Vinyl: THE BEATLES White Album 1968 UK MONO No.0032437 TOP OPENING complete EXCELLENT+ Orgl black inners, beautiful non-EMI vinyls, SUPERB audio

THE BEATLES - DOUBLE WHITE ALBUM

A rare and sought after copy of this 1968 UK MONO 1st pressing on the UK Parlophone label, MONO, PMC 7068

The dead wax matrix numbers are :

Side 1 XEX 709 - 1 with stampers "1" and "R M" at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock respectively

Side 2 XEX 710 - 1 with stampers "7" and "G T" at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock respectively

Side 3 XEX 711 - 1 with stampers "2" and "T" at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock respectively

Side 4 XEX 712 - 1 with stampers "4" and "P R" at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock respectively

The appearance of the vinyl is EXCELLENT+. Each vinyl is completely flat and each side of each vinyl has retained it's original beautiful glossy sheen. In normal daylight there are no marks visible at all, under a bright light there is just the very occasional small wispy hairline - paper scuffs really - which are negligible. Terrific in every way and I can't imagine there be too many 1st pressing White Album vinyls in as good a condition as this. Gorgeous!

The labels are excellent+ also. Again, in normal daylight each label comes across as pristine. It's only under a bright light and with very close inspection that a couple of very, very light spindle trails can be identified adjacent to the centre hole on each label. Note the absence of any reference to "E.M.I." on the label text, which is indicative of very first pressings of this sensational album; later pressings contained the text "An E.M.I. Recording".

The laminated Garrod & Lofthouse outer sleeve is in very good+ condition. Apart from a 1cm scuff located at the bottom right front corner all edges remain firm with no scuffing, and that includes the rigid spine where all writing remains legible. There is some very minor laminate "rippling" adjacent to the front side opening edge but this is very minor and not immediately noticeable. Overall there is a beautiful laminated "gloss and feel" to the whole gatefold with no fraying of the edges either. The slight (but noticeable) blemish is on the spine where I believe a previous owner has stuck a strip of sellotape for protection purposes and then at a later date removed the sellotape; this has resulted in a slightly discoloured strip on the front side adjacent to the spine and a very slight occasional tackiness either side of the spine. There is a 2cm strip of sellotape still stuck on at the base of the spine - I'm sure that this could be removed, with care. The inside of the gatefold is beautiful with each of the side flipbacks in perfect working order, no laminate creasing or scuffing, and the centrefold photos and text in wonderful condition. The one blemish is the spine where the laminate has come away on one side immediately adjacent to the spine for the bottom 12cm, resulting in a little dust and dirt lodging itself between the broken laminate and actual gatefold giving the appearance of being a little grubby. Again I'm sure that, with care, this could be tidied up resulting in an improved appearance.

The four photos are in pristine condition - no marks whatsoever, no scuffing or unwanted writing, no blue tac or glue residue and no pin prick holes. Pristine!

The folded and obviously well looked after lyric/photo poster is in excellent+ condition with no tears or splits, no unwanted writing, and just a small area of some very mild creasing towards one corner. Beautiful!

Finally, the quality of the audio is excellent+, superb in fact. There is wonderful mono tone and clarity throughout and with no distortion, even on the higher frequencies and at higher volume. No skips or nasty pops, no background crackle or interference. During the many, many years I have been collecting vinyl and countless occasions I have listened to this classic album, the audio quality of this particular copy has to be up there with the very best. Nothing short of stunning.

The tracks are :

Side 1 :

1. BACK IN THE U.S.S.R.

2. DEAR PRUDENCE

3. OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA

4. WILD HONEY PIE

5. THE CONTINUING STORY OF BUNGALOW BILL

6. WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS

7. HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN

Side 2 :

1. MARTHA MY DEAR

2. I'M SO TIRED

3. BLACKBIRD

4. PIGGIES

5. ROCKY RACCOON

6. DON'T PASS ME BY

7. WHY DON'T WE DO IT IN THE ROAD

8. I WILL

9. JULIA

Side 3 :

1. BIRTHDAY

2. YER BLUES

3. MOTHER NATURE'S SON

4. EVERYBODY'S GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE EXCEPT ME AND MY MONKEY

5. SEXY SADIE

6. HELTER SKELTER

7. LONG LONG LONG

Side 4 :

1. REVOLUTION 1

2. HONEY PIE

3. SAVOY TRUFFLE

4. CRY BABY CRY

5. REVOLUTION 9

6. GOOD NIGHT

Comes complete with original one-sided die-cut black inners which, amazingly, have no tears or splits and remain as functional now as the day this album was first purchased. Excellent+! Note that I always post the record in a new plain white inner sleeve in order to protect the original.

In summary a truly EXCELLENT (at minimum) copy of this rare and highly sought after 1968 UK 1st MONO pressing Beatles classic, with the stunning audio quality a real high point - a "must" for any serious Beatles vinyl collection and only continuing to gain in value.

If you require any further information, including photos, then let me know and I'll do my best to oblige.

If this record interests you then take a look at my other 60's & 70's classic vinyl listings.

A bit about myself : I have been collecting vinyl for more than 48 years and have amassed a huge collection covering a varied genre, but mostly of 1960's and 70's origin. Most of my records were originally bought by myself for my own collection, but during the past 30 years I have embellished my collection by buying records from a variety of sources : friends/acquaintances, car boot sales, auctions, and even through putting up a "vinyl wanted" notice in my wife's shop! I am now retired and take great delight in being able to spend more time scouring the country and attending boot sales and auctions in the hope of unearthing more vinyl gems...I am 63 years of age now and am still discovering bands and music of the 60's and 70's that I have never come across before. Wonderful! Richard

My ebay feedback speaks for itself so rest assured that you are buying from a trusted seller and in the very unlikely event that you are unhappy with your purchase just e-mail me and I'll sort out the problem. I offer a "no quibble" refund policy.

On the subject of postage, I take great care in the packaging of all items, using a proper vinyl cardboard mailer along with at least two cardboard stiffeners. I take great care in separating the record from the outer sleeve in order to help prevent sleeve damage in transit and I always insert the vinyl, outer sleeve and inner into a clear plastic sleeve, thus adding further protection.

For this item postage & packaging will be Royal Mail 1st class signed for : UK £5.00; and Royal Mail 1st class tracked and signed for continental Europe £10, and Rest of the World £14.

I do discount post & packaging costs for multiple purchases . I do NOT profit from postage.

Good luck with your bidding! Richard

NOTE : My vinyl descriptions comply with the official Record Collector vinyl grading guidelines :