ROLLING STONES Beggar's Banquet RARE ORIG UK 68 Unboxed

	£		213
	$		282

Hi, I am Mike, now 50 – yes the big FIVE-O! Old enough to remember the golden era of original, high quality music, bands, artists and television.

Also records from the 1960s and 70s bought from the shops from new, I have been a music collector and enthusiast for over 37 years now. We all wish we could turn back the clock and buy those wonderful brand new records from the 60s and 70s, but alas, this is not possible; so I always try to offer the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. No vinyl/music lover really would choose to buy second-hand, but this is only way now to own these valuable, prized and elusive items now. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any potential bidder and collector. You may notice I only submit records sparingly on Ebay - on average ONEADAY, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, not just bits to guess a grade - visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story. I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested reader – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean its good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in stunning near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are taken with a digital camera or scanned - they are NOT improved, cleaned-up or made better looking than they are with camera trickery or enhancing with digital programmes. What you see is what you get and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee one hundred percent is exact colour matching for covers - this depends on the lighting at the time and that is out of my control, but I feel sure most items will be very close to the actual real item. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert and vice-versa. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. I am enthusiastic , and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items - bid with confidence - excellence comes as standard and so does Near Mint regularly. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps or sticks or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Deck: Linn LP12 with Ittok Mk IV arm and Ortophon 520 Mk II cartridge (tracks at 1.75 grams). Amps: Arcam 2 x 125W Pre-Power. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Moth vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too.

For winning bidders who I consider excessively slow to make contact or submit payment, I will use my right to block future bids. If any bidder who wins in the final seconds is present to do so, surely they can at least email me to inform of intention and payment method? If swift or promp payment is a problem, please do not bid.

POSTING & PACKING: What You Get: All records are posted in professional mailers or boxes as deemed appropriate for the individual item with the record(s) REMOVED from their main cover to avoid edge splits and placed within a brand new polylined inner. The record’s original inner will be included if available. Records are posted with TWO (at least) massively thick stiffners for protection and also heavier protection if deemed necessary depending on the content. These stiffners are the thickest possible and custom supplied for ‘Oneadayrecords’ – these are NOT commercially available and you will not have seen thicker protection anywhere. The cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW heavy duty soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my Moth Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. You will NOT get tired, dull looking, dust infested records inside worn and foggy covers with tatty inners from this seller and that’s a promise and guarantee. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if possible. I never make profit on posting and offer probably the cheapest and safest shipping possible. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends, with total costs including ‘standard’ or ‘optional’ P&P. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than 0.2 per percent based on over 2,000 items sold in over 5 years Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. Since the introduction of my ‘special’ stiffners it’s a rate of zero.

PLEASE NOTE: I will now only send packets to Russia with Recorded Delivery at a cost of £7 per single LP. If this is unacceptable to Russian collectors, please do not bid. I only want my records to arrive safely and this gives packets a better chance to do so. Also ALL UK packets will be sent with either Recorded or Special Delivery as standard (both have to be signed for). All shipping costs and rules can be found after my description. If they are not acceptable, please do not bid.

Artist or Band: THE ROLLING STONES

Album Title: Beggar’s Banquet.

Producer(s): Jimmy Miller.

Track Listing: Side 1: Sympathy for the Devil; No Expectations; Dear Doctor; Parachute Woman; Jig-saw Puzzle..

Side 2: Street Fighting Man; Prodigal Son; Stray Cat Blues; Factory Girl; Salt of the Earth..

Label/Format: Decca – Blue Unboxed Logo with ffss (Full Frequency Stereophonic Sound) logo.

Label Condition: A magnificent pair, original labels for this title rarely are seen much better. Clean and ultra dark and looking enormous. Spindle marks are very light/light and have little visibility unless viewed under angled light. (Please see label scans for all information needed).

Cat Number: SKL 4955.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 153 grams. [These days, many modern Audiophile reissues are pressed on super-heavyweight 180 gram vinyl. Only a small percentage of ‘vintage vinyl’ was ever pressed this heavy. Records pressed in the 1960s averaged around 140 to 150 grams. Records pressed in the 1970s were usually lighter and averaged more around 115 – 125 grams. Some records pressed around 1973 were very thin and light due an oil crisis and shortage around this time. Some records were even issued on recycled vinyl from this period and sounded poor with crackle and surface noise evident from the very first play. If any record I buy is deemed ‘recycled’, I will never offer it, I have a very simple test to detect these records if I suspect this to be the case other than audible imperfection. Some records from this period were even pressed on other materials the most notable was ‘Dynaflex’, used by RCA around this time. Although inferior to vinyl, this at least mostly sounded reasonably acceptable but pressings on this material were wafer thin and flimsy. Beyond the 70s, records often became thinner and lighter still but most played fine but were never quite the quality as from the ‘Golden Era’]. (This was based on ‘average’ weights for 20 records from these eras. Later pressings were usually lighter still).

