THE BEATLES White Album 1968 1st US Pressing LA COMPLETE NM George Harrison Mix
$
500
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Description
Item Description
Overview
Up for auction/sale is a magnificent grail piece for Beatles audiophiles and collectors: a 100% complete, original 1968 U.S. First Pressing of The Beatles (The White Album).
This exceptional copy was manufactured at Capitol’s premier Los Angeles, California pressing plant, verified by the distinct asterisk (✲) stamped in the dead wax. Finding an original 1968 White Album with an immaculate jacket, glossy vinyl, and all original inserts fully intact is incredibly rare. This is a top-tier, archive-quality collector’s piece.
The George Harrison Connection & Label Details
This specific copy features the corrected, error-free labels (displaying full titles like "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" and correctly hyphenated "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da").
For serious Beatles historians, this is the version to own. When the White Album was completed in 1968, George Harrison personally flew to Los Angeles with the master tapes because he was deeply unhappy with how the initial U.S. mastering sounded. Working directly at Capitol’s LA studios, Harrison oversaw a completely revised, superior mastering job that fixed the audio tracking and cleaned up the initial typography errors on the labels. This LA pressing (✲) delivers the exact, punchy, robust mid-range sound signature that Harrison fought to give American fans.
Key Features & Identifiers
• Format: 2-LP Vinyl, Stereo Gatefold
• Serial Number (Jacket Front): A0333886 (True 1968 early-run first pressing)
• Pressing Plant: Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Los Angeles, CA (Verified by ✲ stamp)
• Side 1 Matrix/Runout: Swbo-1-101-I-40 ✲
• Label Status: Error-free corrected labels, true to the finalized Harrison-approved LA production run.
Condition Report
The Jacket: Pristine (NM / Near Mint)
The notoriously fragile, textured white gatefold jacket is in immaculate condition.
• Exceptional, bright white color with none of the typical heavy yellowing, foxing, or ring wear.
• Seams, spine, and opening edges are crisp, sharp, and structural with absolutely no splits.
• The embossed "The Beatles" text and serial number are perfectly distinct.
The Vinyl: Clean & Glossy (NM / Near Mint)
• Both discs retain their original, high-gloss brilliant factory shine.
• Visually beautiful and exceptionally clean with no deep scratches, marks, or scuffs.
• Labels are pristine and free of writing, stickers, or heavy spindle wear.
The Inserts: Complete & Pristine (NM)
This set includes all original 1968 inserts, beautifully preserved:
• The 4 Glossy Color Portraits: John, Paul, George, and Ringo (Crisp, vibrant, no pinholes or tape).
• The Large Fold-Out Lyric Poster: (Unmarked, crisp folds, no tears).
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