I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale. No shipping to Russia currently.

The Rolling Stones : The Rolling Stones 1st Mono Press 2A / 3A Unboxed Red Decca w/ Mona credit on Label & Cover 1964

This may well be the most stunning example I have ever found of this relatively rare pressing.  This is the first mono pressing with the incorrect 'Mona' credit on both the label and the cover.  The clarity, depth and power of the audio is second to none and there are no ticks, clicks, pops or static, the playback is incredibly clean.  It has that raw quality to it, a kind of distorted sound on a few tracks but in a sense distortion isn't quite the right word as this is just how it was recorded / produced.  The sonic quality is superb for a 60 year old record and really could not play any better.  Not surprisingly the vinyl is visually stunning and has not been played very much during its lifetime.

The iconic cover is in excellent condition with only a little marking on the back and has all the incorrect credits as per this pressing - 'Mona', 'Hurran, Calvert' for 'Honest I Do', 'Bozier' on 'Can I Get A Witness' and 'You Can Make It You Try' leaving out the 'If'.

The original Foreign patents pending inner sleeve no longer has the poly-liner so I have put another one inside and has just faded with age.

I think it's safe to say this is a first pressing as it does have the first known label variation which was pressed in early '64 with the 'Made In England - Decca...' long text and 'Recording First Published 1964' on both labels.  It is pressed on the red unboxed / non-grooved red Decca label and does have the correct long version of 'Tell Me...'.  The shorter version is another known first pressing.  Incidentally this is a very early pressing as denoted by the single stampers and indeed S2 has the earliest stamper of all, B.

LK 4605 // XARL-6271-2A / XARL-6272-3A // H 1 / B 1

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T1, T2 & T6 Near Mint)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T2 & T5 Near Mint / T6 Ex+)

The cover is Ex-

The original inner sleeve is VG+

The labels are Mint-

Visual description

The vinyl is in superb condition and still has a very strong glossy sheen with no obvious marks or scratches.  Under a bright light I can only see a few faint hairlines and there is nothing that stands out.  The vinyl has no groove wear or 'bag rash' and the run out grooves are very clean also.  You can easily read the matrix info and the KT tax stamps on each.  The red Decca labels are stunning with only minimal spindle wear.

Play grading  

The intro on 'Route 66' plays with great clarity and Jagger's opening vocal section is of the same standard.  Superb sound so far.  The mid instrumental has a minor distorted sound which is common for this LP but I am playing a mono record via my stereo set up.  The remainder plays very clearly and from start to finish there are no ticks, clicks or pops.  A Near Mint start in my opinion.

'I Just Wanna Make Love To You' plays with that familiar raw Stones' power with no interference.  Yes that almost distorted sound quality is in evidence again but I can't really downgrade it because that 'sound' is synonymous with this classic album.  It is just how it was recorded / produced because not all tracks play like that.  Near Mint

The opening vocal section on 'Honest I Do' plays with sublime clarity and it continues in much the same way.  This is a superb version and again there is no intrusion on the audio.  Tremendous separation i.e. each note is so clean and precise and you really notice that during the instrumental sections.  This is a Mint- version.

The intro on 'Mona' has only a minor amount of barely audible static for the first couple of seconds and it then plays with stunning clarity and depth from that point on.  The original sonic quality is still very much there and I cannot praise this version highly enough.  This is a vinyl that has clearly been so well looked after over the last 60 years!  Even the long fade out plays with perfect clarity.  Mint

'Now I've Got a Witness' also impresses on every level.  The clarity, depth and power of the audio is sensational and even Richards' solo plays so cleanly with barely any distortion and Mint- is richly deserved.

'Little By Little' ends the side with very clear audio for a final track.  There is only minimal inner groove distortion, if indeed that's what it is, and the playback can hardly be faulted.  It is much cleaner than so many other versions I have heard and there are no negatives basically, again there are ticks, clicks etc.  Near Mint is fair.

