The Who- My Generation Very First Run 1B/1B Stampers Matrices and Lacquer 1ST

	£		124
	$		164

POSSIBLY THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF THIS TRULY GREAT COLLECTION I HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF A 1B 1B MOTHER/LACQUER CODE (9 o'clock/3 o'clock codes) COPY OF THIS ERA DEFINING ALBUM... 

I honestly ask you to tell me if you know of one! Here is one in great condition! Why not listen to this very copy, as you peruse the in-depth photos further down! Please check out the other rare MOD records I have up at the moment swell, a very early lacquer 5 live yardbirds, all 3 original copies of the Birds Decca singles, A Quick One... etc!

This is a one off opportunity to own an incredible copy of the earliest copy of the Who's debut LP I have been able to find, or heard tell of! Read on below!!!  

MORE PHOTOS BELOW!

LISTEN TO THE WHOLE ALBUM RIGHT HERE!!!!

This recording comes direct from the vinyl copy you are now bidding on, straight out of my NAD amp, into my ZOOM H2 recorder, recording directly into MP3. When including these recordings for this purpose I make no audio tweaks in any way to the audio recording I have done, I do not alter the weight of the stylus, though I do use a fresh stylus, as, I'm sure we're all aware, is healthy to do anyway, very regularly! 

There are loads more very rare records from the same collection here in my other items!

NEVER BEFORE ON EBAY!!!!?

I have certainly never seen a copy with 1B1B matrices, AND 1B1B LACQUER CODES!!!!

Conditions at a glance:

Cover Condition: VG (the only downers are the name and discolouration patches on the back)

Inner Sleeve Condition: Included here are the original inner that this copy came with (Brunswick company inner consistant with period with "British patent No. 800513 Foreign patents pending" at bottom right) but also I have included another copy of the company inner also often found with this record (Same except text in bottom right reads "Patent Application No. 40904/61") the first of these grades as VG- the second as VG

Record Condition: A strong VG+

Label Conditions: A strong VG+ (some light spindles though no wear-through/fading of colour)

A really beautiful copy of the very first Who's very first searing declaration of teenage rebellion. Really clean and crisp example of many of the UK youth's first glimpse of the fresh young faces behind those screams and wails of feedback pumping across the airwaves via the pirate radio stations etc. This is by far the best copy of this album that's ever passed through my hands. Not only that, but this is the VERY FIRST pressing, not just Brunswick, not just 1965, not just BOTH MARTICES END IN "1B", but ALSO... THE STAMPER AND LACQUER NUMBERS (at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock repectively) on both sides are "1" and "B", (one being self explanitory in chronology, and "B" being the very first code letter of the Decca (Brunswick was a subsidiary) stamper codes, B-U-C-K-I-N-G-H-A-M being the order of them. This dates this copy of the record as certainly being one of the very first discs to leave the machine, (some suggest that only about the first 300 off the machine might have had this) and as such (supposedly) the freshest/deepest etc. ie. printed from the very first printing plate used. Being that there were so few bearing these VERY FIRST LACQUER NUMBERS, and most copies of this record were not treated the kindest, and this one has been, surely then this is A CONTENDER FOR THE VERY BEST CONDITION COPY OUT THERE of a 1B matix 1B lacquer on both sides!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've never seen another, and this is so strong!

To all who fans out there that want as early a copy of this album as they can get... barring acetates and factory samples/demos (and even factory samples/demos sometimes don't have the very first run stamper numbers!) etc, it gets NO EARLIER THAN THIS!

The Condition of this is all round great aswell. Most mod and rock and roll records were taken to parties and subject to all sorts of horrors that have records breaking out in cold sweats just thinking about! Wrecked styli, not being put back in their sleeves, even stacked on top of one another, or left on a surface open to being dropped, stood on... it doesn't bear thinking about... Anyway, this one has certainly never been treated like that, a very few surface hairlines, and very light handling marks, none feelable, and hardly audible in any places, are all that impare this otherwise beautiful black mirror! Still so shiny that you can read average 12 point text in it's reflection (provided you can read backwards!)!!! The only defacement/writing of any kind, is a very neat and small etching in the deadwax on side 1 of the previous owner's name, many of this collection has this same insignia, and I have become very glad of it, it saves any defacement of the beautiful labels, is only visible when angled into the light, and is so small that any unscrupulous thief wouldn't be aware of it until they were caught red handed- very sneaky!

