Sold Date: June 16, 2024
Start Date: June 9, 2024
Final Price: $910.00 (USD)
Bid Count: 18
Seller Feedback: 271
Buyer Feedback: 616

ORIGINAL 1st UK ROLLING STONES RECORDS COC-59100 EDITION

THE ROLLING STONES ~ STICKY FINGERS (1971)

HOLY GRAIL MIPSRINT WITHDRAWN ANDY WARHOL DESIGN GATEFOLD COVER 

ONLY 200 COPIES EVER PRODUCED BEFORE THE GATEFOLD DESIGN CONCEPT WAS CHANGED

1st VERSION HIGH-QUALITY METAL ZIPPER WITH A BLANK PULLER HAVING TWO VERTICAL LINES

1st PRINT ROLLING STONES RECORDS LABELS WITHOUT THE "A PROMOTONE N.V. RECORD" BANNER

VERY EARLY -A3 / -B3 1st FOR THIS RELEASE MATRIX NUMBERS WITH THE “T.M.L. ROLLING STONES RECORDS” HAND-ETCHED IN THE RUNOUT GROOVES

ORIGINAL 1st PRINT 1971 23” x 35” POSTER PROMOTING THE UK RELEASE

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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

Original 1st UK pressing of The Rolling Stones “Sticky Fingers” released on April 23, 1971. What makes this copy a holy grail in every Rolling Stones collection is the fact that it's the original withdrawn gatefold sleeve. This cover variation appeared due to a violation in the process of manufacturing technology. The design concept implied the possibility of unbuckling the belt detaching the perforation attaching it to the cover and unzipping the pants not only to see the model’s briefs but also the name of the designer of this scandalous cover in the form of Andy Warhol’s facsimile signature. In order to realize this concept, it was necessary to assembly all of the cover’s parts in the correct order. We're sure the printing company even had an assembly sequence scheme. It’s hard to tell why the front panel which shaped the design concept ended up unattached to the right side of the cover. The emerged cover variation have been called “gatefold”. According to the information found online the number of the copies containing this cover didn’t exceed 200. There’s a constant debate concerning which zipper puller shape was present on the very early 1st pressing. If we take into account that the very early 1st pressing copies had a gatefold cover and -A3 / -B3 matrix numbers, which were the 1st ones for this release, than it would logical to assume that the “small” metal zipper with two vertical lines present on the currently listed copy is the first version zipper puller variation that was used on the earliest 1st pressing copies. “Sticky Fingers” can be considered a quite symbolic album as it was the first album to be recorded without Brian Jones, first to be recorded at the band’s own studio, Rolling Stones Records, created in 1970 and also the first one to feature the band’s iconic “tongue and lips” logo designed by John Pasche. This misprint withdrawn cover album comes with an original “Printed in England by Richard Davis Ltd.” 2-sided insert with a photo of the band on the front and a large “tongue and lips” logo on the back. Original “Made in England” white inner sleeve with the diagonally cut corners and “Patent No. 1,125,555” print. Original 1st print yellow Rolling Stones Records labels with a “tongue and lips” logo, double 1.25” and 1.5” pressing ring on Side 1, 1.25” pressing ring on Side 2 and “COC 59100” catalog number. The labels of this copy don't contain the “A Promotone N.V. Record” credit which appeared on the later issues. 1st pressing with the machine stamped -A3 / -B3 matrix numbers and hand-etched “T.M.L. Rolling Stones Records” in the runout grooves. The full matrix numbers are as follows: Side 1: COC-59100-A3 T.M.L. ROLLING STONES RECORDS D 1A; Side 2: COC-59100-B3 T.M.L. ROLLING STONES RECORDS A3. The album comes with an original 1st print 1971 large 23” x 35” poster promoting the UK release of the “Sticky Fingers” album depicting the band members posing with the unreleased version of the album cover in their hands.

★

The gatefold cover is graded as Excellent. It doesn't have any splits or writing. There is some light non-sticky residue at the upper right corner which was left by a round sticker. The zipper is in perfect working condition. The front and back cover have a minimal amount of age shelf wear. The front cover has some light indentation marks on the bottom left from the zipper which were left by the zipper of another copy. These marks are commonly found on the copies of this issue as the albums were stacked on the top of each other at the factory, which led to the covers constantly rubbing against each other. When it comes to the back cover, it has only a couple of them. The zipper area has a couple of light creases. The spine contains a fully readable text only having a little bit of scuffing. The interior gatefold cover is super clean and in Near Mint Minus condition. I grade the vinyl as Excellent. It has a beautiful factory gloss containing a minimal amount of hairlines or scuffs. Side 1 contains a very light non-feelable scuff caused by the zipper of another copy that doesn't affect the playback in any way, and just like in the case with the covers, these can be found pretty often on the vinyl of this issue. The labels are very clean, completely scuff- and wear-free, and are graded as Near Mint Minus only having a few very light spindle marks that can be seen under a strong light. The vinyl sounds amazing with just some very light occasional static that could go away if the records was professionally cleaned using a VPI cleaning machine. The original "Made in England" inner sleeve is in Near Mint Minus condition and doesn't have any splits or tears. The original "tongue and lips" insert is in great vintage condition only having some very light barely noticeable sticky residue along the edges of the logo side which was left by the tape previously present on the insert. Aside from that, the insert is very clean and doesn't have any spilts, tears or missing pieces. The original promotional poster is in stunning vintage condition.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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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.

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