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'I'm A King Bee' on S2 plays with genuine depth and warmth with no sign of any interference.  Jagger's vocal has barely any of the distorted sound and Mint- is deserved.  Again I am so impressed by the sonic quality here and the fade out is as close to perfect as is possible with just one mega quiet static.

This has to be one of the finest versions of 'Carol' that I have ever heard.  It has a very clean sound and whilst I may be underlining the point the lack of distortion is very obvious.  It is only very minimal and again I only mention it to be 'complete' with my grading and I repeat this is how some tracks were recorded!  Let's say Near Mint

The intro on 'Tell Me...' plays with perfect clarity and the opening vocal is equal to that, the playback is incredible!  As the volume increases there is no drop in quality and the first chorus is stunning.  It continues in the same way with a clarity and power that is second to none.  The quieter sections, and there are many, play with sublime quality and it has to grade as Mint- at the very least.  It truly is a superb version and even the 'busy' ending and abrupt finish play so well.

'Can I Get A Witness' keeps up the standard and plays with impeccable quality through every vocal and instrumental section.  I do not want to sound repetitive but there is no beating this audio, I just cannot believe the vinyl is 60 years old!  Another Mint- version.

'You Can Make It If You Try' has no actual interference although Jagger's vocal does have that kind of distorted sound on it but again I am just being honest.  Recorded like that etc etc!  More a raw quality to the audio and Near Mint is the right call.

Now 'Walking The Dog' is often ruined by a lot of distortion but this is undoubtedly one of the cleanest versions I have heard in many a year.  No ticks, clicks or pops and whilst there is some vocal distortion it is so much less than usual.  Perhaps I am being a little harsh but I will grade this it as Ex+ but wow what an album!

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The cover is in excellent condition for its age with only a little shelf wear.  The edges have no rubbing and the thin spine is in great shape with one very small laminate crease just above Decca.  The corners have hardly any wear and the opening edge is incredibly clean with barely any handling wear.  The laminated front cover is stunning with only a few small laminate creases next to the spine and a couple next to the top edge and the back cover has just some marking running down the right edge next to the flipback.  The rest is extremely clean with hardly any marking and when you consider this is 60 years old and is not laminated it is in excellent condition.  That marking is the only obvious wear on the entire cover.  The flipbacks are still 100% in place and have very little of the marking / staining that you so often see on the edges.  A fine example of this iconic cover.

The original inner sleeve does have some age related fading and creasing but no side splits or tears.  Not bad for a bit of paper!

Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT-VM95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on my Pro-Ject VC-S machine

LK 4605 // XARL-6271-2A / XARL-6272-3A // H 1 / B 1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

Recent Feedback

Postage & Packaging

I will only send items items worldwide via tracked shipping.  This provides 'peace of mind' in case of loss or damage.  The shipping costs are shown below and combined shipping is always offered.  Any over-payment will always be refunded.

The Royal Mail only insure up to a value of £250 so if an item sells for more it may be wise to use a courier service (e.g. Parcelforce or DPD).  An extra insurance premium will be required but I will not know the exact amount until the final sale price is known.  Because of this I will sometimes have to estimate the cost and this will be shown in the listing.  Please wait for the invoice before making payment and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.  Many thanks.

All vinyls are packaged in strong over-sized custom made mailers with plenty of extra cardboard protection.  They are placed inside separate poly-lined inners outside the cover so as to avoid seam splits in transit and then placed inside a PVC sleeve to provide even more protection.  I pride myself on my high quality packaging as my feed confirms and if any customer has any specific requirements I am more than happy to help.

The mailers I use cost £1.00 each and I will use anything between 3-5 cardboard stiffeners which cost approx £0.18 each.  There is also the cost of the poly-lined inner and PVC sleeve to consider, it all adds up!  Not forgetting that eBay take 10% of the shipping fee also!!

UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £6.50 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

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LPs/12" singles : £14.95 then £2.00 per extra

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LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra

If you are not entirely happy with your purchase please contact me before leaving feedback and I will always resolve any issue, 100% guaranteed.  If you would prefer to send the item back I will also pay the return shipping cost if I am at fault, I am only human after all!!