DETAILS ABOUT GRADING & BACKGROUND ON MY BUY IT NOW AUCTIONS (Please read!)

Hello and welcome to my auction!  This is part of a collection that has recently arrived from a fastidious Beatles Collector.  Generally he collected the wierd and wonderful - and although condition is mostly very VERY nice indeed, that wasnt his main point of concern.  Like most Beatles collectors he collected the full set of LPs and singles fairly quickly (which he still has!) - but over the years, he decided to pick up anything else that was a little bit 'different'.  Most of his Beatles LPs either had an extra 'insert' relating to the LP at the time, or were EXTREMELY rare 'Factory Sample' copies!  Some he acquired from a family member when the LPs were released (apparently he was a sales rep for Apple) and other 1st Pressings he bought second hand from various Record Fairs or Record Shops over the years (mainly in the 1970s).  Of course there are also 2 or 3 Beatles & related items I am listing that were not from this collection - but 90% are.  He was also most interested in the 'Apple' label, so a lot of these LPs are from the late 1960s - though there are a few Parlophones as well.  And almost ALL are 100% GENIUNE 1st Pressings, and are in very VERY nice condition indeed!  And it is also worth noting that he never got into collecting foreign Beatles LPs - so ALL are UK 1st Pressings only! 

Importantly, all of his LPs were stored in Plastic Protective Covers from the day he acquired them - keeping them in the condition he found them in!  And as he rarely played them, they have remained virtually untouched for many years now.  Some of his records are of a very VERY high grading indeed, and almost ALL are VG+ if not better (with many being higher than this!).  Most are in EXTREMELY high grade collectable condition, well above the norm, and WELL above the condition that most LPs of this era are found in!  In fact, only those who are into NM or pristine Mint records - may be disappointed here.  But those with HIGH realistic expections of VERY rare items will be happy and pleased to own them!  Most importantly I have graded every LP EXTREMELY strictly indeed - as I certainly dont want any to come back from disappointed customers!  And EVERY SINGLE Buy It Now Auction is very VERY rare indeed - as you can see from my listings!

So with this in mind - it is very VERY important to understand how my VERY strict grading system works!  I grade EVERYTHING standing on a chair directly under a 150 watt bulb which reveals everything!  Therefore if I grade a record 'VG' - it does NOT mean it is 'covered in scuffing and marks' - it will still be a VERY clean looking record indeed, and often barely played!  For example - if I hold a record under light and see a lovely black sheen, but a few of the VERY lightest paper scuffs, and 2 or 3 VERY light lines - I will still ONLY grade the record VG+.  So whilst you shouldnt expect MINT from my 'VG' records - you should still expect a VERY clean & bright looking record indeed!  And even my records graded only 'Good' or Good+' will be VERY presentable playable examples indeed!  And if I list a record in the condition most LPs seem to be in today (namely covered in general light scuffing - but still plays through absolutely fine with a few crackles & pops) - then I would ONLY grade this record Fair or even Poor+.  So I am very VERY strict on grading indeed - and almost NEVER use an Excellent grading unless the record looks virtually 'factory fresh' under light!  PLEASE ALSO NOTE - as these records have been sitting for many years, and have come direct to auction - so they may also be a little dusty (but NOT dirty!), and may benefit from a clean / dust off by the next owner (if so wished).  I also have not had the time to play these throughout (though I have played snippets and test passages) - but it is VERY easy to spot any sounding marks under light, and I will mention anything that falls out of the grade given!  And actually in this case - on 99% of these LPs they are of such HIGH QUALITY that there is NO sounding marks AT ALL!  And please note - I absolutely will not be doing any partial refunds, unless there is a geniune mistake.  There are gradings clearly given (please check you know what they mean), and items are always described in great detail!  So please read everything to make sure it reaches your satisfaction.  In short - if you buy one of my records, and expect the grade given you should be very pleasantly surprised indeed!  And in the unlikely event of a problem, any purchase is also covered by a refund including return postage. 

I HAVE ALSO TRIED TO PRICE THESE RECORDS TO SELL - AND HAVE NOT SET THE 'BUY IT NOW' PRICE SLIGHTLY 'HIGH' HOPING THAT BEST OFFERS COME IN AT 'ABOUT THE RIGHT PRICE'....  I WANT TO GET THESE RECORDS SHIFTED QUICKLY - SO WHY NOT MAKE AN OFFER USING EBAYS 'BEST OFFER' BUTTON?  PLEASE NOTE - I DO NOT SELL OUTSIDE OF EBAY, SO ANY BEST OFFERS MUST USE THE EBAY 'BEST OFFER' BUTTON!  PLEASE BE AWARE THOUGH - THAT SOME OF THESE ITEMS MAY WELL FLY OUT IMMEDIATELY AT THE 'BUY IT NOW' PRICE ALONE (AS THEY ARE PRICED UP VERY CHEAPLY IN COMPARISON TO THEIR EXTREME RARITY!), SO YOU MAY WELL HAVE TO BE QUICK!  IN SHORT - I HAVE TRIED TO GRADE VERY STRICTLY INDEED - AND PRICE THESE RECORDS TO GO!!!

