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The Rolling Stones : Beggars Banquet 4A/3A 1st Press Mono unboxed red Decca label

This very collectable first mono pressing plays with superb audio and barely any interference.  One light click on S2 that you could easily miss!  As is usual with this album there is a little inner groove distortion and an almost 'tinny' sound quality at times but this is kept to a minimum as the record has been very well preserved and not played very much thus retaining its original sonic quality.  The clarity, power and definition of the audio is STUNNING and visually it is also very impressive.  This may well be a contender for the finest mono first pressing I have ever heard!

The famous cover is in fantastic condition and is without doubt one of the best examples you will find.  It has no obvious wear and gleams beautifully!  It has clearly hardly ever been handled and for once the spine remains intact!  The original inner is also super clean with light creasing only.

This first pressing has the first label variation with the Times New Roman font, copyright box and publishers on the left side of the label and the JT Tax Code at the bottom of the label.  S1 and S2 is also on the left side.

LK 4955 // XARL-8476-4A / XARL-8477-3A // UB 3C / BH 1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T4 & T5 Near Mint) 

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (T1 & T4 Mint-)  

The gatefold is Near Mint-

The labels are Near Mint

The original inner sleeve is Ex+

Visual grading

The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a lovely glossy sheen.  There are no scratches just a few light sleeve removal hairlines and a very small faint mark on S1 that has no affect on the audio.  The runout grooves are very clean and you can easily read the matrix info and JT tax code.  The labels have no marking or writing and not very much spindle wear either.  They have retained their deep red colour extremely well.  A superb example and one of the cleanest you will find today.

Play grading

The percussive intro on the classic 'Sympathy For The Devil' is close to perfect with just one very dull tick and Jagger's opening vocal has no 'background' at all.  It continues to play with great clarity and power and the depth of the audio is also very impressive.  I say that because this is a mono record being played on a stereo set up and yet the sonic quality is stunning.  Each note is so 'clean' and precise and the long fade out also plays with sublime clarity.  This easily grades as Mint- the playback is phenomenal!

The acoustic intro on 'No Expectations' plays beautifully with no intrusion and it continues with a clarity and warmth that defies it age - another that this vinyl has been very well preserved over the last 53 years.  I cannot overstate just how good the clarity is, there is just no interference of any kind from start to finish.  As my regulars know I don't 'over-sell' my vinyl and I listen to every second so as to provide a 'complete' grading.  This is another Mint- track.

'Dear Doctor' plays to the same 'high end' standard with...no interference.  It has that unmistakable 'raw' Stones' sound and again the audio has a deep rich quality to it.  Mint-

'Parachute Woman' plays in a very similar way with only minimal inner groove distortion.  This is inevitable as this mono record is always affected in this way but it still plays exceptionally well with no interference.  Perhaps I should not down-grade it but Near Mint is certainly well deserved.

The intro on 'Jig-Saw Puzzle' is faultless and the first vocal is equally as good.  It continues to play with very powerful audio and if anything plays better than many other versions I have heard.  This track always has that 'tinny' distortion sound but the first half in particular is very strong with barely any.  In fact the more I listen to it the more I am impressed by the sonic quality on offer here.  The second half has very little of this aforementioned distortion and is without doubt one of the finest versions of this classic that I have ever heard.  You often have to turn the volume down because the distorted sound is just too intrusive but in no way is that the case here.  The vocals are very strong and the instrumental sections are also very 'clean' including the end section.  I think Near Mint is an honest assessment of the audio.

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Another classic with 'Street Fighting Man' and I pleased to say it plays with stunning power and with a clarity that is second to none.  In true Stones style it plays with that typical 'raw' sound again and there is literally no interference not even on the long fade out.  A fantastic Mint- start to S2.

The acoustic intro on 'Prodigal Son' is 'as new' and it continues in the same way with near perfect audio.  I did hear one light click near the end but it is so quiet and non-intrusive.  I will say that because the record is so 'clean' I actually noticed things I have never heard before on this track no exaggeration!  I will say Near Mint but the vast majority obviously grades higher.

'Stray Cat Blues' plays with wonderful clarity from the very first note and that applies to the first vocal also.  It continues to play with tremendous power and...no interference.  There is barely any of that 'tinny' type sound and overall this a superb version of this classic.  Aren't they all!  The end instrumental is absolutely stunning!  Again the audio has such depth and overall Near Mint is deserved although it could be argued that I am being a little harsh even with that grade.

The acoustic intro on 'Factory Girl' plays perfectly and this quality is maintained as it progresses.  Each note is so sharp and precise and there is no interference whatsoever.  Mint-

Another sublime acoustic intro on 'Salt Of The Earth' and thereafter plays with great precision and power.  There is just a little more of the 'tinny' distorted sound but there really is no escaping it with this track, I am just being 100% honest.  This is just how this record was produced/mixed and should not be downgraded as a result.  Near Mint is fair.

In summary this early mono pressing plays to a superb standard with barely any intrusion.  There is only minimal distortion and just one light click on S2 that you could easily miss!  The clarity and power of the audio is outstanding and this is easily one of the strongest examples of this very collectable album that I have ever listened to.  It is visually very impressive and the cover is in lovely condition as you can see.  A stunning 'package' for sure.

The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve

This G & L laminated 'mono' cover is in lovely condition and easily one of the best around today.  This one has been so preserved and has only minimal shelf wear.  The edges are incredibly clean and for once the spine is in superb order with no marking or laminate damage, it is just very slightly misshapen as is common.  The corners have barely any wear and the opening edge has only the bare minimum of handling wear.  The front cover is in beautiful condition with only a couple of specks and the back cover is stunning also.  What is impressive is that this cover has none of the fading/yellowing around the edges that you so often see.  The inside of the gatefold is immaculate and this truly is a superb example of this iconic cover and in my opinion very much deserves a Near Mint- grade at the very least.  One more thing - it isn't one of the very first 'mono' covers as it has Sleeve printed by Garrod and Lofthouse International Limited and not Patents Pending printed on the back.

The original poly-lined inner is in great condition and the first thing you notice is how clean and 'white' it is.  There is no marking and there are no side splits or tears either just some light creasing here and there.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

LK 4955 // XARL-8476-4A / XARL-8477-3A // UB 3C / BH 1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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Postage & Packaging

I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE MAY BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD).  AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN.  HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING.  PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH.  MANY THANKS.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!

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LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

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LPs/12" singles : £17.45 then £2.00 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £25.95 then £2.50 per extra

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