A few very light surface marks (mainly on side 2- though still literally only a handful) clearly has been played, evident in a number of spindle marks near the centre hole of the label, though no "whitening" of the lovely black label! Makes the lack of wear on the vinyl even more impressive. The only mark of note on the vinyl is confined to "A Legal Matter", and consists of a non-feelable 7mm mark. Though this DOES NOT interfere with the play. Having listened through a number of times on different EQ settings, there are a few incredibly insignificant small pops hardly noticeable as the record is rather loud, the only really noticeable ones are a tiny crackle on the intro to "The Kids Are All Right", a pop in the silence after "A Legal Matter", a tiny "silence" crackle (could just be static) before "Please, Please, Please", extremely minor silence crackle pre side 1 track 1 "Out in the Street". I have been careful to hardly touch this record, and so I think a professional clean would certainly up the condition even further to this already beautiful record! Truly awe inspiring copy!

A thorough audio breakdown!

I have checked this album several times (gosh it's a hard life having to listen to this album!) through different set-ups, the most exacting system I've found is to put it through my NAD amp, boost the upper frequencies and listen to it on closed, large diaphragm headphones, therefore if there are any ticks, I'll hear them!

The silences are crystal clear! the tiniest sound before track 1 side 1 "Out In The Street", but not during songs, 1 small pop in second chorus of "The Kids Are Alright". You Don't Have To Go" which the dynamics are up and down almost invariably pops, but on this copy it's perfect!!! Same goes for "I'm A Man"! 1 light pop on runout of Legal Matter, and perhaps 2 very small pops during "Legal Matter" though hard to tell! LISTEN FOR YOURSELF!!!! 

The sleeve of this LP is well known for being a fairly flimsy. Printed by Robert Stace, and only thinly laminated with clarifoil, and even then only on the front, it is very rare to find a copy that has all seams holding, a legible spine, no rips or tears, etc.

This copy ticks all of those boxes and more! The front is beautifully clear, at no point at all is the laminate coming away or bubbling, and for such a dull laminate, actually reflects beautifully! 5 thumb handling crescent indents, though, only one larger than a cm, and none of them come near to breaking the laminate. Beautifully legible spine, clear, no rips through the laminate, unbelievable really! All seams perfectly hold. The only wear to them really is at the bottom right corner near the mouth opening where a small patch 1.5cm long has started to feather a little, at no other place is this happening! Really nice crisp opening mouth, a few very slight knocks, clearly from taking the record out and returning it to its sleeve, have resulted in minor bumps along the otherwise perfect edge- absolutely no rips.

The unlaminated rear of the sleeve has small browning marks in the top left quarter, the name of the previous (very careful!) owner at the top, above the track listings. Behind this name very minor "disc darkening" is visible, though very rarely, at no other place on this flimsy, non-laminated rear sleeve is there any sign of disc wear! Lovely!       

What more can I say?! It really is a beautiful copy, of the earliest pressing of this Mod classic!

I have never seen another copy with 1 B 1 B stampers swell as matrices, this has to be a contender for one of the best audio copies left of that very first initial run!

Any questions please ask, if you're not entirely happy then send it back to me in the same condition within 7 days and I'll refund fully (sorry- I don't do part refunds for buyer to keep item)

Really good luck and happy bidding!

 PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY ITEM THAT GOES OVER £36 FINAL BIDDING PRICE I INSIST ON SENDING IT INSURED, AS SUCH POSTAGE WILL COST A LITTLE MORE, PLEASE WAIT FOR ME TO INVOICE YOU IF THIS APPLIES, ANYONE WHO DOES NOT WAIT I WILL EXPECT TO PAY THE EXTRA BEFORE I SEND OFF THE ITEM... MANY THANKS!

Check out loads of other rarities from this collection in beautiful condition in my other items!

There are loads more coming over the weeks/months from this collection and many others so, please make sure to add me to your favourites list!

Side 1 label, so clean, with ever so slight handling fade marks above the title, and again to the right of the N.C.B.  B.I.E.M. box, but really lovely!

Side 2 label, again very slight handling fading, this time to the right of the track listings, other than that though, really great!

Catching side 1 in the sun to show off hairlines etc.

Catching side 2 in the sun to show hairlines etc. (the dots in foreground are dust)

Hard to catch, but right near the top of this photo in the centre, is the faint "B" lacquer code stamp (the 3 o'clock code) that numbers this as about one of the first 1000 copies off the press!  This is the one on side 1, the one for side 2 is below, but for 1st press collectors, this kind of touch is very exciting indeed!!! 

The mother code (9 o'clock code) side 1. Reading "1"! 

Again, very hard to catch in a photo, but here is the lacquer code for side 2, again "B", a 1B1B copy has never (to my knowledge) come up for sale on Ebay before this copy!!!

Here is the mother code of side 2, reading again, "1". Note also in the top left corner of this photo, the sun brutally exposes a few hairline surface marks, these are present, but do not impede the audio, please read the in depth audio grade for more info on this! 

Lovely clean label for side 1 from another angle, with matrix just visible at the bottom of photo.

Lovely clean label for side 2 caught in a different angle, this angle shows a couple of light spindle marks).

Side 2 matrix number.