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: Like many Beatles albums, Stones albums per se are not that rare but… original, first pressed unboxed stereo copies of this album are much harder to find, scarcer than mono copies. One that includes the patents pending cover and solid back with NO peep-hole for mono/stereo indication, these are more seldom seen or offered. Lastly this record is the very best sounding copy of this classic I have ever heard bar none. Perfection from start to finish, this was a thrill to play-grade and this too on an LP12 which reveals ever tiny blemish possible. This has none and will prove near impossible to better for pure, high quality audio reproduction. This is audiophile standard and sound purists will treasure it. Such copies are elusive and most like this are kept in valuable collections and never offered.

Original Year of Release: 1968

Matrix Nos: XZAL-8476-1K and XZAL-8477-1K

Stamper Codes: 1 UM / 1 CG without doubt one of the earliest made.

Brief Artist & Album Info: A breathtaking masterpiece from 1968 - the Stones emerged into the post-flower power age with this astonishing selection. Producer Jimmy Miller was instrumental in rekindling a musical power that possessed renewed forcefulness and focus. R&B remained rooted in the group’s sound - their version of R. Wilkins’ ‘Prodigal Son’ is captivating, while menace and anger ooze from what remain some of their finest compositions. None better than the two sublime moments: ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ and ‘Street Fighting Man’. Their career as ‘the world’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll band’ (for many) began with this album. This charted at 3 in the UK and 5 in the US, by this album’s standards, quite modest. This is a superb very early pressing with perfect record, a bold statement I know but true. If anyone has a better sounding copy of this album as an original, well I would love to hear it. Not only that, this has an immaculate cover as well. Although laminated on both sides, it’s one that does age and darken unless kept carefully, smoker’s environments make these tone and age far quicker and glad to say there is no evidence of this here. So often the spine gets damaged and scuffed but this one is little short of as new and even retains its laminate that regularly splits, dries out and peels off. Not on this one! This is up there into connoisseur territory and I am still buzzing from the pristine sound this record offers. A keep copy for life, this will thrill most all discerning Stones fans.

Cover Grade and Format: To grade this simply, but beautiful cover less than Mint(-) would be a crime. A gatefold format, laminated front and back. This has the thinner format spine but that’s never bad news as most all the wider ones flatten, crease and look tatty these days. This original has no peep hole in back to indicate mono/stereo issue, these came later, in 1969 so any Beggar’s Banquet with its unique stereo cover is rarer than later versions. Sleeve printed by Garrod & Lofthouse International Limited in England. This has the original Patents Pending text next to the printer’s imprint.

Lamination: Front & Back: Very solid and highly attractive with rich shine and clarity. This is a lovely just slightly off-white that has not toned or yellowed and looks lovely to the eye with real freshness retained. All fully adhered I am always delighted to say with no peeling, dry areas, major indentations or heavy creasing. There is just one away from the edges that are very few and fine. A less than moderate half moon just below the ‘u’ in Banquet on the front, any pressmarks are very few and faint too, just a mere couple of the front and the odd trace on the back (but look hard). What sets this cover apart from most offered is the crispness of the edges with no burring or dinking, also the lack of friction rubs or dulling to the splendid laminate surfaces. This really is up there with the best I have ever seen, for some reason this cover does not wear as well as in theory it should and this will prove very difficult to find better.

Cover Inner Gatefold: Apart from the odd miniscule rub trace there is nothing to fault, this again looks superb.

Top & Bottom Edges: All four unworn and dead smooth to the fingertip test with solid, fully adhered laminate that has avoided scuffing. These four edges remain very straight also with no burring. I have never seen these as neat as this before.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with no wear or feathering. Record enters on this back edge.

Spine and Text: This is the finer spine format which I personally prefer as it does seem to avoid the perils of crushiing and damage more. Rock solid, straight, uncompressed and square, both right edges meet up perfectly together and dead parallel. All text is perfect and unworn under the solid and uncracked laminate that has just one very fine hairline crease. ALL laminate is retained with no peeling and the gorgeous swash-script text looks beautiful. This format spine often badly creases with excessive opening and closing of the cover but this has not happened on this one with any centreline crease being very light indeed and certainly non-damaging.

Corners: All corners are crisp and very sharp with superb shape and definition retained. Try to find these better.

Cover Summary: A beautiful all round example of this classic 60’s cover and never easy to find like this. High on freshness, low on blemishes, this will prove very difficult to find much better. This beautiful item should please most collectors.

The Inner: The original polylined inner is also included in Excellent condition. Very slightly paled with age and the gum on the edge seams has darkened a little but not excessively. The window is very clear and clean and the lining solid, there are minimal creases and no edge splits or tears. Remember this inner is around 40-years-old and its overall condition hardly reflects the fact.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: Grading this beautiful record as EX+ is really not doing it justice. There are a few light surface marks visible but ABSOLUTELY NONE of them sound and again I state this record plays with perfect sound from beginning to end with no surface sounds or pops and clicks. I would put this copy against any other to beat for sound and I truly feel few will even get close. A very fine visual copy that is super clean, shiny, intense black and very heavily pressed. A few light visual blemishes yes, but when they have no sound, why worry?, this is still an exceptional visual copy too and few very popular 40-year-old records survive like this anyway. A copy only lightly played on all the evidence more than reitterated by pristine sound. Visually a super record that should please many collectors.

Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippetts or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing B&W speakers that include the legendary tweeter from their awesome Nautilus range that reveals every blemish or miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This fantastic early pressed record plays above its high visual grading with nothing to fault. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is very high indeed and as good as it will ever get. Better produced than the early albums, this sounds just perfect for its vintage. Surface sounds? what surface sounds? just clear, sharp, fully focused brilliance with no pops or clicks and effortless tracking from a high quality Decca original. Both channels are clean and sharp, I feel very sure this record has been played very lightly and has been generally well stored and looked after, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Nothing whatsoever spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful stereo original, the first I have heard for some time. I prefer the stereo mix on this album, it has tremendous separation and clarity and almost take you into the recording studio itself when played on worthy equipment. This copy will prove near impossible to find better and will thrill even the most fussy of sound connosseurs, strong recommendation is mandatory.

End Piece: As soon as the stylus makes contact with the record and the first moments of ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ come out of the speakers you know you have a very special moment in popular music history. The unmistakable Jagger vocal - ‘Please allow me to introduce myself…’ - this still sends a shiver down the spine and sounds so much better on its ‘home’ album rather than compilations. Beggar’s Banquet for many is the Stones finest ever work - a tough call, but for sure its ONE of their very best. Make no mistake how difficult it is now finding lightly played original Stones LPs that play perfectly. The sounds embedded in these vintage stereo grooves are testament to the greatness of this record and band. One to enjoy via the essential vinyl source for many years, no modern deck will wear this copy out - it sounds like new, forget the few light surface marks - just holding this record gives pleasure – enjoy it forever.

SHIPPING COSTS & OPTIONS:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (First Class Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4 (OPTIONAL).

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7 (OPTIONAL).

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA (NOT RUSSIA, see below) (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet Standard with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) = £5.

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with included Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, £500* Maximum) = £9 (OPTIONAL).

Posting & Packing: RUSSIA (Recorded Only, if this is unacceptable, please do not bid):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ only £7) = £9 (OPTIONAL extra insurance as above).

Posting & Packing: OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. US; Australia; Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet Standard with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) = £8.

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with included Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, £500* Maximum) = £13 (OPTIONAL).

* If Rules allow for that country.

PLEASE NOTE: I always get a Royal Mail ‘Proof-of-Posting’ receipt for ALL packets that are sent out and I am happy to prove this to any customer who wishes to see it via email.

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders.

The customer can choose their method of shipping with the exception of second class or surface mail overseas – these I will NOT use. The winner bidder chooses his/her posting method and if uninsured is chosen, its their decision and they have to stick with it, I can accept no responsibility if an item is lost in the post. I can only try to claim at standard levels if no enhancement is chosen (£35).

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. A maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask and thanks for looking.

Debutant Bidders: Many sellers refuse first time buyers: I do not follow this practice (everybody has to start somewhere), but I would appreciate any first timer letting me know their intentions for payment method and very prompt communication, preferably before any bid or soon after the auctions ends. This gives confidence that their intentions are honourable, and I in return guarantee extra special good feedbacks to get zero rated Ebayers off to a flying start to help them with future transactions.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder unless prior notice of any delay is given beforehand. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund minus the Posting and All Ebay costs as long as the item detail has been read and understood. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help.

SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO WEAR AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

My Use of Description Terminology: Surface Marks = Superficial, usually light marks, hairlines or light scuffs that rarely sound. Scratch = a needle mark that goes below the record’s surface, some will sound, some will not, my play-grade will inform. Original = a record that has been pressed with the first label design which does NOT neccessarily mean a very first pressed record. First Pressing = A record that I believe or know to be a genuine very first pressed record. I do not claim to always know for sure, and that’s why I state the stamper and matrix numbers if at all possible, for those who claim to know what they all mean, the information is there for the collector to decide. I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure. Surface Sound = Mild, light sound, usually light crackle or similar. Distortion = Break up of the actual sound caused by groove wear or damage from a chipped stylus – the most undesirable form of unwanted sound, vintage mono records were the most prone to this happening but not exclusively so. The symptoms of distortion are high frequency clipping, moderate constant crackle or an echo type sound quality. Violin, piano and vocals are most prone to groove-wear distortion. Feathering = Fraying or softening of the entry edge of a cover. Covers with feathered entrance edges are more likely to have had the actual record inserted and removed more than a non-feathered, sharp-edged cover which are always far more attractive. Set Off, actually a printer’s term for dark ink leaving mild residue on pale or white ink when rested upon. e.g. when a gatefold cover has black ink closed against white, this can leave some black residue on the pale area – this is mostly unavoidable or course.

The Argument for Vinyl Original sound and mix (mono mixes are rarely available on CD), high quality sound on clean copies (played on a hi-end dedicated analogue system – breathtaking sound!), beautiful, large format covers, artwork, inserts and even full size posters etc; huge investment potential, and the pleasure of owning ‘the real thing’.