Across The Universe; I Me Mine; Dig It; Let It Be; Maggie Mae.

Side 2: I’ve Got a Feeling; One After 909; The Long and Winding Road; For You Blue; Get Back.

Label/Format: Apple - Much darker originals (Please see my label scan).

Label Conditions: Both in supreme conditions: very clean, fresh and highly attractive with any spindle traces ultra faint and and barely any. Indeed struggling to find any at all on side one. Without any doubt, this record has hardly ever been played reiterated by pristine sound.

Cat Number: PXS1 (not listed on the set) record is PCS 7096.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 146 grams.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Original Year of Release: 1970

Matrix Nos: YEX 773-3U / YEX 774-3U

Mother & Stamper Codes: 23 RDH / 2 RAA

Rarity & Brief Info: Quite rare and conditions are always a primary factor. This box set did not sell as well as many would have predicted possibly due to cost. It was only available for a relatively brief time before being reissue as a standard single cover set. The first boxed version cover included a red Apple logo on the back (please see my close-up picture), the standard reissue cover had the more familiar green Apple. This was a lavish set by any standards and is famous for being ultra delicate, flimsy and easily damaged. That is no understatement: most are seen badly worn with the slipcase and tray parts in pieces, badly torn or very tatty. Just removing the inner parts is a perilous task (and often far from easy), stress and pressure soon kicks-in, thus far less will ever be seen even around excellent (or better) condition. This one is far better in that respect, more on that further down. The set included a superb 160 page book with gorgeous pictures from the film. The only problem after spending all the money in producing this lovely item, it was ridiculously under-bound. The five sections glued to a flimsy cover instead of being stitched or more securely attached. The result: the pages become detached into single sheets which is a real shame. Even with normal careful use, few survive fully intact and most-all will have at least a few pages loose. This one has NO loose pages at all, it looks barely even handled which is great news for the more discerning collector. Unfortunately, it’s near impossible to take any inside pictures of this book, I simply am not going to risk damage as so few are ever seen quite like this. Overall, this was a somewhat flawed designed set, the concept being wonderful in theory, but the build-quality was not really up to the job and longevity of the contents low. Only the most untouched or unused examples survive, but realistically, how many did not push out the tray from the slipcase and handle the contents. Most would have opened the book fully from day one with disastrous results. This is a genuine warning to any winning bidder: do NOT open the book too far if you want the pages to remain intact. Once a page or two loosens, more will follow and the domino-effect will happen - most of the few I have seen have ‘loose-leaf-pages’, this being one of the very few fully intact, and guaranteed, unrepaired examples I have seen. I do not intend to write a lecture on the album itself, any interested collector will know all about this record and likely more than I do. I will concentrate more on what you get and it’s condition.

This record is packed for shipping the way it would have been bought with all pieces inside the slipcase (but LP out of cover inside a replacement lined inner). Removing the contents from the slipcase is NOT always easy, best done with the utmost care and patience, often better with two people, but less necessary on this more ‘user-friendly’ example. One holding the slipcase edge while the other gently pushes out the tray and it’s contents. It will become immediately obvious to the winning bidder (who may be unfamiliar), why this set is so often seen crushed, bent, creased and damaged. The same care needed when putting the tray back inside. The very good news with this one, and do not under-estimate this fact, this one is NOT as tight as most I have had. Some are just so tight, and this does vary, they are a nightmare in opening and closing. The slipcase slides quite nicely and freely into place and I feel that is the main reason (apart from due care) why this example has survived in well above average conditions.

This Set’s Potential for Wear: Off-the-scale. The trays and book are the most vulnerable but the slipcase is only a little less so and the whole set is immensely delicate and fragile. The whole package was not carefully thought out and few will survive even relatively intact. A significant note has to be made here about this one on offer. This one can be opened and closed with a much higher degree of ease than some I have had or seen. Many are just so tight, they are near impossible to do so. Sometime you have to hold your breath and hope to get these open, they vary immensely depending on the position of the slipcase seams. Just the odd millimetre makes the difference between a ‘slider’ and a ‘sticker’. This one slides over the trays far more easily than just about all I have tried, this is fantastic news for anyone who does wish to access the contents sometimes. I managed to open and close this easily myself with no help needed, do not under-estimate this fact, it’s truly great news and often far from the case.

