The Beatles White Album. First Press. Low No. 0111144. Top Opening Mono 1968.

	£		50
	$		66

The Beatles - White Album

First Press Top Opening

MONO

Rare Low Numbered Sleeve - 0111144

(Apple PMC 7067/8 UK Double LP 1968)

Matrcies:  XEX 709-1, XEX 710-1, XEX 711-1 XEX 712-1

This is an original Numbered First Press example of a rare Top Opening UK MONO pressing, with low Mothers & Stampers!

It has a fully laminated and short lived 'Wide-Spine' Garod & Lofthouse top-opening, gatefold sleeve. The spine is the unusal and rare 7mm width, which was to house the two heavy-weight EMI vinyl LP's. It wasn't long after the first pressings that both the Top Opening and the 'Wide Spine' were replaced, which makes them rare and collectable, especially with a low no: 0111144.

It comes with its original EMI plain black inner sleeves, which have been sympathetically repaired, due to the obvious issues with putting heavy vinyl into a top-loading sleeve, namely cut-out tears. The way to fix is from within the sleeve, using thin, black, paper-ribbons, not sellotape. This has been done and all is well!

The records are pressed on 60's thick & heavy EMI viny. They have the dark green Apple labels, as per all of the First Press Mono releases. The records have the First Press "Sold In The UK subject to re-sale prices..." text on labels, which vanished in later pressings and all four sides have 'Mft. in the U.K.', to the left of the labels. Sides One & Two, don't have EMI, with Side Three & Four having 'An EMI Recording' under the small 33 1/3, to the left on those labels. 

The matrix numbers are the First Press matrices, associated with The White Album of 1968, being: XEX 709-1, XEX 710-1, XEX 711-1 & XEX 712-1. The Mother & Stampers are LOW: Side One '3' & 'GMD' or '140', with a very rare 'error' of the Stamper being placed on the wrong side, next to the Mother and then, very unusually, hand-crossed through and placed on the correct side, at 9 o'clock; not 3 o'clock! Side Two's Mother is '5' & Stamper 'GRT' or '129', Side Three '2' & 'GM' or '14' and Side Four '1' & 'G' or '1', which is amazing in itself!

The Gatefold Top Opening Garod & Lofthouse Sleeve is generally un-damaged, with nothing bad and still holds its shape. The rare 'Wide Spine' is unusual to find and despite a little sagging and obvious wear, with crinkling of the laminate, it still displays its unusual width. There is no biro or ink anywhere (names or initials), which applies to the labels, too and unusually there is little visible or obvious spindle wear, just odd rubs where the spindle has been located.

The record does not have the photos or poster, which have long gone, but these are obtainable, what it does have is a unique, low number and the top opening sleeve, with beautiful and rare Mono reproduction!

Grading is, obviously, subjective and I try to be totally honest in what I see and indeed hear. This album is a nice, wholly original and genuine example of a Mono top opening, low numbered White Album from 1968, which has been played and obviously loved, but still presents itself well. The vinyl is in original condition and has been played, with odd surface marks here and there on the vinyl. I would say that the records grade as VG+ condition, with reference to the Record Collector and Goldmine guides.   

Since the starting price is above £46.00, it will have to be posted First Class Special Delivery, due to its value. This means mutual tracking and guaranteed delivery before 1.00pm the next day. The cost, due to its weight, is currently £7.55. Please check Royal Mail Price Finder, if in any doubt and note there is no further charge to the buyer. Ebay only have £4.50 as a price, but fully accept and endorse legitimate postage, if above.

Sales in and to the UK only.

Thanks!