THE BEATLES - 'THE WHITE ALBUM' FIRST UK STEREO PRESSING 1968 - NEAR MINT AUDIO.

	£		171
	$		227

Hi, I am a private collector selling part of my collection.
I will use visual and audio gratings. I have been a collector for many years and know how disappointing it is to receive a record that has not been properly graded. I hope to be very accurate as regards the audio as well as giving details of any hairlines/scratches on the vinyl. I will use the Record Collector Grading System and supplement this with additional information.  Every record is play tested on my Linn LP12. In the unlikely event that you are not happy with a purchase i offer a 'Returns Accepted' guarantee. (Buyer pays return postage). I will post worldwide and intend to only charge what it costs to package and post the item to the address.  Please wait for my invoice or contact me in advance of bidding.  All records will be posted in proper secure record mailers with the record separated from the cover and using cardboard stiffeners for extra security. Thank you.
The record for sale is 'The Beatles' more commonly referred to as 'The White Album'. This is a double album and is housed in its First Press top loader gatefold cover numbered - 0526472 This is the stereo version and was released on the 22nd November 1968. The album comes complete with 4 glossy colour photographs plus spacer and the double sided large poster.
Matrix / Runout numbers
Side one:   YEX 709-1.  GDP4 Side two:   YEX 710-1.  GGT2 Side three: YEX 711-1.  RP1 Side four:   YEX 712-1.  RH6
I have listened to all four sides on my Linn LP12. My accessment of the audio is as follows.
Side 1: I cannot really fault the audio on side 1. From the silent run in to 'Back in the USSR' to the end of 'Happiness is a warm gun' there was nothing to fault. There was the odd light tick as is common in most vinyl but nothing else. The softer parts play perfectly and I have to grade the audio for side 1 as MINT. Side 2: My favourite side on this album and it plays superb. From the silent run in to 'Martha my dear' to the beautiful 'Julia' there is little to fault. Accessing the audio on this side i will always look to how the more softer songs play. Songs such as 'Blackbird' 'Rocky Raccoon' 'I Will' and 'Julia'. Except for one barely noticeable soft click during 'Blackbird' the whole side was faultless. Again I have to grade the audio as MINT. Side 3: Again a  silent run in to the first track 'Birthday' and after that all the songs play superb. I did notice 4 soft clicks during 'Mother Nature's Son' but other than that the audio could not be faulted. The final track on this side, the soft sounding, 'Long Long Long' plays great. I grade the audio for this side NEAR MINT. Side 4: This side begins with 'Revolution' and again there is a completely silent run in. All the songs play great. 'Honey Pie' plays perfect as does Revolution 9'. I did notice 3 light clicks during 'Savoy Truffle' but other than that nothing could be faulted. I grade side 4 NEAR MINT.
Visually in normal light all four sides look great with no marks visible. It is only in strong light or natural sunlight that any marks on the vinyl can be seen. There are some sleeve removal signs as well as some light handling/hairlines visible. There is also some storage signs from the vinyl being kept in the black inners. I have placed both vinyls into new Mobile Fidelity Original Master Sleeves.
The tax code' KTJ' is on the side 1 label. I am struggling to see any spindle traces on the side 1 label. There are a couple of fine spindle traces on the side 2 label.  I can see 4 spindle traces on the side 3 label and a couple of spindle traces on the side 4 label which carries the tax code 'KT'.
The cream coloured fully laminated gatefold cover is in great condition but i want to describe it in detail, as in this particular case it can be difficult to get an accurate view from photos alone.
The front lies very flat and has no bends or major creases.There are 2 small indentation marks - one just above the letter 'L' in the word 'BEATLES' (see main photo) and another further up the cover (zoom in on the front cover to see these). There are a couple of small creases on the bottom edge and when angled towards the light a record impression is visible. All the edges are fine with only a few indents where the records enter on the top edges. There is a tiny corner bump on the lower right corner. (Photo 2). The back of the cover lies very flat. There are two creases leading off the spine edge (through natural storage) and 4 tiny creases running off the bottom edge.There is also a record impression visible when angled into the light. There is a tiny corner bump on the lower left corner. 'Stereo' is printed in the top right corner. The inside of the gatefold is perfect with no faults and both flipbacks undamaged. The spine on this cover is very prone to wear or damage. I have taken 2 photos of the spine (one at either end). Both the top and bottom ends of the spine are undamaged with all the laminate intact. There is a split in the laminate for about 6''' in the middle. To summarise the laminate is perfect for about 3'' at the top of the spine and about 3'' on the bottom of the spine but the rest of the laminate on the spine has become split and frayed.you can see the beginnings of this in photo 4 where the laminate has begun to split and fray. Overall I grade the cover EXCELLENT.
The double sided poster with the lyrics on the reverse side is in NEAR MINT condition. There are no pin holes or tears. There is just some light signs of handling. It is very clean.
The four original glossy photographs complete with the white spacer is here. I would have to grade the photos as MINT except for a crease in John's photo. The crease which is 2 centimetres long is in his hair. (It is visible in photo 10). Again there are no pin holes or other signs of use. The white spacer which is usually missing is also in superb condition.
The two black inners show the usual signs of use but there are no splits. There are a few naturally formed creases and around the centre hole there is the tiniest little tear (4mm) on one inner and an even smaller tear (2mm) on the other. Both are barely visible but I mention them in line with the strict grading I apply to this set. I grade the inners as EXCELLENT.
Good luck in bidding on this classic which is getting  hard to find now especially with the audio being close to mint.
Special Note: I have increased the postage on this record as I am only willing to send it by Royal Mail Special Delivery to the UK. Postage Worldwide does not change.