Sold Date: February 24, 2014
Start Date: January 31, 2014
Final Price: $300.00 $250.00 (USD)
Seller Feedback: 1108
Buyer Feedback: 145

I have been a collector of 45s from the 1950s and 1960s for the past 55 years and have been collecting the Beatles US picture sleeves since they were first issued 50 years ago. I have continuously upgraded my collection over the years.

The Beatles picture sleeves I have listed on eBay are my personal collection. I completed my personal collection many years ago and all of the sleeves listed are original sleeves from the first issued 45s. The highest grade I will give a pic sleeve is M- unless I know it is old store-stock and as new. Your satisfaction is guaranteed.

These picture sleeves have been stored in polyethylene sleeve protectors without the record in them since I acquired them. This was to prevent a record label “push” from degrading the sleeve. I also placed a thin piece of acid free poster board inside each sleeve that is the exact size of the inner area of the sleeve before storing the sleeve so as to keep the sleeve free of creases, wave bends, corner bumps, etc. The sleeves have been stored in an area of my listening room (I’m a long-time analog audiophile) that is away from sunlight and room light. My house has always been smoke free.

The pictures of these sleeves on eBay were taken with a high resolution scanner. Using eBay’s mouse-over feature on the scans of these sleeves is the equivalent of looking at the actual sleeve with a magnifying glass. The scans of these sleeves are not cropped. My goal is to give you a complete view of both sides of the sleeve. In scanning the sleeve I have deliberately left a margin around it so you are able to see a close up of the edges and corners of the entire sleeve. I have noted any obvious flaws on the sleeve but the scans of the sleeve speak for themselves.

As every collector knows, unlike their US LP records, the Beatles pic sleeves were not sealed; thus, finding them in mint or near mint condition is extremely difficult. 45 – 50 year old pic sleeves of any artist in mint or near mint condition are virtually impossible to find today. I hope you find something you can add to your collection and enjoy it as much as I have over these many years.

This sleeve is Match Box/Slow Down, Capitol 5255. This is the straight-cut top, east coast sleeve. It was issued on August 24, 1964.

Grade: Mint

This sleeve is old store stock and as new. All four corners of the sleeve are sharp and tight. The sleeve is perfectly flat with no hint of ring wear. There are no bends, creases, folds, or tears. It has no corner bumps, record pushes, marks, or seam splits. The sleeve colors are perfect, as new. It looks like it just came out of a record store in 1964. It is easily the finest example of this sleeve I have ever seen and certainly one of the finest in existence. 

Payment, Shipping, and Returns:

Please do not remit payment until you receive an invoice. The buyer is responsible for all shipping costs. All shipping boxes and other shipping materials are new. Each sleeve is carefully packaged in a custom made 45 mailing box along with protective insert stiffeners. This 45 mailing box is then placed inside a USPS Priority Mail shipping box filled with Styrofoam material. Thus, the sleeve is double boxed to ensure it gets to you in the same condition as shown. Shipping costs include only the actual costs of shipping and the required shipping materials. Shipping service within the US is USPS Priority Mail and the cost is $7.45.

Shipping costs vary widely outside the US. International shipping service is USPS International. For all locations outside the US please contact me for an exact shipping cost. The buyer is responsible for any customs or import duties. All shipping services include a signed-for receipt.

Satisfaction guaranteed. Notification of intent to return a sleeve must be made within 48 hours of receiving the sleeve and must be returned to me within 7 days of receipt. Shipping costs are not refundable and the buyer pays return shipping. A returned sleeve must be packaged in the same manner in which it was received and I must receive it in the same condition as it was received by the buyer.