THE BEATLES - SGT PEPPER'S RARE 1ST FOURTH PROOF PROTOTYPE INSERTS VG/VG+ LP

	£		70
	$		93

JUNE 1967

SGT PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND

THE BEATLES

1ST UK MONO PRESS

Catalogue no. PMC 7027

Yellow and Black Parlophone Labels

Master Matrices XEX 637-1/XEX 638-1

The Fourth Proof sleeve represents the earliest possible version of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

This sleeve not only has Fourth Proof printed on the top right inside fold but also has the test pressing reference number AR D1321. This is the final version of the prototype sleeves and two page gatefold photograph that were being explored by The Beatles, and the only test pressing sleeve that was commercially available.

 Only ever issued in very small quantities until EMI used up their supply.

George Harrison's and John Lennon's jackets have a lighter hue in comparison to standard sleeves, and on the back of the sleeve the reference to Garrod & Lofthouse has 'patents pending' printed after it, as they were seeking patents whilst this prototype was being verified at the patents office.

The Sleeve: 1st & original Flipback sleeve in Very Good Condition.

Moderate storage wear on corners and opening edge. Has maintained a good firm shape and holds record well. All text legible and pictorials clear and glossy. Fully laminated with light creases in effect but no record ring wear. All flipbacks fully intact, inside centre fold intact and laminated, outside spine edge mainly intact but with a slight burst to centre, and title text mainly present. The fourth proof sleeve's were thinner than standard sleeves and so the spines easily split. 

The iconic inside photo is superb with no marks,

No sticker or sticker residue, no handwriting.

 Printed & made by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. Patents Pending.

Inner Sleeve : This psychedelic-looking inner is very similar to the inner sleeve issued with the Rolling Stones' Her Satanic Majesties Request LP which was released in the same year, but is slightly different. Perhaps a substitute for the Sgt Pepper Fool's inner, which has somehow found its way in or possibly also a prototype inner sleeve for Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in it's early developmental stage, in any case very suitable.

It is in excellent condition with no splits. No handwriting.

Cut-Out's: This is the original 1967 Dark Green issue cut-out's insert in VG+ condition. A little light creasing on one side. No handwriting or marks on either side.

The Vinyl: In Very Good Plus condition. The vinyl surfaces retain a bright black glossy finish. Turned angled under direct light there a fair amount of feint  non-feelable superficial light stylus hairlines in a few areas, but which cause no particular audio detractions. The surface is smooth and in normal light the vinyl surfaces look excellent with just one or two light scuffs. The vinyl is clean, the record lays completely flat on the turntable, and has no warps or groove wear.

Heavy robust sixties vinyl weighing at 165 grams.

Labels are Very Good Plus to match. Text is clear and bright, the perimeter area around the spindle location point has fine spindle wear and spindle line traces can been seen but not too heavy, and don't reach outside of the centre ring. No handwriting or stickers.

Has the KT tax code 

SOLD IN U.K. text across label and 

The Gramophone Co. Ltd text around rim.

Early Mother/ Stamps

Side 1 - 4 MAR

Side 2 - 19 ALD

The Audio: The audio is Excellent Minus having no major detractions such as pops, skips, jumps or sticks. Overall the vinyl surfaces deliver a full mono bass sound and the record plays smoothly with a crisp and clear vocal and instrumental audio. There is a little light hiss in one or two of the quieter parts, and track change intro's mainly near the start of each side have a few ticks and is probably just static build up. There is are no audio detractions that could be considered as background noise or overcoming the audio playback. The robustness of these early pressings always ensures that the sound quality doesn't deteriorate noticeably as long as the record has not been mistreated.

This is a very rare original test pressing Mono version of Sgt Pepper in an all round Very Good Condition to Very Good Plus condition have a smooth audio playback quality with only minor detractions from the original sound quality. An LP by the world's most iconic band, and can only go up in value over time.

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This LP will be securely delivered in a professional cardboard LP mailer with cardboard stifferners.

A plain anti-static inner sleeve will house the record and the original will be placed separately.

A high grade PVC sleeve is included to further protect the LP as shown.

UK delivery is included and signed for.

Overseas delivery will be tracked and a tracking number will be given.

I have used the official grading system for rare records from the Record Collector Magazine.

Happy to refund on return if not satisfied.