BEATLES UK MONO WHITE ALBUM APPLE PMC 706 VERY LOW #s

$

100

We have up for auction an Extremely Rare and Early UK Mono Pressing of The Beatles: "White Album" Released on Apple Records PMC 706/8 in November 1968.  This copy has the 1st issue embossed raised title lettering, "The Beatles" on the front of the plain white laminated jacket.  Below the raised title is the initial element which makes this an extremely rare copy.  All 1968 first pressings of this title were numbered from 0000001 to over 3,000,000 in both the United States and England, where the LP actually was released one day earlier to the public.  This copy possesses the extremely low number, 0052734.  Also, early pressings of this Double Album set directly impact the label style.  As noted in the subtitle of the auction, all four of the two LP's labels are lacking the words "An EMI Recording", words which were present on most other, later first issue LPs and denotes a high rating on the often referred to scarcity index regarding Beatles Albums and other memorabilia.  Most importantly to bidders, this initial label style confirms the fact that this is a very early copy of the White Album.  Finally, Mono White Albums were not made in the United States, so most Americans had never heard what is essentially a different LP than the far more common Stereo pressings.  In fact, Stereo was the more desired and, thus chosen format to hear rock albums.  Indeed, the Stereo White Album was much more common than its Monaural cousin.  The valuation of a UK Stereo White album in NM condition is approximately $500.00 (F.Daniels, 2007) versus the mono pressing which is valued at an astounding $900.00 in the same NM condition.

While our copy is an early first pressing and is relatively low numbered, it is NOT IN NM CONDITION.  Therefore, our White Album will not approach these figures and this is a no reserve auction!  Our UK Mono White Album was evaluated using a harsher variation of the American Goldmine Standard of Vinyl and Jacket Grading.  All of our UK Beatles Auctions which are currently running, were all visually and, more importantly, playgraded.  In addition, we also grade the jacket and, if applicable, any and all inserts which accompany some albums.  While we often write very long and descriptive accounts of the evaluative experience, we also bold the final grade in order to allow some folks to simply look at the grade we assigned to the album and that ends it for them.  Others truly prefer our detailed methods, especially when they are preparing to spend a large sum of money.  We would first like to post onto our auction a commonly used reference that distinguishes the UK Mono White LP from The UK and US Stereo White Albums:

Mono/Stereo Differences       Source (http://www.jpgr.co.uk/pcs7067.html)

This release is probably the most essential to have in both mono and stereo, as almost every track has some difference. But the following thirteen tracks have the most marked variations.

As much as the history and variations of the White Album may fascinate all Beatle fanatics, this is an auction for a well-played album with vinyls that have the signs of being played.  All 4 sides of the LP possess numerous, but superficial hairlines, unfeelable scruffs, marks that initially did look like scratch marks, but, once more, could not be felt, and a presentation many dealers would consider evaluating from a very good to a very good +.  The vinyls remain quite shiny, almost mirror-like as I examined the unbanded (tracks which all run together rather than have a distinct "break" between songs) very well-conditioned surfaces.  Under the bright lamps we use to truly see an LP's vinyl, Side 1 did have a higher degree of density of the "thicker" lines, than any other of the LP's sides.  Yet, I am truly emphasizing the negatives of what also were more akin to 3 or 4 superficial scruff marks that anyone would see on a vinyl which was certainly "loved".  In contrast, Side 2 was free of these wider than hair-like lines, and appeared somewhat cleaner than the reverse side.  I did, however, feel a couple of lines that ran through the first 2 tracks which I kept a note of for the later play test which would be the defining factor of whether or not I would even list the LP.  LPs that skip are disqualified from our auctions.   

Sides 3 and 4 both were visually cleaner than Sides 1 and 2.  There were no scruffs that were observed nor were there any marks which were able to be touched or even presented themselves as touchable.  Hairlines, once more, were the theme of the two sides with Side 4 having so few line visible under normal lamps that one almost felt compelled to rate it as a VG+, and, I will say that if I were using Record Collector Standards, Side 4 of our Mono specimen would have made the VG+ grade.  There may have been consideration for Side 3 as well, and that's the grade I purchased this LP with approximately 6 years back.  