The neat etching of the previous owner's name between (but not touching!) the run out grooves of side 1!

Beautifully clean centre hole of side 1 with very little wear! 

Lovely centre hole for side 2, just a few spindle marks...

Side 1 caught at a different angle, again some light hairlines etc, are more visible from this angle, though audio imperfections are almost non-existent!

Side 2 caught at a different angle to fully uncover any imperfections!

Record in it's original inner sleeve.

Bottom right of original 1st release inner with "British patent No. 800513     Foreign patents pending" text (often missing or mismatched with incorrect inners here's the original!)

the top edge of original inner, a slight rip along the top left corner edge (less than 1" along) and slight folding along opening mouth slightly impede this lovely original inner!

Top right hand corner of original inner sleeve, even better, very slight opening mouth wear, and a 1cm rip along the seam only. 

I have also included a "Patent Application No. 40904/61" style inner sleeve, these were included with later releases of this LP I believe (though the other inner sleeve included (photos above) is the original, this is a very crisp copy of what I am led to believe some of the later, but still 1st press copies of this album were released in! Included in this auction so's you can take your pick!  

Close up of the significant text of the 2nd included inner sleeve!

The iconic sleeve, in truly crisp condition!

Let catch some of that laminate at an angle in all it's glory!

The back sleeve, how beautiful! Clean etc, please note, however, the previous owner's name at 12 o'clock along with slight disk wear (discolouration) again at 12 o'clock, and the stain near the opening mouth at the top left (shown in greater detail below)

As you can see in this photo, even when caught in strong contrast, the back of the sleeve shows no real folding!

The only real stain of any significance, top left corner near opening mouth, on back of sleeve.

The laminate reflection, the spine, the bottom edge, all fantastic!

The top edge, wonderfully unworn, and the top corner of the spine (the pinch still very visible!)

The beautiful bottom corner of the spine (again the original pinch is very clear)

Look at that spine and the text!!! But also take the opportunity to check out the sheen of the laminate!

So very legible!! Absolutely beautiful!

A very crisp, if very slightly wavy, opening mouth!

The top corner of the opening mouth

The surprisingly lovely bottom mouth corner, with only small feathering...

Small crease in the laminate near the opening mouth.

Slight thumb indents, very close to Kieth's crotch!

The usually worn, but in this case beautifully crisp, bottom seam!

Be sure to add me to your favourites list!

Check out the rest of this collection here in my other items!

This record comes from an incredible collection of very early (1G1G, 1B1B etc laquer numbers) presses of some of the very sought after 60s LPs, the condition is remarkable, and the earliness of the laquers unique in my experience! I am listing this collection in it's entirety (though I would love to buy it all- I have taken nothing out!), over the next weeks, there are some things have never seen before, such as a Beatles For Sale with the central KT taxcode pressing INWARDS to the record! 1G1G Verve Zappa albums! A lot of Dylan TMOQ (The Mark Of Quality) and other 60s/70s bootlegs, the 3 Decca Birds singles (featuring amongst others Ronnie Wood), various Widespines (Sgt Peppers, Zappa's Lumpy Gravey etc), REMIX 11 copy of Beatles REVOLVER in really lovely condtion, Velvet Underground on early Verve... Please watch this space! I have been clearing out of non-record related stuff over January, but am listing back again now with avengance! Please refer to the pre-christmas sales' feedback for my pedigree of strict grading! Many thanks!

And if you're at all unsure, please check my previous feedback for tales of satisfied customers, many of whom return again and again!!

I will of course, if you aren't ENTIRELY happy with your item offer you a full refund upon a quick return of the item, in exactly the same condition I sent it out in, I wont however cover the postage costs- just in order to put off any time-wasters, I hope you understand. I do have here some REAL MEGA-RARITIES, and I understand perhaps your confidence in me might not be complete, as I haven't listed for a while, which is why I offer this offer of full re-embursment. However I am not a fan of the trend of people trying it on and asking to keep the item but want a partial re-fund, I haven't had it happen to me, and want to keep it that way, so please don't try that, I will happily offer your full winning bid money back upon the safe return of the item, and I think that's fair. 

I am very strict with my grading, having been a collector myself for many years, and I try to include as much relavent information as possible on sales, however if you have any further questions please don't hesitate to ask, I will gladly resond as soon as I can.

One thing I would ask is that the winning bidders do leave feedback, as it's annoying when people overlook it.

I happily offer reductions of postage costs on multiple-items, 

I try grade using direct sunlight which shows up more than anything (hence where poss I take my photos in direct sunlight too), however living in the Pennine Hills, contrary to popular rumour it isn't sunny here EVERY day! So when this isn't always possible, as a backup I also use a 100 Watt lightbulb, though when poss I try to use both.

