Sold Date: June 13, 2016
Start Date: June 9, 2016
Final Price: £40.00 £37.00 (GBP)
Seller Feedback: 379
Buyer Feedback: 47

The Beatles

MEGA RARE ABBEY ROAD 1ST PRESS

CAT. NO. PCS 7088

Masters YEX 749-2/ YEX 750-1

This is the first pressing from September 1969 and how Abbey Road appeared when it first hit the stores. This is the very first variation layout label type with the omission on the track listing on the sleeve and record label of  'Her Majesty', which was quickly corrected.

The sleeve is the first and original which housed the 1st stereo pressing.

This is indicated by the misalignment of the Apple logo on the reverse of the sleeve, the omission of the text for the track 'Her Majesty', and the overall green hue on the reverse, which was changed to a brighter shade of green on subsequent print.

 Sleeve: Very Good Minus condition. The edges are unworn and the corners have maintained most of their sharpness. There is cellotape residue along the top edge, which could probably be removed if done carefully. There is no actual cellotape or signs of repair there or anywhere else inside or outside on the sleeve. There are no splits or rips. There are a couple of deep creased on the front and several tiny horizontal creases emanating from the spine edge. 

The sleeve is free from ripples, and the front pictorial retains a glossy appearance, and both sides are mark free, and have not faded in colour.

The sleeve is sturdy and firm, the spine is completely intact and readable, there are no stickers or sticker residue or handwriting.

Printed and Made by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. 

Inner Sleeve: This is an EMI plain black inner from the period with typical shape where one bottom corner has a longer slant than the opposite bottom corner.

Patent number 1,125,555 printed in white on bottom left on reverse.

The Vinyl Disc: Very Good Minus Condition

The vinyl surfaces retain a glossy sheen on both sides with no areas of dulling.

Both sides have a fair amount of superficial surface hairline marks, some wispy some sleeve removal rash and vinyl cleaning trails. These are light marks purely on the surface of the vinyl and not into the grooves, and there is nothing nasty or feelable anywhere, and nothing that causes a major disruption to the playability of the LP. It received quite a lot of plays decades ago but has been mainly unused since and the grooves look clean.

The record is free from scuff areas and warps and lays completely flat on the turntable.

Manufactured on fairly heavy late sixties 145 gram vinyl.

The labels are Very Good, having quite a neat spindle location point and area around the perimeter with tiny wear marks on the label, spindle line traces are quite faint and unnoticed unless inspected turned to towards bright light.

Text is clear and readable with the full colours retained on the label. 

No sticker or sticker residue or writing.

The Apple Records text around outer rim.

The Audio: Overall Excellent Minus

 The record plays with full stereo definition and clarity and without any constant detractions to the audio such as loud pops, jumps, skips or sticks. The audio quality is graded higher than the appearance of the vinyl thanks to the quality and robustness of the sixties vinyl.

The soundless intro grooves to the tracks are generally quiet with some light static ticks on those nearer the start and end of each side. The only audio detractions that overcome any of the audio are some ticks and pops up to the third track of side 2, the rest of the album on both sides plays seamlessly without any detractions which overcome the audio.

 This original 1st press LP looks good and plays rather well, with a little lessening to the original audio quality, and with full bass and definition. An LP that is bound to go up in value due to the rarity of the misprints, and worth owning to hear to the originality of the first pressing.

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The LP will be delivered in a quality double-part cardboard LP mailer with stifferners. 

The record placed separately in a plain generic inner to prevent wear to the original.

Also comes housed in a PVC record protector.

Item will be marked as fragile and sent recorded delivery. 

To grade this LP I am using the official Grading System from 

The Rare Record Collector Magazine.

Happy to refund on return if not satisfied.

If any further info. required please ask.