Beatles Canadian Love Me Do RARE initial pressing NR

$

255

Here's a truly rare find. This is the initial pressing of Love Me Do from Canada of which, according to Paul White, there were 100 pressed and 75 sold. Paul White was the A&R Manager at Capitol of Canada who authorized release of this first Beatles, Capitol single in North America on February 18th 1963.

This has been documented by Piers Hemmingsen in his book The Beatles Canadian Discography, Part 1- 45 RPM & Other Special 7" Discs. Mr. Hemmingsen has personally interviewed Mr. White and is a known authority on Beatles Canadian records having published two, well researched books on the subject (See Here). Read a statement from Paul White Here. He also presented this information in an article from Beatlology Magazine Vol.5 No.5, May/June 2003 on page 6. In it he explains how to discern this disc from later pressings.

The initial pressings of Love Me Do have the matrix number hand-etched in the trail-off area of the vinyl with NO dash "-" or numeral following the dash (i.e. 7XCE 17144). This is the only pressing of Love Me Do to be issued before She Loves You became a hit in Canada and Beatlemania began in the USA. All subsequent copies have the dash following the hand-etched matrix and a number following the dash (i.e. 7XCE 17144-2) and were not issued until late in 1963. These later pressings are plentiful and easily found as many thousands were pressed and a large percentage exported to the USA.

In addition, on the initial pressings the characters are taller than all the subsequent ones. First pressing characters are at least 1/8" (4mm) tall whereas later copies are 1/16"-3/32" (2-3mm) tall. I have done my best to show this in the photos below. You'll see the two matrix numbers from the copy offered for sale without any suffix after the matrix numbers. The other photo is of a later pressing with the dash after the matrix number followed by the numeral "6". Notice how the characters in the later pressing are shorter than the original.

In terms of rarity this disc is most likely only second in line to one other Canadian release. That would be My Bonnie/The Saints, Decca 31382 of which four copies are known to exist. It is analogous to VJ-498 and VJ-581 in that this, initial pressing, is pre-Beatlemania and extremly scarce and the later pressings are post-Beatlemania and plentiful.

Condition: As if the rarity is not enough, this copy is in beautiful condition. The labels and both sides of the vinyl are EX+. They show just the slightest wear/handling. The disc is flat without warps or dishing. See the photos of the labels below. The photos that show the matrix numbers are over exposed to show the matrix. The record labels appear washed-out in these pictures which is not the case in reality. The original sleeve is VG-, but these are no different than their later counterparts.

This record precedes VJ 498 as the first record released in North America with the Beatles listed as the artist. It is likely scarcer than any version of Vee Jay 498. Total production of VJ-498 numbered 7,310 copies (from Bruce Spizer's The Beatles Records On Vee-Jay). Piers Hemmingsen states that "it is probable that only 100 copies were pressed" of this first pressing of Love Me Do and "I have only come across two original copies where there are no dashes on either side of the run-out". Another source on the web quotes Paul White as having said 140 copies of this original pressing were sold. Regardles of the exact numbers it is clear that these first pressings were made in the low hundreds. Of course, subsequent pressings of this disc are numerous so check your trail-off matrix and see what you've got. This could be a once in a lifetime chance to acquire this first pressing in such fine condition or in any condition.

Please check out my other Beatles items. I have been buying and selling Beatles records on eBay since 1998

Please take a look at my me page for my grading standards and return policy. The me page also has some helpful links to pages that can help you identify original Beatles records from around the world courtesy of Frank Daniels and specifics on UK pressings provided by Peter Rice

Shipping Is $3.85 via Priority Mail in the USA. Insurance is madatory on this item and will be based on the final bid value. The actual fee the Post Office charges for that amount of insurance will be added to your total. International shipping is at cost, including mandatory insurance. I will only ship via AIR. If I can not send the package to your country with insurance you must state in writing that you will assume all risk for loss or damage. There is no charge for packing materials or "handling".

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