My Record Grading System:

Mint: I'm really loathe to use this term, if you ever catch me using it, it must be sealed, but also no holes in seal, and no knocks/bangs/other shelf-wear to seal. Doubt you'll ever catch me using it, makes me wince when I hear people dropping that casually into conversations about a record they just picked up on a carboot/found in a loft etc!

Near Mint: Probably still sealed, or possibly played once or twice, but I'm unable to see ANY proof it's been played ie. no spindle marks/surface abbrasions OF AN KIND even in the strongest light, in short, I have a strong suspicion this, whilst possibly not fully sealed has never been out of it's sleeve!

EX+: Must have been reverantly played about as many times as you can count on your hands! Absolutey nothing audible at all, and you'd have to be looking hard in strong light to find fault with any none audible elements of this record package. If I get hold of a record that sounds, and looks like it could have just been carried home from the shop this is about as high as I go unless in exceptional circumstances. In most instances I've found records like this I'd consider them the final upgrade, I'd even consider some sealed records EX+.

EX: Straight Excellent has to mean just that, the kind of copy you wonder how somebody kept it in that condition whilst still having a social life, especially rare in 50s/60s albums, certainly not a grade to be taken lightly or thrown about willy-nilly. Nothing should be audible to the listener during songs, and even in the silences I'd only allow the most minute groove noise.The kind of record that you'd have to look a long way to upgrade!

EX-: A Bloody lovely record, I'd allow the tiniest ticks to be audible on this, so long as they are only a handful throughout the entire record, and they are WELL back in the mix. This is a record/sleeve/insert etc. that has clearly been owned, but looked after to a degree that you ask questions about the previous owner's social life! Perfect for DJ-ing

VG+: The difference between VG+ and EX- for me is probably that the previous owner of an EX- possibly didn't have to worry about their collection being ruined too much, as they could count on their fingers the number of people that might have visited them annually, a VG+ is a more realistic grade, clearly played, but by a music lover, who took good care of their records. May have been present at social gatherings, but probably quickly tidied away when more rowdy guests turned up! Still usually  good for alot DJ-ing needs. 

VG: This is a good example of a record that has lived it's life without a glass bubble surrounding it, but it's owner has been quite careful, perhaps the odd feintly feelable mark if you go in search of it that would make an audible click/pop in a number of places on the records surface. Certainly won't be in any museum, but plays well from start to finnish, and whilst may not stand up to a DJs condition, alongside many collections, you'd be very satisfied.

VG-: As VG, but to a slightly heavier degree, might look a bit worse than a VG, else have the odd repeated click that bugs you in the fade-out of that epic side-ending song. Certainly not perfection, but you could do a damn-sight worse! OK for most collections, though there will be better ones that will probably come up (unless it's very rare!) 

G+:   This is starting to wane, shows more signifficant signs of wear/play/misuse. This could be through general carelesness, one bad night, or using a worn stylus, either way, certainly listenable/passable, but if you saw a better copy going at a decent price, you might think about buying it, and seeing what it's worth to sell this one.

G: Plays through but that's about it, signifficant noise that wasn't there when it was bought. Can still hear the song, but would only really be a filler. I doubt I'll sell anything this bad unless I really think someone will appreciate it in their collection. I'll take these down to the local charity shop and let them find their own homes on the whole!

I'll avoid anything less than this unless it's of signifficant interest, and then I'll clearly title is such. I really don't want bad feedback, and it isn't worth it for me, so I'll avoid this.

I feel my grading system is stricter than many I see used, but the sellers I respect on Ebay and elsewhere seem to be of the same mind as me, I'd much prefer to be known as someone who undergrades and you can get a good record from, than someone you have to wonder, "actually is their VG+ quite what I'd expect from that?". Hope I can win you over!

(SOMETIMES I MAY COME ACROSS A RECORD OF SIGNIFFICANT RARITY/DESIRABILITY THAT MAY HAVE A JUMP/STICK IN IT. IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT I THINK SOMEONE MAY WANT IT (EG. IT'S COVER'S IN GOOD NICK, OR IT'S A PRIVATE PRESSING/PROMO OF LIMITED AVAILABILITY) I'LL CLEARLY MARK THIS IN THE TITLE "JUMPS" OR "WARPED" ETC.)

I have have had a few questions about international shipping costs, please do not be put off by the £14 quoted! Yes I combine postage costs, and will only charge  the cost of insured international postage, plus the costs of the packaging (I buy good cruciform boxes, and good stiffeners to post in, I am also pricing up the best way to pad your precious records, and so hopefully this next batch will even be shipped with bubble-wrap too as some of my previous batches have (please observe my feedback regarding this!! All very positive!)), the costs of my packaging will not be about £1 additionally to to costs of the insured postage only, therefore if you live in most of Europe the cost will be signifficantly cheaper than the £14 quoted, and if you buy multiple items, you will save even less! Please wait for an invoice!