ELVIS PRESLEY - LOVE ME TENDER Rare 1956 UK Gold/Purple label 7" HMV POP 253

	£		85
	$		113

ELVIS PRESLEY - LOVE ME TENDER c/w ANY WAY YOU WANT ME (That's how I will be)
Classis ELVIS UK single on the highly sought after and ORIGINAL 1956 GOLD LETTERED on PURPLE/PLUM BACKGROUND copy,  HMV POP 253
Matrix numbers - Side 1 : G2 - WW - 4767 - 1N and stampers "RT 1" and "M",  Side 2 : G2 - WW - 5937 - 1N and stampers "RT" and "A"
The condition of the vinyl (both sides) is VERY GOOD+ : both sides of the vinyl have retained much of their original sheen, and are highly presentable.  But upon close inspection a good number of surface hairlines are in evidence, though nothing nasty or below the surface. There are no obvious scuffs.        The quality of the audio is VERY GOOD - eminently listenable - no skips, clicks, hiss, or jumps but there is some mild background crackle, accentuated on side 1 by the fact that the song "Love Me Tender" is a mellow ballad...if it was a rocker then the crackle would be much less obvious! The same can be said of side 2 but I stress that what background crackle does exist is mild and the degradation of the listening experience is limited.
As the photos testify, the labels border on EXCELLENT:  all print is totally legible and the original gold lettered colouring still fully intact. There is a faintly drawn "X" on side 1 written in blue biro (see photo) but I can't detect any spindle hole traces adjacent to the center hole on any of the labels. Comes complete with four pronged push out centre with is completely intact. Really nice.
Comes in original and rarer black printed "HIS MASTER'S VOICE" outer sleeve which is in good+ condition - no seam splits and still fully functional but a few minor (less than 1cm) tears emanating from the die cut center.
A great addition, and highly presentable, to any serious 50's rock'n roll/Elvis collection. A landmark, and increasingly sought after, copy of this highly coveted and very early purple and gold Elvis classic!!
A bit about myself - I have been collecting vinyl for over 46 years and have amassed a huge and diverse record collection. I am now selling a number of my cherished records in order to help fund my retirement and to optimise space although, in all honesty, I view the daily sift through and playing of these timeless classics as a labour of love. Take a look at my other ebay items - many of the records that I am selling are highly sought after by serious collectors. You should also be aware of my 100% feedback status and can feel rest assured that in the unlikely event that you are unhappy with your purchase for any reason then just contact me and I will do a full refund without quibble. Enjoy your purchase - Richard

A NOTE ON POSTAGE : All records are posted in proper, secure record mailing envelopes with a cardboard stiffener on each side of the record, which itself is placed outside of the record cover in order to minimise the risk of edge damage during postage transit. As a consequence I have NEVER had a complaint from any buyer relating to record damage during postage. P&P costs are £1.50 for the UK, £2.50 for Europe, and £5.00 for the rest of the world. Note that for any item selling for more than £30 then registered, "signed for" postage is required, which will incur an extra P&P cost of between £2.00 and £5.00, dependent upon location. If in any doubt then just email me before you bid. PLEASE - DO NOT PAY BEFORE I INVOICE YOU. I do not profit from postage costs - my aim is purely to ensure that your purchase reaches it's destination in a secure, undamaged, timely and cost effective manner.

My record grading adheres to the “Record Collector” guide, which has established a set of standards for the condition of second-hand records. These indicate the amount of wear and tear the disc, sleeve, and other items (such as lyric inserts) have been subject to and the condition that they are in at present. The seven standard condition categories, and descriptions of what each one means, are listed below:

Mint

The records itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items, such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

Excellent

The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear and /or creasing.

Very Good

The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

Good

The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc.

Fair

The record is still just playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents are torn, stained and/or defaced

Poor

The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents are badly damaged or partly missing.

Bad

The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler