Beatles Story LP First Pressing 1964 STEREO Copy RARE LOS ANGELES All A3 Plates

$

45

(Note:  If you win multiple items in a week’s listings, please wait for the end of all of the auctions for me to invoice you, so that you can take advantage of my combined shipping offer.  Thanks!)

READ THIS! These records are NOT sold for perfect sound quality. They’re sold for their scarcity and VISUAL grading. They’ve been in storage for a decade, and they WILL play with surface noise that can be addressed with D4 or a VPI cleaning.  I can’t test-play at the minute. Please don’t bid if this is a problem for you.

So with that said…

Beatles Story LP First Pressing 1964 STEREO Copy RARE LOS ANGELES All A3 Plates!

I don’t know how it is for the surrounding ten blocks of the Capitol plant in Los Angeles, but for the rest of us, the LA first pressing copies with the tight “STEREO” text on the label is like trying to find Waldo in a Federal Prison.

Sides are configured and graded as 1-4 and 2-3.

Vinyl--- VG+ all four sides.  Grading conservatively, that’s a pretty strong grade.  It means that all 4 sides retain more than 90% gloss, but that there are a few too many angel hair scratches per side to keep them from being called “Excellent.”  And “Excellent” isn’t allowed to have more than two angel hairs per side.  VERY nice-looking vinyl.

Plates--- A3/ A3 and A3/A3.  (In that order.)  Early first pressing plates.  Machine-stamped asterisk in all four dead wax areas makes this a Los Angeles pressing.

Cover--- VG+.  First pressing slicks had a decidedly cream color, which these have.  Later issues were white.

Structurally solid cover, one ¼ inch split to top right back pocket seam.  All else have no splits.  Spine is muscular strong, no splits.  Gatefold has little dirtwear and a one-inch center seam split.  Ballpoint red writing on back cover at the bottom left.  (The album’s total running time.)

Labels--- Excellent all four.  A few light spindle marks.  These labels are first printings of the tightly-spaced “STEREO” text.  By a wide margin, the stereo copies most likely found are from Scranton.

Capitol Inner Sleeves--- Two original burnt Orange Capitol inner sleeves are present.  They both present extremely well.  Flat, minimal wrinkles and bold colors.  However, of the 6 seams, 4 are split from ¼ inch to 2 inches.

Generic inner sleeves will be provided, so as not to damage your original Capitol inner sleeves en route.

RIAA: None.

As these records have been in storage for many years, they will play back with crackling and tics, however; a good moisturizing and cleaning with either D4 Discwasher or a VPI machine always clears them up.  Thanks!)

Note:  All LP’s ship outside of their album covers in order not to damage the covers during shipment.

CAUTION!  There has been a startling increase in bidders canceling their bids.  A word to the wise, I have started blocking any and all bidders who retract their bids regardless of the reason.

Please don’t bid unless you’re willing to honor your amount, okay? Thanks!

(Please note:  Regarding play-testing, my Technics turntable has somehow seized.  The tone arm is stuck in the up position, and I can’t get it to fully return to its cradle.  Is there anyone out there, who can tell me if this is an easy fix?  Thanks!) 

Check out my other auctions for more hard-to-find vinyl!

Shipping is $4.16 for Media Mail for up to 3 single or double albums, excluding boxed sets within the U.S.  $4.00 covers shipping for up to 5 singles within the U.S.  eBay doesn't allow discussions or requirements on protecting your orders during transit, so please ask.

Winners in all other countries will be charged actual shipping to their locations, so please wait to be invoiced.  You will be quoted for the cheapest shipping to your country that the US post office can afford me.  Please let me know if you would prefer to pay for a faster means of shipping, but do NOT ask me to declare packages as gifts, or any other means of defrauding the postal services.  Much appreciated.

I ship on Mondays and Thursdays.  This means that immediate payments will be shipped out the following morning, and later payments must wait until the first available Monday or Thursday after payment is received.  Please pay within 7 days of the auction ending.  I do leave negative feedback for non-payers.

Money back guarantee if you're not happy with your purchase.