Slipcase: EX++, printed and made in England by Garrod & Lofthouse with the ‘Patents Pending’ text. This is light, flimsy and open-ended left and right and not really strong enough for the job truth be told. With a standard record and cover inside, the trays and a heavy book, this puts strain on an under-strength slipcase. However, this one has survived in superb condition with not a great deal to fault. This was fully laminated, good news so far as the intense black surfaces are obviously better protected. The only real issue with this highly attractive example is a plastic strip near the top edge that states ‘THE BEATLES’. The owner said it was applied by the shop seller to identify the box, like no-one would have known who the band were. I cannot remember what these devices were called, but were popular years ago for labelling things. They produced plastic strips that were very sticky and are immensely difficult to remove. This does not look at all unsightly on this cover as the plastic is black, these came in many different colours, so this has little visual impact and actually looks quite nice. Yes, I feel sure an ‘expert’ could remove this as its applied to laminate, but I sure am not going to risk it. All outer faces of this slipcase are fully laminated which remain fully adhered with no lifting or blisters. Incredibly, this has barely any creasing, even the edges and few will ever be seen with less. An ultra faint one near the front bottom left is a mere thumb pressure type that barely even shows. A certain amount of ‘grip’ as to be applied to even remove this piece from the trays, and equally the same when putting back. The laminate is ultra clear and fresh with barely any friction rubs or dulling which is a near impossibility to find. The back is plain black with no artwork, just the printer’s imprint. The front artwork looks superb with few marks even hairlines, just one smallish and faint pressmark which is barely even visible. The left and right edges are open, hence the flimsiness, this would have been far more robust with one end sealed, but not to be. Most are seen crushed and flat, not this one. This is fully erect and totally uncrushed, and NO forcing back into shape was necessary as it has never been flattened, that will immediately apparent to any winning bidder. These ends are fully laminated and even these retain excellent shine, all ends show minimal traces of chipping and barely any burring or thickening at all, this is highly unusual. The corners neat and the folds almost as made with no cracking and still very black. I consider this slipcase exceptional, if the plastic strip at the top is an issue, do not bid. Next, the tray parts that come in two distinct separate parts:

The Lower Tray: Very flimsy single thickness card. The top and bottom just folded open-ended flaps, both are solid and as secure as they almost get. One of the larger, rounded shaped ones had a tear – the only damage of note on the entire set – I have carefully repaired this and it now appears more as a crease. Faint rub traces on the back and the small edges of the ends. Any of the very few creases being mainly light. Importantly, all intact and very solid (in relative terms anyway). Again t his is uncrushed with any handling marks few and faint. Matt black surfaces will freely show fingermarks that are very hard to remove once applied. The only way to avoid, wear gloves. This is a very respectable, if less interesting part of this set. With most of the blackness fresh and present and the general lack of creasing, I consider this pretty exceptional too and merits a Very Good grade. Again, if the one and only smallish repair is an issue, do not bid.

The Upper Tray: Arguably, the most fragile part of the set (but the book runs it close). This is fully intact and few ever will be. I truly do consider this exceptional and can be justifiably graded minimum EX++. Ultra thin card again and not really up to the job, but this has survived looking really lovely. Fully erect and totally uncrushed and barely even creased, the odd light traces near the corner parts only under the weight of the book. This is as undamaged as they ever get and let me make this very clear, this is an original inner tray. I have been told fake replacements can be obtained, I have truly never seen on but I have also been told, they are pretty obvious they are not the real thing. The shaped inner flaps that ‘support’ the book, ‘support’ being open to debate, but that’s what they are there for, are all in superb condition with practically nothing to fault. The tiniest of nick on the corners are impossible to avoid, that book is simply far too heavy for this flimsy piece. This upper tray is the part often seen shredded and in tatters but not this one. Compared to several I have seen, this delicate part is almost immaculate as I hope my top and bottom pictures show. Few handling traces and barely any loss of ink, the inner shaped parts looking lovely.

The Book: Stunning, practically Mint as made. Clearly barely even touched and quite possibly never even opened. The spine has NO creasing whatsoever and both covers the same. This is one time and the owner over-looked totally and looks new. The cover gleams and the pages I did carefully look at (barely opening the book), look immaculate. ALL pages secure, NONE Loosened, ALL FULLY INTACT, few will be like this. The binding so fragile, which is such a shame, this book is gorgeous and deserves to be viewed, but only at your peril or with the utmost care. All edges crisp and sharp and no discolouration at all, simply a remarkable example. An ultra fine surface ‘line’ near the spine of the front that I feel positive was there from manufacture, it barely even registers. This book was unique to this boxed set, it was not made available elsewhere, if a better one can be found, I sure would like to see it.

