THE BEATLES White Album - SCARCER UK COMPLETE STEREO

	£		250
	$		331

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Postage: UK £4.25. Europe (including Russia) £12. Rest of World £16. ALL signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes.

NOTE: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment. I try to keep my P&P prices as low as possible after the very significant Royal Mail price increases and will never compromise on solid, safe packing.

Artist or Band: THE BEATLES

Album Title: The Beatles (known as ‘The White Album’).

Producer(s): George Martin.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Back in the U.S.S.R.; Dear Prudence; Glass Onion; Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da; Wild Honey Pie; The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill; While My Guitar Gently Weeps; Happiness Is a Warm Gun.

Side 2: Martha My Dear; I’m So Tired; Blackbird; Piggies; Rocky Raccoon; Don’t Pass Me By; Why Don’t We Do It in the Road?; I Will; Julia.

Side 3: Birthday; Yer Blues; Mother Nature’s Son; Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey; Sexy Sadie; Helter Skelter; Long Long Long.

Side 4: Revolution 1; Honey Pie; Savoy Truffle; Cry Baby Cry; Revolution 9; Good Night.

Label/Format: Apple – original dark format stereo labels.

Label Conditions: All four very clean, fresh and attractive, any spindle marks only really show under angled light, with normal viewing are near invisible, they are as as follows:

Side 1: Very few and light / Side 2: Light+, quite fine.

Side 3: Light, still fine / Side 4: Very few, light and fine.

In terms of this massively popular album, all are way above average for looks and below average for number of spindle marks and potential usage, few available ones will be seen a great deal better.

Cat Number: PCS 7067/8.

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 these Records: 144 / 145 grams. Very good weights for an album that can vary considerably in weight.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity & Detail: Not a rare album per se, but complete examples in very fine all-round condition are more difficult. Much is made of the number on the cover’s front as well and obviously the really low numbered examples are hugely valuable – but remember – each cover is unique in it’s own way too. This has the number 0342998 as seen on my close-up picture. The conditions of this set are a vital factor: a standard original complete ‘White’ had – two records – two black inner sleeves – a numbered top opening cover – a UK printed poster – 4 portrait pictures of each member. Every element of the set were fragile in their own way and far fewer examples survive with all the pieces in fine or very fine condition. The poster and pictures often mounted, so pin-holes or tape marks are common as well as fading and tears. The black inners are incredibly fragile, made with soft paper and only one in very many survive relatively unscathed. The cover, although protected with laminate, does age and often yellows badly. The immense popularity of this band and album cannot be over-stated: this album was often played into submission on often very basic record players that inflicted significant wear to the grooves and sound. Thus many written-off for enjoyable sound especially when played on today’s hugely revealing systems. This pair, certainly in terms of this album, appear very lightly used, and generally with due care as there are very few visual blemishes to the playing surfaces. The most important factor (bar none for me anyway), is the sound, and here, all four sides deliver with fantastic audio quality. I also remind, I play all my records on the world-famous, and clinically revealing Linn LP12 Sondek. Absolute near mint examples, of course, can be found at huge cost, but even these, I am sure will not barely better the sound on offer from this very fine pair of records, and not all collectors want, or can indeed afford to shell out a king’s ransom for one – so this copy could be just perfect for the more ‘average’ collector who want to experience the real thing. I do not, and never have offered this album lightly, they have to be of a high standard or I will never purchase them myself. This is a very strong all-round copy with only relatively minor blemishes to the parts that make up this set – all details on all further down.

Original Year of Release: 1968

Matrix Nos: YEX 709-1 / YEX 710-1 / YEX 711-1 / YEX 712-1

Mother & Stamper Codes: 3 TT / 4 HR / 4 L0 / 2 0T

Musicians: George Harrison – lead, harmony and backing vocals; lead, rhythm guitars and acoustic guitars; four and six-string bass guitars; Hammond organ; drums, assorted percussion, sound effects; John Lennon – lead, harmony and backing vocals; lead and rhythm guitars, acoustic guitars, four and six-string bass guitar; acoustic and electric piano, Hammond organ, harmonium, Mellotron; drums and assorted percussion, harmonica, saxophone, whistling; tapes, tape loops and sound effects; Paul McCartney – lead, harmony and backing vocals; lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars, four and six-string bass guitars; acoustic and electric piano; Hammond organ; timpani; tambourine; handclaps; vocal percussion; drums, recorder, flugelhorn; sound effects; Ringo Starr – drums, tambourine, bongos, cymbals, maracas, vocal percussion, electric piano, sleigh bell, backing vocals, lead vocals. Guests: Eric Clapton – lead guitar; Mal Evans – backing vocals, handclaps, trumpet; Jack Fallon – violin; Pattie Harrison – backing vocals; Jackie Lomax – backing vocals, handclaps; Maureen Starkey – backing vocals; Yoko Ono – backing vocals, brief lead vocals, handclaps, speech, tapes, sound effects. A host of other session players play reeds and strings.

