The Beatles : Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band 1967 (1st 1/1 Mono Pressing)

This very rare first pressing is in excellent condition and contains the original cut-out card and red 'fool' inner sleeve.  Side Two has what looks like 00 mother numbers connected by a single straight line, a rarity in itself, but maybe this was in keeping with this very early pressing as described below.

This first pressing has the mega rare and unique 'Fourth Proof' gatefold.  This represents the earliest possible pressing of the Sgt Pepper cover. The 'Fourth Proof' was the final version of the various ‘prototypes’ that were explored by the Beatles when the cover was being designed.  The cover (and text) was approved by the Beatles and an initial very small ‘test’ run was undertaken to make sure everything looked ok. This small test run is characterised by the inverted 'Fourth Proof' text on the top right hand flipback of the inner gatefold just to the right of George Harrison’s head.  This is therefore the earliest possible ‘prototype’ (test pressing) cover. On the same flipback is printed “AR D1321″ which was probably the reference number for the prototype text that was used.

  Mono 1/1 First pressing on Yellow/Black Parlophone label.  'The Gramophone Co. Ltd' etc is printed around the perimeter edge of the labels.

'Sold in U.K. subject to resale price conditions' etc printed below the Parlophone labels.  This vinyl does not have the K T tax stamp on either label.  This is not rare as the first pressings both came with or without it.

Parlophone PMC 7027

Side One XEX 637 - 1 // Mother Stampers RTH 3

Side Two XEX 638 - 1 // Mother Stampers RRA 00

The audio on both sides is Ex- (VG+ in some sections)

The 'Fourth Proof' gatefold is Near Mint-

The labels are Near Mint-
The original inner is Ex+
The Sgt Pepper Cut-Out card is Near Mint-

Visual grading

For half a century old this vinyl is very clean.  It has a number of fine hairlines, although not an excessive amount, and whilst you can see it has been played a number of times you can also see it has been very looked after and is certainly one of the cleanest first pressings I have seen.  There are a couple of tiny scratches on Side One but only one of them has any affect on the audio, on the final track as detailed below.  Side Two is very similar, very clean overall but with a couple of tiny marks that have no bearing on the audio.  Even after all these years it still has a glossy sheen and visually is very impressive.  The mega rare 'Fourth Proof' gatefold is also in superb condition and is without doubt the best I have seen of this rare type.

Play grading  

The title track has very little lead in static but then has a little crackle at the start and 2/3 light pops.  It then plays very clearly although there is some static in the background throughout.  'A Little Help From My Friends' has very little 'background' and plays in impeccable style.  A little static here and there but it is not intrusive in any way and there are no clicks or pops.  The classic 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' has intermittent light static in the background again and one pop but still plays with excellent quality and remains an excellent listen.  For a 50 year old vinyl the depth and clarity is still of a high standard.  'Getting Better'  and 'Fixing A Hole' play in similar fashion with some light static but again there are no clicks or pops.  The static on 'She's Leaving Home' is more obvious but the music and vocals remain very clear.  'Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite' ends Side One with generally less static but I did hear 4/5 dull pops about half way through.  Other than that it plays very clearly.

'Within You Without You' begins with some crackle and then proceeds to play with excellent clarity but again does have some of the obligatory static in the background here and there and a couple of clicks.  The second half of the track in particular plays with excellent audio.  For a relatively quiet track 'When I'm Sixty-Four' plays with great audio and only a little of the static in the background.  In fact for 50 years old it is an excellent version as is 'Lovely Rita'.  This track has great clarity and very little interference, no clicks or pops again.  The remainder of the side much in the same way and the 'Sgt. Peppers' reprise plays remarkably well with very little 'background'.  The classic 'A Day In The Life' plays with some static but again the audio remains very clear and is an excellent finish to such an iconic album.

In summary I know I mention the background static a fair amount but this is because I am thorough and honest in my gradings as my feedback testifies.  What 50 year old record wouldn't play with some interference?!  I don't think it is particularly intrusive and many would say it adds to the atmosphere!  It is worth mentioning there are only a very small number of clicks/pops which is a rarity on a first pressing.  With an incredibly rare 'Fourth Proof' cover that is Near Mint this rare LP would still be a great addition to any Beatles collection.

Gatefold cover

This very rare 'Fourth Proof' laminated G & L gatefold is in wonderful condition and for a 'prototype' to be as good as this is a mega rarity.  The edges and corners are in superb shape with no wear and only the spine has a 'rough feel' over a small area.  It remains 100% legible.  The laminate throughout remains in near perfect condition with only a handful of barely visible small creases.  The opening edges also have barely any handling wear.  The inside of the gatefold is immaculate and in all honesty looks as new.  There is no staining to the flipbacks at all and the colours remain strong and vibrant and it would be nigh on impossible to find a better gatefold let alone a 'Fourth Proof' one.  As everyone knows this LP is celebrating a special milestone this year and with a mega rare gatefold that is just a shade off Mint is such a rarity making it all the more collectible.

Red and White Inner sleeve

The original red and white 'fool' inner sleeve is in excellent condition with no splits, tears or marks which is a rarity.  It only has some mild creasing as you would expect.  It has 'Made in Great Britain' and 'Patents Applied For' printed on the bottom of one side.

Sgt. Pepper Cut-Outs

This is in near perfect condition with only a tiny amount of wear on a couple of corners.

Labels

The yellow/black Parlophone labels are in excellent condition.  Yes with a fair amount of spindle wear but no marks or writing at all.  As stated there are no K T tax stamps on either side.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable // B & W 684 Speakers

Parlophone PMC 7027

Side One XEX 637 - 1 // Mother Stampers RTH 3

Side Two XEX 638 - 1 // Mother Stampers RRA 00

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SHIPPING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" AS TOO MANY ITEMS GO MISSING AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £6.00.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THIS.

COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN MORE THAN ONE ITEM IS WON.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKED IN PROFESSIONAL MAILERS WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS.  THEY ARE ALSO PLACED IN SEPARATE SLEEVES AND PLACED OUTSIDE THE COVER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST.

I WILL LEAVE FEEDBACK AS SOON AS I RECEIVE FEEDBACK - SO I KNOW THE ITEM WAS RECEIVED SAFELY AND THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH IT.  IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  I WILL ALSO PAY THE RETURN POSTAGE COST IF I AM AT FAULT - yes this can happen as I am only human!!

In the coming weeks and months I will be putting plenty of Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Genesis and Marillion items on the site so please keep a look out!  Many thanks.  Please look at my other items on now!

FOR ITEMS SENT OVERSEAS I WOULD SERIOUSLY RECOMMEND "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" ESPECIALLY FOR ITEMS SELLING OVER £40.00.  IT PROTECTS US BOTH IF ITEMS GET LOST OR DAMAGED IN THE POST AND COSTS AN EXTRA £6.00 SO PLEASE JUST ASK IF YOU WOULD PREFER THIS. 

UK POSTAGE RATES (SECOND CLASS)

LPs/12" singles : £4.95 (recorded) then £0.75 per extra item 

7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

EUROPE 

LPs/12" singles : £7.95 then £1.25 per extra 

7" singles / CDs : £4.95 then £0.95 per extra 

REST OF WORLD  

LPs/12" singles : £11.95 then £1.75 per extra

7" singles / CDs : £5.95 then £0.95 per extra  

 

 

 

 

 

On 25-Nov-16 at 15:05:28 GMT, seller added the following information:

In hindsight I believe the cover should be graded as Ex
Sorry for any confusion