The Record Cover: A beautifully attractive, and possibly undergraded EX+. This is very thin and flimsy too, it has the correct Apple red logo on the back (seen in close-up). This is fully laminated and it has superb shine, freshness and clarity and all fully adhered with no lifting or blisters. Any creases are few, fine and light, given just how light and thin the card is, this is a remarkable fact. A few low-level half moons on the front hardly show with normal viewing and similarly for a fine long semi-crease on the back. The surfaces have few marks and minimal traces of friction rubs or dulling and the intensity of the blackness has to be seen to be fully appreciated. A very mild record impression is the very least that can be expected – remember the substantial weight of the record. All closed edges are very neat and incredibly thin, one tiny laminate peel on the bottom right corner area that is almost nit-picking for the sake of it. The spine is immaculate with all text present with no wear and unbelievably well centred, the text characters too big for the space available. This spine is very thin indeed but is dead straight with not even a trace of a blemish. The corners are all very sharp with no dinks or even tip rubs, any creases minuscule, the pointed ends almost factory-fresh. This was also G&L printed and the artwork looks fantastic.

The Inner Sleeve: Excellent: this one included a plain white unlined inner. Barely any real wear and has aged little. All edges unsplit, the corners vented. Any creasing mild and only slight traces of glue darkening on the seams.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: Mint(-), a stunning record that looks barely even played, maybe once or twice only. A beautiful visual copy that is ultra clean, shiny, intense black and heavily pressed. With barely a noteworthy mark or blemish to be seen, visually a super record that should please all collectors.

Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippets or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing B&W speakers that include the legendary tweeter from their awesome Nautilus range that reveals every blemish or minuscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This fantastic record plays up its high visual grading with nothing to fault. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any surface sounds barely even registered and no pops or clicks were noted and this is an exceptional clean pressing. Few copies will match or outperform this ‘boxed’ pressing I feel sure. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has hardly been played and has been clearly well stored and carefully handled. In vinyl terms, barely even run-in, and how many examples of this famous album will so under-used? Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record. This copy will prove nigh-on impossible to find better (within the boxed set) and can be strongly recommended.

End Piece: SPEAKING WORDS OF WISDOM… These boxed ‘Let It Be’s’ are getting increasingly difficult to find in high-grading conditions. Genuine near mint ones deserve and command huge prices because they truly are very rare indeed. Putting a definitive overall grade on the set as a whole is difficult. But only the top tray part had ‘damage’ which is as neatly repaired as I could and all parts with so little wear at all, it has to be graded EX+ to EX++. The book is stunning and is absolute ‘top drawer’, possibly not even opened before, certainly NEVER fully anyway and I left it that way for the most obvious of reasons. The record and its cover are superb, sound exceptional too. The slipcase looks fantastic, and unusually, more user-friendly, a far better fit than most-all I have encountered, no ramming the trays needed on this one. A small but highly significant factor. I hardly consider the small plastic ‘BEATLES’ strip important. I am confident it could removed by someone with experience of these things, but I sure ain’t going to risk it, I actually quite like it and that’s being honest. Importantly, all is intact and remains HIGHLY attractive to the eye. Even the more discerning collectors can consider this one. Possibly the one you have been waiting for. With the utmost care in storage and handling, this will last for many, many years but I do say again in all seriousness. The book especially MUST be treated with the utmost care possible and NOT opened fully as you would a paperback book, or the pages WILL loosen and fall out. The lovely pages can be looked-at, but only opening with huge care and not bending open. With this book in practically as-made condition, it would be a massive shame if one moment of carelessness causes irreparable damage. Let’s face it, this has survived 40 years looking like this, it would be nice if it remained so for another… LET IT BE.

NOTE: This set will be sent FREE OF CHARGE, with signed-for and insured shipping to anywhere in the world. Any further questions, please ask.

Now one of the most established sellers on Ebay and still offering the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any potential bidder and collector. You may notice I only submit records sparingly on Ebay - on average ONEADAY, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, not just bits to guess a grade - visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story. I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested collector – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean its good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in stunning near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are taken with a digital camera or scanned - they are NOT improved, cleaned-up or made better looking than they are with camera trickery or enhancing with digital programmes. What you see is what you get and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert and vice-versa. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. I am enthusiastic, and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items - bid with confidence - excellence comes as standard and so does Near Mint regularly. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps, sticks, warps or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Deck: Linn LP12/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with QED Silver terminated cable). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Moth vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too.