Brief Info: Firstly, let me be clear, I do not offer this album often or lightly, such an iconic classic has to be of a certain standard for me to even contemplate listing – this gem more than measures up. Within the history of popular music, there are fewer monumental issues than this massive double set. How on earth to follow the groundbreaking ‘Sgt Pepper’ would prove a challenge almost too vast to contemplate, but The Beatles offered the world an album of quite stunning brilliance, and for this listener anyway, this is better than it’s more famous predecessor. A double set that crams in such a blend of variety and styles, it still is difficult to take in it’s brilliance even after all these years. I do not wish to dwell too long on the material included as most-all fans and vinyl collectors will know this album well enough anyway, I prefer to explain what is on offer and the conditions of the pieces that make up this legendary set. That said, there is not a wasted second on this album and for me, this is the very best album The Beatles ever made. Now experimenting with various styles and sounds culminating in the psychdelic collage ‘Revolution No 9’ that many found unlistenable, but I love it. It gave clues to the avant garde direction Lennon was about to offer on his first solo works. The softer songs are simply divine and then there is McCartney’s ‘Helter Skelter’ – the most powerful song the band ever made – a breathtaking track that sends shivers down the spine and one ever-linked to the notorious killer Charles Manson. Raw, loud and uncompromising, a song of utter brilliance – the contrast in the following gentle song that closes side three, ‘Long Long Long’ is pure genius. The contast of the material is like a kaleidoscope of treasures flooding from the speakers. What a joy to hear on a clean stereo copy too. I will not offer inferior or poor sounding copies just for the sake of it. Why would anyone want to hear a crackly, click-ridden, worn-out copy of this evergreen classic? All four sides play superbly with any surface sound traces tiny, very few and faint. No distortion or groovewear whatsoever and for sure, this has never been subjected to any worn out old stylus. All the vocals, instruments and sounds are sharp, precise and focused, and for good measure, as you would expect, superbly pressed by EMI for Apple Records. This one to listen too and enjoy with largely impressive and clean contents as well, these do come along too often now.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: High: a highly deceptive cover which is fully laminated with minimal graphics and none on the front and back at all. So why does this cover not wear well? Firstly, being white it tends to yellow and darken with age, light being a major factor as well as many people in the 60s being smokers (often heavy). So nicotine staining is very common. Double gatefold sets tend to weaken due to the load they hold, this results in laminate issues like creasing, peeling and lifting – many dulled from friction – the original shiny surface and freshness lost forever. A cover that just seems to attract corner dinks, weakened spines and even tears. To find one that has little of the aforementioned is hard, but this one delivers in many respects. One that has aged gracefully with just gentle reminder of just what it is.

Cover Grade and Format: A robust EXCELLENT: and all considered, arguably worthy of a (+). A fully laminated gatefold format with the records entering on the top edges. This has it’s unique number of No. 0342998 (not that high in White Album terms in stereo) this can be seen on my close-up picture. The title ‘The BEATLES’ is embossed on the front and the back as the word ‘Stereo’ in small type near the top right corner. Inside has the four band portraits with two external flipbacks on the right and left edges. The song titles and printer’s imprint, which is Garrod & Lofthouse International Ltd are included. Fairly basic in design but still one of the most iconic and sort-after ones ever made. The spine carries both the mono and stereo catalogue numbers.

Cover Laminate – Front & Back: This is a very strong all-round example of this world famous cover. It has a very fine, moderately mature look. That is to say gently darkened a little with minimal traces of toning around the edges. The laminate retains a very fine shine, good freshness and clarity. ‘The BEATLES’ embossing on the front is precise and crisp and it’s surrounding laminate unbroken and very neat indeed. A few very light surface marks that are seldom avoided, but no scuffs or deep impressions at all, any blemishes only really show with scrutiny under angled light. The number is still very dark and unfaded and has no laminate shift, so still precise and sharp as seen on my picture. Important factors are the lack of lifting or blistering, practically all is solidly adhered – just the normal allowance made around the embossing that all have of course. Also the lack of creasing: one small fine half moon on the front and a light crinkle on the bottom right corner. The back, incredibly, has barely a noteworthy crease at all. Finally, even under light, this has minimal traces of dulling or friction rubs. Only the back has very gentle and faint traces of rim impression, but this has dulled little around them, the front has barely any. These are all crucial factors that make the difference between average and something above and both front and back, are to some degree above. Not squeaky clean perfect, but any blemishes for a cover this great age being only very few, light and faint – well matured and attractive.

