BEATLES WHITE ALBUM 1st PRESS MONO NUMBERED TOP LOADER

	£		205
	$		272

eachtohisown Store

Please read the Terms and Conditions lower in the listing about payment, postage costs and insurance BEFORE placing a bid. Thank you.

I am happy to answer any questions, but please read the listing carefully before sending a question or placing a bid. I try to provide comprehensive details and information in every listing so the answers to most questions should be found below.

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During five years of trading on ebay, I have received around 1200 positive feedbacks from over 900 individual customers, almost all from the sale of vinyl records.

I take great pride in ensuring that my records are always described accurately and fairly. All my items come with a money-back guarantee - if it's not as described, you can return it for a full refund.

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Here is a complete first mono pressing of the White Album. I acquired this from the original owner and everything here is the original 'set' as bought new in 1968 (there has been no 'mixing and matching' so please note that any apparent anomalies in matrix numbers, mothers and stampers are exactly as issued).

Matrix numbers, mothers and stampers:
Side 1: XEX 709-1     ?     ML
Side 2: XEX 710-2     3    GGL
Side 3: XEX 711-1     1     GP
Side 4: XEX 712-1     1     GP

Detailed description
Vinyl: I have played all four sides all the way through and there are no jumps, skips or sticking anywhere. Both discs are totally flat with no warping and the vinyl has retained its original high sheen, but each side shows various prominent marks, scuffs, hairlines and scratches. Side four has the most prominent marks but it too is still shiny (as can be seen in the photograph).  I have played the entire album and it plays remarkably well above what a visual inspection might lead you to expect. There is surface noise and crackle audible in the quiet bits and the run-ins/outs and fades/silent grooves/intros and the occasional random click or pop and there are a few places where you get a soft repetitive click (they are listed in detail below) but these never last very long and are never intrusive. The record can be listened to and enjoyed all the way through and delivers a big, powerful, mono sound with no problems and there are absolutely no jumps, skips or sticks anywhere at all.
Here is a breakdown of all repetitive clicks noted, (the majority of which are inobtrusive and mainly audible in the fades and intros):
Side 1: No repetitive clicks anywhere. Slight, soft swish in the fade of 'While my guitar gently weeps'.
Side 2: Three soft clicks in 'Martha my Dear', twelve barely audible clicks (in the right channel only) in 'Rocky Raccoon', a soft click in the silent groove before 'I Will' which is just audible during the track, audible again in the silent groove and just audible in 'Julia'.
Side 3: Soft click (in right channel only) in the fade to 'Yer Blues' and start of 'Mother Nature's Son', a few clicks in the fade and silent groove of 'Me and my Monkey', four soft clicks (audible in the right channel only) in the fade and silent groove to 'Sexy Sadie', two clicks in 'Helter Skelter', and an intermittently audible click (again only in the right channel) in 'Long, Long, Long'.
Side 4: Sixteen clicks in 'Revolution 1', a soft, intermittently audible click in 'Honey Pie', about twenty soft clicks at the start of 'Good Night' before the vocals come in and a few clicks at the very end.
Obviously, if you are looking for mint audio or vinyl that is totally unmarked then this isn't for you. But if you want a genuine first mono pressing that can be listened to and enjoyed all the way through then this is it.
Labels: All four labels look great with no signs of damage, writing, stickers etc and just typical spindle marking. None of them have 'An E.M.I. recording' on them and side two has the KT tax code.
Sleeve: The original top-opening sleeve has 'The BEATLES' embossed on the front and the unique number 0100986. It is really flat and shiny but it hasn't retained its original white colour. There is a lot of discolouration to the lamination and a few marks and stains. My usual photographs don't really show this very well so I have taken one on a white background (the last photograph) which shows a bit more clearly the extent of the discolouration. Other than the discolouration there is no damage and no major issues with the sleeve - just typical signs of age and use.
Edge wear: top openings/spine/bottom/left edge/right edge: moderate/moderate/minimal/minimal/minimal. The 8mm wide spine is discoloured where the lamination has flaked off but all the text is still legible.
Corner wear: moderate wear to all corners, especially the bottom spine corner which has about 5mm of worn lamination (see photos).
Inner sleeves: Original black inner sleeves. There are snags to the openings and some creases to the corners of both. One is completely free of any splits or tears and one has a seam split on one edge and a tear near the corner which has been neatly repaired from the inside (right-hand top corner in the photo).
Other inserts: All original. The poster has some foxing to one section of the lyric side and small splits along the folds. The photos have just signs of handling and storage (some slight marks to the rear of each and on the front of John Lennon where they have rubbed against each other) but no significant issues. Neither the photos or the poster have ever been hung or displayed.

Detracting features not covered above - None.

Please check out my other items and take advantage of reduced postage costs for multiple buys.

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Information about descriptions.
My records are always described accurately and fairly. I always do my best to point out any blemishes which might detract from the item and all photographs are of the actual item you will get.

Visually-graded vinyl: Unless stated in the listing, vinyl is visually graded. I play grade records where possible but I don't have time to play them all, so I usually restrict play grades to collectors' items and rare records. A visual grading will identify physical flaws (such as scratches) and will determine whether a record has been cared-for properly, but it will not detect noise or crackle caused by non-visible sources. Most of the records I sell are between thirty and fifty years old and so it is likely that there may be some background noise even if they look perfect.

Play-graded vinyl: I will always state in the listing if I have played a record prior to describing it. When I play a record I listen to it carefully through headphones, taking notes of any noise, clicks, distortion etc and play it all the way through (unless stated otherwise). I have two record decks and one is more sensitive than the other to any physical flaws on the record surface. Records are always played on the sensitive deck first and the notes for the audio performance are taken from that deck. If this play-through detects any jumps or sticks those sections of the disk will be re-played on the less-sensitive deck to see whether they happen on that too.