However, for my eBayers, all 4 sides of this Mono White Album are VISUALLY Goldmine/Kgoo rated as VG. 

As my "player copy" of The Beatles' epic work, I actually have heard this LP approximately 4 times during my ownership.  It had been some time, though, since I have enjoyed this LP, especially playing it loud on my testing turntable, which is a Denon DP-30 L II with a ADC PSX-30 cartridge.  The toner arm was "weighted" at 1.5 and tracking was at 3.   I do wish I had the posted list of differences that is appended to this ad as I was listening to the sonic punch of this work, for I heard so many different sounds which were unrelated to vinyl condition, and were never heard on the stereo version.  I know it is beginning to sound cliche, but the entire LP tracked without incident, meaning there were no skips, jumps, sticking points, loud pops or a sense that any sound was overwhelming to the music.  Yes, there is mild crackle, and I expected to hear this crackling, as I have heard the LP in its entirety a few times.  Yet, the crackling was not apparent during any of the louder, rocker-acid songs like "Helter Skelter", which is my all-time favorite recording by The Beatles.  Side 3 highlights my most favorite dimension of this group since nearly every song is an acid rock masterpiece which punches the heck out of any other rock song in history.  Hearing the chunky guitar on "Everybody's got Something to Hide..." and the aforementioned McCartney apocolyptic screamer with three different lead guitars in mono hyperwarp being rocketed through my Polk speakers, were no doubt, the foundation for Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, and perhaps the Smashing Pumpkins to cultivate their own variation of the music the Fab Four created.  The jam on Lennon's maddening "Yer Blues" forces one to hear the different strained voices of the band mates talking or rather, screaming unintelligibly in the background.  Side 4 possibly is the LPs most diversified side in Mono.  Even "Savoy Truffle", a song Harrison actually wrote about a dessert, permits an entire different listening experience for the listerner who only heard this electrified sneering tune in watered down stereo.  Of course, the lucky winner of this wonderous LP will be driven to play "Revolution 9" over and over again, for you hear all of the "Paul's Not Dead" chanting in full mono clarity as well as so many other "tidbits" of intricate complexity that it would be another 40 paragraphs before every nuance was discussed.

I never usually make a combination grade, but there is enough sound variance, yet no perceptable loss of musical quality from Side 1 through Side 4 to honestly express that the play-grade of the album is a VG to VG+.

All of the Apple labels possess a "still stunning after all these years" sheen and sharpness which dictate a VG++ rating.  Side 3 has the very rare "KJT" Tax Code embossed in the center.  One will need a bright lamp and a magnifier of some sort to see all of the letters which appear in a triangular pattern.  I did attempt to take a close-up of the code on the label but only seemed to capture a "T".  The first Apple LP's featured the "Sold in UK" message across the label and, as we expressed earlier, but it is worth repeating, early Apple LP's, like our's, can be found without "An EMI Recording" on the label. Such copies sell for slightly more than "normal" copies (F. Daniels, 2007).  This is not the usual UK Mono White Album, which is a scarce LP in its own right.     

We took 12 photos in total of the LP, the labels, and, of course, the jacket.  We've also made printed comments on the photos themselves, and, since we are pretty much into our third hour of analysis here, we may repeat ourselves, but so be it!  All first pressing White Album jackets are gatefold and the LPs enter and depart from the top; hence the name "Top Openers" which one will hear when discussing these covers.  Our jacket was printed and made by Garrod and Lofthouse International Ltd.   There are some laminate creases which are expected in 99% of these White Albums, since creases occur in laminate after 40 years of storage and use.  Extensive spine damage is perhaps the most important issue that should be higlighted.  The spine has a 4 and 1/4 inch complete worn out are which exposes the cardboard skeleton, for lack of a better word.  It is unknown to me how this occurred as  the damage is in the center, and not at either end.  Hence, no seam splitting on the intact and still sturdy spine.  More unbelivable concerns the fact that "The Beatles" title is still present and clearly legible on this particular spine.  