Cover Inner Gatefold: The inside is very impressive and in terms of real wear, it has hardly any. There is only one small blemish of any real note: a very small toning spot on the left face, near the top edge towards the left corner area. This under the laminate and a possible adhesive smear that has naturally browned over time – that an opinion, not definitive. In terms of shade, again very similar to the outside faces, so a cover that has aged and coloured pretty much the same all over – consistency is good to maximum attractiveness. Who wants a snowy white inside and brown outside – all areas have a nice off-white colour with again, any toning traces very faint indeed. The portraits are immaculate and the two flipbacks clean and undamaged and as solid as when made. Their ends clean and ultra crisp with no burring or grime-line formation. Even that delicate central fold area is ultra solid and incredibly, the laminate is not broken or even cracked – this as neat as they get on a cover that clearly has been handled and ‘used’. Even one kept in cottonwool would not better this area a great deal I feel. A minor secondary crease is seen to the right of the central gold, a natural trait on double sets with a fairly wide spine, it can hardly be avoided and in this case, as light as they get.

Top Edges: Other crucial area of this cover that are often seen badly grubbied, tatty or even torn. Both here are very neat with hardly any darkening to the ends that remain quite crisp and sharp. Any burring and thickening to the card is small, few and light, no tears and all are guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced in any way. I have seen these edges in terrible conditions before and in context, this pair are exceptional, which also reitterates, the records have likely not been removed or inserted too many times.

Bottom Edges: Both are thick and quite straight with almost full laminate retention. A small scuff near the right corner on the front. These traditional storage edges have to bear the weight of this set, and few will not have evidence as such. So a little thickening or friction evidence is expected, but overall this pair remain neat and even mostly smooth to the touch.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Both are very impressive: straight and ultra smooth with barely any hint of wear at all.

Spine and Text: The main factor here is how much laminate is retained? – on this one, most. With usage and exposure, it simply dries out, cracks and peels off. In this case, this has largely failed to happen, and one of the few I have seen (certainly for some time) where most-all is still present, largely solid and intact. Towards the bottom, this is a little cracked with a small hint of flaking – being a little rough to the fingertip, but in terms of this uncompromising spine, this is way above average as many lose their laminate altogether. It remains solid and straight with any compression only mild. Also folded squarely, so the top and bottom edges meet up closely together and parallel – a little top overhang on the right is seldom avoided. This always enhances it’s visual appearance of course. The odd small tone spot or hint of discolour here and there and a natural crease formed by opening, again hard to avoid, here only modest. All the text is present with hardly any traces of wear, this confirmed under a magnifier as it is a little less easy to read at the bottom with the light surface scuffing. Not perfect, but a difficult spine in very fine overall condition.

Corners: Minimal tip rubbing with just the odd small crease, but any significant knocks or dinks appear to have been avoided. Very fine shape (or better) is retained, the spine worthy of note, being still very neat indeed.

Cover Summary: I realise how important this cover is to serious Beatles’ collectors and so it should be. So I make no excuse for a full and detailed description of all areas. It cannot be emphasised enough how difficult this cover is - a deceptively fragile format that had to hold fairly substantial contents, so hardly surprising many are seen almost falling apart or in very poor shape. Few will ever be perfect but all the positives far outweigh any relatively light negatives on what is still a splendid example. Not for the perfectionist, but for those who like to be gently reminded they are holding a 44-year-old cover that has matured consistently, even attractively, this could be just the one. I feel sure this will please many, or even most collectors – just not those who want museum quality or as new.

The Inner Sleeve 1: EXCELLENT(++): firstly, both these black unlined inners are the same format. They have a single window hole, the back being solid. They are made with soft, thin, fairly matt and very fragile paper and are massively prone to tearing, creasing, splits, and wooliness. Rarely seen intact and avoiding considerable damage. Arguably, these are the most fragile part of the set. The first one is in very impressive condition with hardly any creasing and very neat, mostly crisp window circle with no tears. The top opening unusually neat with any softening to the edges very light indeed. ALL edges are unsplit with NO repairs, this near impossible to find these days with no wooliness and hardly a trace of rim impression. The reason obvious: the owner kept the records inside a lined alternative, thus both inners have no suffered in the usual most do. So this fragile first inner in very impressive all-round condition.

The Inner Sleeve 2: EXCELLENT: quite similar overall, again with no edge splits and crisp undamaged window circle. A little more creasing near the corners, but hardly excessive in context of these ultra fragile inners. The delicate opening again with modest signs of usage and quite neat.

The Poster: EXCELLENT: a conservative grading for an unmounted (no pin holes or tape marks) and generally clean poster that has little evidence of ageing. A large measuring 22.5 x 33.5 inches and printed both sides – lyrics on one and band graphics on the other. Three manufactured folds, two horizontal and one vertical, these are quite solid and unsplit. Any creasing equally small, faint with merely traces of fine crinkle simply by handling a large item, any traces of toning or spots are few and light indeed. The edges and corners sharp and untorn. Importantly, this carries the same imprint as the cover – Garrod & Lofthouse International – beware of later UK, or even German printed examples being swapped.