First-time, zero-rated bidders, who do not ask permission to bid, will be cancelled immediately and blocked – NO exceptions. For winning bidders who I consider excessively slow to make contact or submit payment, I will use my right to block future bids. If any bidder who wins in the final seconds is present to do so, surely they can at least email me to inform of intention and payment method? If swift or promp payment is a problem, please do not bid.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET - PLEASE SEE MY TYPICAL PACKING BOX PICTURE.

What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is not a bad thing.

I now offer the fastest possible posting, often the very next day after payment is received or within two to three days maximum (unless on holiday). I only use FIRST-CLASS Mail. The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my Moth Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. You will NOT get tired, dull looking, dust infested records inside worn and foggy covers with tatty inners from this seller and that’s a promise and guarantee. All records are posted in professional thick boxes (NOT Mailers or Cruciforms, these do not offer maximum protection). The record(s) REMOVED from their main cover to avoid edge splits and placed within a brand new polylined inner. The record’s original inner will be included if available. The boxes are then reinforced with THREE or EVEN FOUR ULTRA THICK stiffeners for maximum extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffeners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed if deemed necessary and possible. The thick record and stiffener ‘sandwich’ is then thickly embedded into bubble-wrap to bulk out the record inside the box to centre the item inside to reduce the risk of damage still further. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but ‘Signed-For’ posting is NOT an option anymore. Please see my picture of a typical finished box packet that will now be used on ALL transactions as from now. I do not profit on posting and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. These boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffners and bubble wrap make a near impregnable fortress for safe shipping and this is used inland and overseas for ALL my records, not just the rare and expensive. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than one in two thousand based on over 6,000+ items sold in over 8 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. The only damage rate acceptable for this seller is ZERO and I think my packets will offer just that. It would take a vicious postman or postal service to damage these for sure. Even one of these stiffners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 3 or 4 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FOUR records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). I will not respond to questions on shipping costs as all the details are included here and on ALL of my adverts. Details below:

NOTE: First Time Bidders: I will cancel ALL first-time bidders with no feedbacks or excessive negatives who do not ask me if its OK to bid first – NO EXCEPTIONS.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder unless prior notice of any delay is given beforehand. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance – it’s always worth asking.

SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – THESE comply with EBAY’S RULES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent via Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£40 maximum]) = £9. (insurance optional extra £3). Add £2.50 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£39 maximum]) = £13. Add £4 per extra LP. (insurance optional extra £3)

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders or direct payment into my bank account.

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. A maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask and thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help. Thank You.

SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO WEAR AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

My Use of Description Terminology: Surface Marks = Superficial, usually light marks, hairlines or light scuffs that rarely sound. Scratch = a needle mark that goes below the record’s surface, some will sound, some will not, my play-grade will inform. Original = a record that has been pressed with the first label design which does NOT neccessarily mean a very first pressed record. First Pressing = A record that I believe or know to be a genuine very first pressed record. I do not claim to always know for sure, and that’s why I state the stamper and matrix numbers if at all possible, for those who claim to know what they all mean, the information is there for the collector to decide. I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure. Surface Sound = Mild, light sound, usually light crackle or similar. Distortion = Break up of the actual sound caused by groove wear or damage from a chipped stylus – the most undesirable form of unwanted sound, vintage mono records were the most prone to this happening but not exclusively so. The symptoms of distortion are high frequency clipping, moderate constant crackle or an echo type sound quality. Violin, piano and vocals are most prone to groove-wear distortion. Feathering = Fraying or softening of the entry edge of a cover. Covers with feathered entrance edges are more likely to have had the actual record inserted and removed more than a non-feathered, sharp-edged cover which are always far more attractive. Set Off, actually a printer’s term for dark ink leaving mild residue on pale or white ink when rested upon. e.g. when a gatefold cover has black ink closed against white, this can leave some black residue on the pale area – this is mostly unavoidable or course.

The Argument for Vinyl Original sound and mix (mono mixes are rarely available on CD), high quality sound on clean copies (played on a hi-end dedicated analogue system – breathtaking sound!), beautiful, large format covers, artwork, inserts and even full size posters etc; huge investment potential, and the pleasure of owning ‘the real thing’.