First pressings and originals: Many of the records I sell are first pressings and, if this is the case, I will usually identify them as such and may include the relevant matrix information etc in the description. However, sometimes I cannot be certain whether a record is a first pressing or not. In these instances I will often use the word 'original' to identify a pressing which I think might be a first pressing, but do not know for sure (but which is certainly NOT a recent pressing or audiophile release etc). If you specifically want a first pressing, and know how to identify it, please ask the relevant questions before you bid.

Feel free to ask any questions about the item (but please don’t leave it to the last minute as I may not get a chance to reply).

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I believe that Ebay should be fun, simple and fair for all buyers and sellers and so have some very simple terms and conditions. Please read them before bidding. Thank you.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

• By bidding on an item you are indicating acceptance of the Terms and Conditions. If you don't understand any of them please contact me BEFORE you bid.
• Do not bid if you don't intend to pay.
• If you have zero feedback please contact me BEFORE you bid. If no contact is made before bidding I will cancel any transactions won by zero rated bidders and offer the item to the second highest bidder.
• I accept Paypal.  I also accept cheques in UK Sterling GBP on orders OVER £50.
• Please pay for your item within three days of the auction closing. If you are intending to bid on other items and wish to pay when they have closed, please contact me to let me know. I reserve the right to cancel any transactions and offer the item to the second highest bidder if no contact or payment is made within three days.
  
• Please read and make sure you understand the information on POSTAGE COSTS and INSURANCE before you bid.
  
• I am happy to consider something different if you contact me to discuss it BEFORE placing a bid.
  
• Other than in exceptional circumstance I will NOT enter into discussions about Terms and Conditions after the auction has closed.

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POSTAGE & PACKING

I care about the records I sell and believe that they need to be carefully and securely packaged to ensure that they survive their journey through the post. Vinyl is removed from the sleeve for posting and the contents will be protected with rigid cardboard stiffeners. All packages are labelled "Do not bend" and securely sealed with "FRAGILE" parcel tape.

I send my records in high-quality, purpose-made packaging. I support the use of recycled materials and so occasionally I may send records in packaging which has been previously used or which has been made from other cardboard packaging. If you wish your item to be sent in entirely new packaging please let me know before paying for it. Thanks.

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P&P charges

Unlike some sellers, I do not view P&P costs as a means of making money and I try not to charge more for posting and packaging than it actually costs me.

However to quote a single price for every LP causes difficulties because of the wide variance in weight (e.g. Abbey Road weighs around 230 grams whereas Led Zeppelin III weighs around 390 grams). But the majority of single LPs, when packed, will weigh around 500-550 grams and I have based my P&P rates on this.

Occasionally you may end up paying a few pence more than it actually costs me and occasionally you may end up paying a few pence less than it actually costs me. Sometimes, on multiple orders, there may be a discrepancy of a few pounds and where this is in your favour I will refund the difference.

Double LPs will be charged as two LPs, triple LPs will be charged as three LPs.

UK P&P costs

UK Standard service - items are sent quickly and securely using first class recorded post, which includes insurance up to £41. The cost for this is as follows:

First LP or 12" = £3.80, each additional LP or 12" add £0.80

First 7" or CD = £1.90, each additional 7" or CD add £0.50


UK Fully insured service - Any order valued over £41 will be sent fully insured using Royal Mail Special Delivery and the total cost of this will be £7.50.  Multiple-item orders weighing more than 1kg or items valued over £500 will cost slightly more to insure, so please wait for my invoice before paying.


UK Economy service - If the value of your order is below £10 you can choose to have your item sent by standard second class post (unrecorded). However, please be aware that this service can take up to a week to reach you and in the event of a claim for loss or damage, Royal Mail will not reimburse the full value of your order. The cost for this is as follows:

First LP or 12" = £3.00, each additional LP or 12" add £0.70

First 7" or CD = £1.10, each additional 7" or CD add £0.45

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Airmail (uninsured) to any country OUTSIDE the UK

Europe

First LP or 12" = £4.75, each additional LP or 12" add £1.75.

First 7" or CD = £1.90, each additional 7" or CD add £0.60.

 

Rest of the world (anywhere outside Europe)

First LP or 12" = £7.75, each additional LP or 12" add £3.20.

First 7" or CD = £3.20, each additional 7" or CD add £0.90.

Insurance

For overseas orders, I include insurance on all invoices. This is additional to the costs above. If your order is valued under £10 you can request a new invoice without insurance (but in the event of a claim for loss or damage, Royal Mail will not reimburse the full value). Overseas orders valued over £10 will ONLY be sent fully insured.

Insurance costs are additional to the airmail costs above and are as follows:

• Overseas orders valued up to £41 will be insured for an additional £4.25
• Overseas orders valued between £41 and £500 will be insured for an additional £6.75
• Overseas orders valued over £500, please contact me.

Overseas orders weighing more than 2kg will be split into two or more packages as appropriate so they can be sent using Royal Mail's Small Packet Rate, so please wait for my invoice on larger multiple purchases.

Customs declaration for overseas orders: Please note that for overseas orders outside the EU I need to complete a customs declaration and must enter the value of the package on the declaration.

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Please do not bid if you don't agree to these terms. If you have any queries please email BEFORE you bid.

Thanks for your interest in this listing and for taking the time to read these details.

On 05-Aug-10 at 09:23:01 BST, seller added the following information:

I have had a couple of enquiries about the mother number for disk one. I have put a ? not because there is no number shown, but because there seem to be several numbers and some are unclear. The numbers look like a 1, then below that a feint 3, then below that another feint 3 and then below that 10.