George Harrison Portrait Card: EXCELLENT(++): all the pictures are the same format and guaranteed original, having a semi-gloss sheen and made with reasonably thin card. Colour density can vary a little from example to example, but all should be pretty similar – ALL four are unmounted e.g. NO pin holes or tape marks. Firstly, the back. Clean and still very white. No set-off or toning, this has barely aged at all and looks fantastic. The front is very clean and fresh with barely any handling traces at all. One light horizontal crease near the bottom left corner, and a minuscule faint half moon trace, that apart, practically as made. This is very nice and lack of fingermarks to the very revealing surface a real bonus.

John Lennon Portrait Card: EXCELLENT(+): very similar to George with just two or three ultra fine and faint surface hairlines when scrutinised very closely under angled light. A similar crease near the bottom left corner and very mild traces of toning on the back. Again a very fine example.

Paul McCartney Portrait Card: EXCELLENT(+): similar to Lennon, less toning on back, same crease on corner and gentle trace on top left edge.

Ringo Starr Portrait Card: MINT(-): close to as made, with barely anything to fault.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading:

Side 1: NEAR EXCELLENT: one small mark at the beginning with five light clicks - the only ones of any note on the set. Also a surface mark near the end that has NO wound whatsoever. Any other visual blemishes very fine and faint seen under light purely superificial with no audio affect at all.

Side 2: EXCELLENT(+): with any surface traces ultra fine, faint and few. NO penetrating marks at all.

Sides 3 & 4: EXCELLENT(+): practically as side 2. Any hairlines are few and incredibly faint.

A very fine visual pair that are very clean, intense black and quite heavily pressed. Like the cover, these will please many collectors. The most visual blemishes are on side one, but even these are relatively minor and light, especially for a very popular Beatles original album. Sides 2, 3, 4, are considerably above average and evidence suggest only very light usage. Not for the perfectionist, but many collectors will be delighted with these.

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: Both records play above their individual visual grading with very little 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 are minimal, brief and gentle and mostly with little to none. No pops or significant clicks were noted apart from the 4 or 5 at the beginning of side one on the aircraft sound with a couple of seconds of gentle crackle. Minor blemishes that disappear within seconds and few examples of this set will offered fewer unwanted sounds than this pair. Overall, a very clean pressing for a challenging album that offers immense sound and a world-class production by the legendary producer, George Martin. No pile-driver stylus have wrecked this copy, and to have just the one small lightly penetrating mark over the four long sides, is almost a feat initself. The sound is fully focused, precise and sharp throughout and devoid of that annoying loud crackle that blights so many. Even the fragile and delicate songs like ‘Blackbird’, ‘Long Long Long’ and the most challenging, ‘Dear Prudence’, play very well with barely anything unwanted. The ferociously loud ‘Helter Skelter’ is simply awesome, here tight and punchy and fully controlled, with the alternative ending to the mono cut – ‘I’ve got blisters on my fingers’. All four sides set a high standard, as stated, with just the little mild and polite reminder this is a 44+-year-old vinyl record, not a clinical digital format. This too played on very revealing equipment that takes no prisoners. Overall, a very impressive ‘used’ set – but light year off excessive. Not pristine, few ever will be – but a very enjoyable and beautifully detailed pair that really offer much. One many, if not most fans, will enjoy to a high degree, nothing after the first three or four seconds spoilt my pleasure when play-grading these classic records. The stereo mix offers terrific imagery and effect, especially on Revolution No 9 and I simply love it. This set will prove difficult to find significantly better and merits strong recommendation. An evergreen, monumental masterpiece and this splendid copy does it very high justice.

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 Terrarium Black terminated cable). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional VPI-17 vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too. Pictures taken with a Nikon D5000 SLR Digital Camera.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.

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 new VPI-17 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 boxes (NOT Mailers, these do not offer any real protection). The record(s) are 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 at least TWO, 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. When larger boxes are used, 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. 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. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners 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 8,000+ items sold in over 10 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 stiffeners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 2 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FIVE records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). All postage costs are below and at the top of the listing.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please ask me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of FOUR days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the, again after the mandatory FOUR days and then offer the item to the runner-up or relist. The non-payer will also be blocked from my Ebay site and they take the Ebay consequences (a strike or removal from the system). Small businesses need prompt payment to trade and these strict rules WILL be applied.

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] = £4.25

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £8. (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 [£50 maximum]) = £12 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £3 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); South America; New Zealand; 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 [£50 maximum]) = £16 (£17 for double sets). Add £3 per extra LP. (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an 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: I will cancel any bids I feel are time-wasters. 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 necessarily 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’.