So please buy with absolute confidence and take a look at this GREAT item on offer below:-

RARITY:-  One of The Beatles most sought LPs ever.  And finding one in this SUPERB condition is almost underheard of! Even the black inner sleeve is UNSPLIT, and the LP also comes with an incredibly detailed and ULTRA RARE 'Beatles Chronological History' Booklet I have never seen before! This LP also has the added rarity of being an ULTRA rare 'Factory Sample' 1st Pressing - making it very VERY rare indeed!

FACTORY SAMPLE:-  'FACTORY SAMPLE' PRESSINGS WERE ONLY EVER PRESSED IN ABSOLUTELY TINY AMOUNTS (NO MORE THAN A HUNDRED COPIES AT THE VERY MOST!), AND WERE ONLY EVER USED FOR 'IN-HOUSE' USE BY EMI / APPLE THEMSELVES (FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES), OR VERY OCCASSIONALLY ONE WAS GIVEN OUT TO 'IMPORTANT VISITORS' TO THE FACTORY - SUCH AS PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS FOR EXAMPLE!  'FACTORY SAMPLES' WERE NEARLY ALWAYS THE 'EARLIEST' 1ST PRESSINGS EVER MADE - AND ARE TRULY EXCEPTIONALLY HARD TO FIND TODAY!  BARELY ANY 'FACTORY SAMPLE' 1ST PRESSINGS OF THIS LP WERE EVER MADE - MAKING THIS LP OF THE UTMOST RARITY!

AUTHENTICITY:-  FACTORY SAMPLES ARE NOW VERY HARD TO FIND (ESPECIALLY GENIUNE ONES!), AND SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CHECK EVERYTHING IS CORRECT & AUTHENTIC.  FIRSTLY, THE 'FACTORY SAMPLE' STICKER IS DEFINITELY 100% GENIUNE - BEING OF THE CORRECT PAPER & COLOUR, AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF MOVEMENT.  THERE IS ALSO CLEARLY NOTHING UNDERNEATH THE STICKER AND NOTHING IS BEING HIDDEN.  RUNNING YOUR FINGER OVER THE STICKER FINDS IT 100% FLAT & UNCREASED, AND THERE IS NO 'GLUE RESIDUE' OR OTHER INDICATIONS OF A 'RE-STICK'.  AND THOUGH YOU CAN NEVER BE 100% CERTAIN WITHOUT AN LPs FULL HISTORY, I AM VERY FIRMLY OF THE OPINION, THAT THE 'FACTORY SAMPLE' STICKER HAS BEEN ON THIS LP ALL OF ITS LIFE, AND IS 100% GENIUNE IN EVERY RESPECT!

ULTRA RARE 'BEATLES CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY' BOOKLET:-  As I stated in my pre-amble the 1 previous owner was prone to buying things that were a little bit different - and this one has an ULTRA RARE 'Beatles History' insert (which is probably why he bought it!).  It lists ALL the things the Beatles did (including their formation, personnel, dates, name changes, release, etc!) from 1955 right through to early 1968!  And on the reverse it has VERY detailed information on each of the bandmembers!  There is NO Fan Club address on it - so it isnt a Fan Club booklet.  However, it is obviously some other type of promotional material (maybe from EMI?) prior to this LPs release - and dates from 1968 (certainly 100% geniune and NOT a later booklet!).  It was inside this LP when I got it (and is highly interesting of course!), and so I will offer it as found!  And it certainly makes this LP very VERY rare indeed!

COUNTRY:-  UK

MONO/STEREO:-  STEREO (there were NO Monos!)

PRESSING:-  1ST PRESSING (sourced from my 2012 guide - which is the only one I have) - with a 100% GENIUNE Black Apple inner sleeve, DARK Apple labels, 'Her Majesty' label credit (most dont!), and a 'Garrod & Lofthouse' FULLY Laminated NARROW SPINE Cover (with the Apple on the reverse in the normal position)!

