Paul McCartney FLOWERS IN THE DIRT 1989 World Tour Pack.  EMI/Parlophone (UK Import) 

Numbered #09030 LIMITED EDITION

Die-Cut outer box cover with envelope flap:

CONTENTS:

The original version of the album A one-sided picture cover single of the previously unreleased "Party Party" with catalogue number R 6238. The other side of the single has large flowers etched into the vinyl Giant 36" x 24" poster of the band Rock "family tree" of the band members by Pete Frame on a giant 36" x 24" poster Bumper sticker which says, "I'd Rather Be Listening to McCartney” 6 Postcards; 12" x 8" one-sided World Tour itinerary which covers the tour from 26th September through to 26th January

I bought this item in 1991 and opened it to inspect the contents, but I never played the record since by that time CDs started taking over my collection.

Condition: I will only use NM rating on items that are new or never used and appear to warrant that rating with their current condition.  I don’t have a turntable now, so I can only rely on visual grading.  For that reason, an opened record will only merit a VG++ rating even if I know I have never played it.  The buyers need to know I will do my best to NOT over grade.  If that means I lose a little money, it’s better that the alternative of losing customers.

Outer box cover: VG.  The corners are pretty well bent or have rubbed off the design.  For what it’s worth, I have yet to see this product with a NM or VG++ outer box.  Even the still sealed one that I have has outer box corners that with bends or rubs.  Not a well thought out packaging scheme.

Record Jacket: VG+.  There is some rubbing on the sleeve. Record: I have never played it.  It’s condition looked VG++.   45 rpm single: never played.  It looks great and is VG++ Postcards, posters, sticker, and itinerary: all appeared to be new and in VG++ condition.

Album and record grading guide.

Mint (M) Absolutely perfect in every way

Near Mint (NM or M-) 

A nearly perfect record. Many dealers won't give a grade higher than this implying (perhaps correctly) that no record is ever truly perfect.  The record should show no obvious signs of wear. A 45 RPM or EP sleeve should have no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling. 

An LP cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits, or other similar defects. No cut-out holes, either.  The same should be true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves and the like. Basically, an LP in near mint condition looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap. 

Very Good Plus (VG+) 

A VG+ record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experiences. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are "OK". The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play. 

Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP cover may have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount. 

Very Good (VG) 

Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound. 

Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them. 

Good (G), Good Plus (G+) 

Good DOES NOT mean BAD! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear (on a styrene record, the groove will be starting to turn white). A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object. 

Poor (P), Fair (F) 

The record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and writing. The LP cover barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split, crinkled, and written upon. 

Still Sealed (SS) 

Let the buyer beware, unless it's a U.S. pressing from the last 40 years or so. It's too easy to reseal one. Yes, some legitimately never-opened LPs from the 1960s still exist. But if you're looking for a specific pressing, the only way you can know for sure is to open the record. Also, European imports of record albums are not factory-sealed, so if you see them advertised as sealed, someone other than the manufacturer sealed them.