The Rolling Stones (Debut) 2A / 3A Unboxed Red Decca

This very collectable early pressing on the unboxed and grooved red Decca label plays to a superb standard and with no clicks or pops and no static or crackle!  The vinyl is also visually stunning and it's been a long time since I saw one as good as this.

It has the very early 2A/3A matrix and I think this may even be the earliest pressing with the 'correct' long version of 'Tell Me'.  It also has 'I Need You Baby' on both the cover and label as opposed to 'Mona'.

The cover is also in lovely condition with hardly any shelf wear and none of the staining on the back cover that you regularly see, it is a great example.  The original inner is also in excellent condition.

LK 4605 // XARL - 6271 - 2A // XARL - 6272 - 3A // U H  3 D / U C 1

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (T6 Ex+)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (T6 Ex+)

The cover is Near Mint

The labels are Near Mint

The inner sleeve is Ex

Visual grading

This is a beautiful vinyl and has clearly been so carefully handled down the years.  There are no marks or scratches on either side and it still has a stunning glossy sheen and has not been overplayed - there is not very much spindle wear at all.  I have looked under a strong light and I could only detect one very faint hairline on each side but they are difficult to find, you have to tilt the vinyl in order to see them!  The run out grooves and grooved red labels are also extremely clean with no markings.

Play grading  

S1 plays with stunning quality from start to finish and therefore there is no need to describe each track in full.  I will however point out a few important details.  The run in on the opening grooves has no static (or worse!) so you kind of know the side is going to play well!  There is near complete silence in the dead wax between tracks giving you a good idea of the clarity on offer here and the intros and fade outs also play with superb precision.  I have played every every second of S1 so as to provide a comprehensive grading and I can confirm there are no clicks, pops or crackle and no obvious static either.  From 'Route 66' to 'Little By Little' the audio is very impressive although, as is common when playing when playing a mono record through a stereo system, the latter track does have some inner groove distortion.  I will grade the side as Near Mint and the final track as Ex+ (perhaps a little harsh!) as the audio cannot really be faulted.

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'I'm A King Bee' is of the same 'high end' standard and plays with no intrusion.  'Tell Me' provides a fine example of the clarity on S2 as the quieter sections play beautifully.  The other tracks also impress with very strong audio and once again there are no clicks or pops.  A little inner groove distortion here and there, and a little more on 'Walking The Dog' but as I often say this has to accepted as a given and the songs should not be downgraded as such.  This is just how records were produced and recorded in the 60s.  In saying that, as per S1, I will grade this final track as Ex+ but Near Mint is certainly deserved for the others.  

In summary this very early pressing plays to a wonderful standard and for a record of this age to have no clicks or pops is a genuine rarity.  With no crackle of static either the clarity is so good on both sides and any collector would also be very impressed with the stunning visual quality of this now 56 year old record.  As always I have play tested every second of every track and this is without question one of the finest versions I have ever heard.  A superb cover also :-)

The Cover

This Clarifoil cover is in superb condition with no obvious wear.  The top edge and spine are 'as new' and the bottom edge has only a couple of minor rubs near the right hand corner.  The corners themselves are in great shape with no wear as such, nothing worthy of mention anyway.  This is a cover that has hardly been handled in my opinion.  The opening edge has a little feathering towards the bottom but again this is minor.  The front cover is in beautiful condition with only a couple of very small laminate creases but yes at first glance it looks 'as new', it is stunning!  The back cover is just as impressive and rarely found as 'clean' as this.  They are so easily marked due to the white background but there is no marking here and the flipbacks remain strong with very little staining on the edges.  The flipback bottom is just ever so slightly loose, nothing that can't be remedied.  A stunning example of this now 56 year old cover, there cannot be many as good as this!

The Inner Sleeve

The original poly-lined inner has no side splits or tears and only some creasing on the corners.  It has no marking either.

The Labels

The unboxed red Decca labels have no marking or writing and have lost none of their deep original colour.  There is not very much spindle wear and remain in superb condition.

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 4605 // XARL - 6271 - 2A // XARL - 6272 - 3A // U H  3 D / U C 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

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