ARTIST:-  THE BEATLES

TITLE:-  ABBEY ROAD

CAT NUMBER:-  PMC 7088

LABEL:-  APPLE

DATE:- 1969

MATRIXES:-  The EARLIEST POSSIBLE 1st Press 2/1 Matrixes! 

SIGNS OF PLAY:-  BARELY ANY!

LABELS:-  EX+ (SUPERB labels - with only slight evidence of 'texturisation'!)

RECORD GRADING:-   EX+ if not better (graded VERY strictly indeed, under a 150 watt bulb!).  An absolutely SUPERB example - and almost EVER seen like this now!  The record has NO scratches, NO scufflines, NO hairlines, and only a VERY few of the lightest paper scuffs only visible under light!  ITS AS SIMPLE AS THAT!  THE RECORD STILL RETAINS ITS ORIGINAL 'JUST PRESSED' LOOK AND LOOKS SUPERB!  The record plays with NO pops, NO jumps, NO sticks, barely ANY crackle AT ALL, and only some EXTREMELY low level background sound in places - NOT in the music AT ALL!  An absolutely SUPERB record - to which I have applied the VERY strictest gradings (most would grade NM here - I am certain!).

INNER:-  The Black Apple inner is a 100% GENIUNE 1st Press ORIGINAL (and NOT a modern replacement!) and is in very VERY nice condition indeed - with NO edge splits, NO centre hole splits, NO writing, and only some very VERY slight ruffling!  A BRILLIANT inner!

'BEATLES CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY' BOOKLET:- The 'Beatles History' Booklet is in BRILLIANT condition - with only the usual factory foldline, some VERY slight ruffling, only VERY slight corner wear to a couple of corners, and NO damage AT ALL!

COVER:-   As you can see from the pictures - this is a SUPERB cover and must grade EX if not better!  The cover has NO edge wear, NO spinal wear (SUPERB straight NARROW spine!), NO splits, barely ANY corner wear AT ALL (SUPERB square shape to ALL corners!), only a VERY few VERY light creases (cover is VERY flat looking indeed!), VERY shiny laminate, the usual VERY slight record impression to the front (NOT on the back!), NO grubbyness, NO rips, NO tears, and NO writing!  The opening edge is beautifully straight with barely ANY feathering AT ALL!  And even the laminated back of the cover is in SUPERB condition - with VERY shiny laminate, NO yellowing, NO grubbyness, and NO writing!  An absolutely SUPERB cover - and very VERY strictly graded!    

DEFECTS OUTSIDE OF THE GRADE GIVEN:-  N/A

Dont forget to take a look at all my other items including many other TOP LPs and contact me with any queries you may have.  Postal discounts for multiple buys are always available - and I guarantee to ALWAYS undercharge on postage!  Paypal, Bank Transfers, Cheques, International Money Orders, and Postal Orders accepted. Thanks for looking! Cheers!!!!!

--ooOOoo--

 

Though there are rarely ever any problems with my items (I always try my very best to describe everything exactly!) - PLEASE REMEMBER to contact with me FIRST, if you have any problems at all, before you leave feedback and star ratings, so I get a chance to turn any negative experience into a positive one!  I can always happily sort anything out for you, if you let me know you have a problem!  This way no one has to leave Negative/Neutral feedback - and we both walk away happy!  Please do NOT bid if you cannot give me at least 1 chance to sort everything out to your FULL satisfaction in the unlikely event of a problem.  Thanks again - Graham @ XXXRecords.

PLEASE NOTE - Private feedback bidders must consult me first prior to bidding - due to previous problems regarding non-payment, and non-receipt.   MY POSTAGE UNDERCHARGE GUARANTEE TO ALL BUYERS (I always undercharge on postage!):-  Due to UK Royal Mail's obscene price increases this year - I have had no choice but to increase postage charges a little.  Until this year - I had kept them exactly the same since I joined ebay back in 2002.  However this years price increases have been so obscene, that I have had no choice but to increase my postage charges for the first time ever.  However PLEASE NOTE - my absolute 100% guarantee to you as a buyer - is that I will ALWAYS undercharge postage on everything I send out.  Even after the increases, I am still charging you the buyer LESS than I am being charged myself.  On each package I send out - the price is clearly stated on the front of the package (please check it when you recieve it!).  I also do NOT charge for packaging costs - ONLY for postal costs!  And should you find that I have overcharged you postage in ANY way - I will refund DOUBLE the difference.  THAT IS MY 100% POSTAL GUARANTEE FOR EACH AND EVERY BUYER!  No buyer EVER deserves to be overcharged on postage - and on my listings, I'll make sure they are ALWAYS undercharged.  Any questions - please ask!