Sold Date: September 17, 2023
Start Date: September 10, 2023
Final Price: $2,145.00 (USD)
Bid Count: 32
Seller Feedback: 209
Buyer Feedback: 6631

ORIGINAL 1st US MONO COLUMBIA RECORDS, TERRE HAUTE, IN PRESSING

BOB DYLAN ~ BLONDE ON BLONDE (1966)

“BOB DYLAN’S NEW ALBUM DELUXE 2-RECORD SET Featuring ‘RAINY DAY WOMEN #12 & 35’ and “I WANT YOU” HYPE STICKER

1st WITHDRAWN COVER VERSION WITH 9 PHOTOS INCLUDING THE ONE OF THE ITALIAN ACTRESS CLAUDIA CARDINALE

RARE GATEFOLD STYLE DISTRIBUTOR “HI-FI UNITED STATES RECORD CORP.” PROTECTIVE BAGGY  

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

~ Before placing a bid, please make sure to attentively read our updated international shipping policy ~          

Original very early 1st US Mono pressing of Bob Dylan’s 7th studio album “Blonde on Blonde” released on May 16, 1966. 1st batches of manufactured records were assigned to the distributors through which they were sold in the retail. “United States Record Corp.” was one of a few distributor companies, besides “Sears”, “Fedco” and “Record Rack”, whose branding included the placement of the company’s logo on the baggies. The copy listed for an auction remains in a very rare original gatefold-type baggy, which allows to open the cover without removing the baggy and make certain that this is the very early 1st version cover featuring the photo of the Italian actress Claudia Cardinale that was quickly withdrawn. There is a common misconception that the photo of Cardinale was removed from the initial pressing's cover at the request of the actress. However, the photographer Jerry Schatzberg refuted this statement saying that it wasn't Cardinale's lawyers who insisted that Columbia Records remove the photo, but instead it was Dylan's agents who refused to use it. The promotional campaign of this album that lasted for the first two months after the release date included the placement of a hype sticker on the front cover of the album. There were two types of stickers whose difference was the presence of a track listing on one of them. This copy's sticker variation measuring 3¼” x 4½”, besides the information concerning the record being Bob Dylan’s new album and “Deluxe 2-Record Set”, promoted the singles “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” and “I Want You”. It’s impossible to find a copy of this Mono issue in this combination having the distributor baggy, 1st print withdrawn cover and hype sticker. This list could be continued by including in it the incredibly rare vinyl as the matrix numbers of all of the four sides contain the -A1 mother stamper. Original 1st print red Columbia Records 2-eye “360 Sound” “Non-Breakable” label with the Mono banner, catalog number C2L 41 (with the additional catalog number CL 2516 for Side 1 / 2 vinyl and CL 2517 for 3 / 4) and the Terre Haute, IN pressing plant’s 2.75” diameter main pressing ring. The full matrix numbers featuring the machine-stamped “T” identifier of the pressing plant are as follows: Side 1 - 0 o XLP113761-2F-  A 1; Side 2 - o XLP113762-3F- T A 1; Side 3 - o XLP113763-4D- A 1. Side 4 - Side 4: o XLP113764-2B B 1. This outstanding copy comes with two original grey inner sleeves having stripes running vertically and the Columbia Records logo in the middle.

★

The distributor baggy has preserved the cover in a beautiful Near Mint Minus condition. Please note that some light marks and scuffing present on the baggy don't affect the cover. The glossy vinyl is graded as strong Very Good Plus for Side 1 / 2 and Excellent for Side 3 / 4. The Side 1 / 2 vinyl have only a few very light non-feelable surface hairlines along with some light scuffs from the original paper inner sleeve, both of which are in Near Mint Minus condition without having any tears or splits. The Side 3 / 4 have only a couple of very light faint surface scuffs from the inner sleeve. The clean stunning labels in Near Mint Minus condition are completely wear- and scuff- free, only having a few very light spindle marks that could be seen under a strong light source. The vinyl sounds amazing with a clear Monaural sound only having some very light occasional static which most likely could go away completely if the record was professionally cleaned using a VPI cleaning machine.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

We don't accept bids from the accounts created during the auction or the ones created by the blocked bidders. The buyers with a low rating, please contact us prior to placing a bid. In order to assure a safe transit and prompt delivery we prefer shipping our items with Priority Mail, it concerns the domestic shipping as well as the international. You can be sure that your purchased item(s) will be professionally packed as we don't save on the packing materials. 100% of our buyers are satisfied with our packaging. We guarantee an exact and professional description of each item. If for some reasons something escapes our attention, please let us know. Please do it before you make the decision to open a return request. We'll put our best effort into providing the best customer service. We 100% guarantee a full refund and issue a partial refund only in certain rare cases. We're a Top Rated Plus seller and an opened return request would negatively affect our seller performance. Who would like that? Opening a return request is your right, however, we're sorry but we'll have to block you and it's our right. We're not going to hide the fact that we prefer to see among our customers the intelligent, decent and kind people. If you don't possess these qualities, you won't like dealing with us. We don't list items for an auction often and when we do it's a small quantity as these items are highly collectible and very rare.

FOR INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS' CONSIDERATION

Due to the high risks involved when it comes international shipping, we’ve recently stopped sending our items with USPS First-Class Mail International and now use only USPS Priority Mail International Express. However, if your order exceeds the amount of $5000, we’ll have to ship the package with FedEx as oppose to USPS.

I don't have the information concerning the existing customs regulations and policies in your country. Before placing a bid please find out more details about it yourself. I don't take any responsibility for the length of customs clearance. I also don't have any opportunity to influence the work of postal carriers in any way. For this particular reason, I ship internationally only with expedite shipping service that includes signature confirmation. My capabilities are limited to the professional packing that assures a safe transit throughout the way and fastest shipping dates. After shipping the package I don't accept any claims related to the work of postal service or problems related to the absence of knowledge related to the customs clearance in your country. If you have any negative experience related to the postal service and you'd like to insure the purchased item please contact me about it beforehand. Keep in mind that just like you, I'm interested in our transaction being concluded successfully but my abilities are limited to the service I describe above.