Inside the gatefol, the laminate is virtually 100% intact and very clean save for a couple of marks which are delineated in the photos.  It is still very white and the pictures of the mates are unscathed.  Flapbacks are 100% laminated and intact.  No evidence other than a slight discoloration in the center of the internal spine, reveals that there is such a deterioration of the external side.  I believe that someone with some level of expertise can repair this spine which would then make a VG+ jacket, in my opinion.  When attention is pointed toward the front panel, it is definitely a nice example of a well-cared for laminate!  The front has a touch of ring wear, as well as the bottom two corner areas having "thumb tack holes".  While not a major distraction, one wonders why these little pin holes are present.  Did the previous owner want to hang the jacket up on a wall?  Some people are very strange.  Not surprisingly, these same holes are on the back part of the jacket.  However, they are not present on the gate-fold, so I cannot figure this one out.  The bottom rim and the side rim are perfectly laminated and smooth to the touch!  Lastly, there is minor balding on the corners based on wear.  I believe that the jacket is a bit too clean to be a very good minus; hence, I am grading this fully laminated and intact fold-out jacket as VG.

Matrices/Mothers/Stampers

Side 1:  XEX 709-1     3/TT

Side 2:  XEX 710-1     4/GRL

Side 3:  XEX 711-1     2/RL

Side 4:  XEX 712-1     4/TO

The album is without the 4 photos, the poster, and the 2 Black Inner Sleeves.  The LPs are housed in Plain White Sleeves, one of which is a "Made in Great Britain with a Patent number.   This is how the album arrived to me and this is how it will be sold, if won!

        LOOK AT ALL OF OUR EARLY BRITISH BEATLES ROCK LISTINGS! 

All Sales are "AS IS" and Final Unless Otherwise Noted

Absolutely No PayPal or Bidpay Payments

**Folks, I wish I could take Paypal, but they have decided to keep us on "limited access" status due to a reason which we simply do not understand.  Believe me, we know the amount of bidders who love to use this method of payment and we wish we could accomodate, but until this vendor chooses to stop punishing us for reasons that we just cannot figure out, we will have to use the payment options listed.  Remember, Bidpay is no longer in service, so this is not an option that we can use, either.  Once a third party credit card processor is available to eBay sellers and buyers', we will certainly participate.**   

 US SHIPPING AND HANDLING IS $9.75 FOR USPS 2-3 DAY PRIORITY MAIL.  THIS LP WILL NOT BE SHIPPED VIA MEDIA MAIL

Canada:  $15.00 via International First Class Post and Payment must be in US Dollars

ROW:     $20.00 and Payment must be made in US dollars

WE CANNOT OFFER COMBINED SHIPPING WITH THIS LP

INSURANCE IS MANDATORY FOR US EBAY MEMBERS WITH THIS LP.  THE COST OF INSURANCE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL INVOICE AND WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE  FINAL PRICE OF THE ITEM.  COST OF INSURANCE IS BASED ON WHAT THE US POST OFFICE CHARGES.  PLEASE VISIT WWW.USPS.COM FOR CURRENT RATES!  

We have auctions for some of our awesome UK Beatles LPs running, as this auction is starting.  Please look at our Stereo Pressing of "Help", our Mono Pressing of "Rubber Soul", and our other Mono Pressing of "Beatles for Sale"!!  We have a UK Stereo 1st Pressing of Ringo Starr's "Sentimental Journey" on Dark Apple Labels up, and we will be auctioning LPs, like Elvis Presley, Billie Holiday and Thelonious Monk, all which will be bargains!  The Rolling Stones may even appear, who knows?  We also have three more Paul McCartney albums up now in a "lot" and we started those at $4.49...More to Come! 

Bid and Be Happy! All LPs are professionally packed and shipped. Look at our seller feedback for more information about how we pack all of our items!!! As all sales are final and sold "as is", please contact us at Kgooglog@aol.com or use the eBay communication method to ask ANY and ALL questions about any item you may have questions about. We will discuss returns ONLY if they are legitimate concerns e.g. wrong item received or a misrepresentation of an item's condition (not applicable to play-graded LPs or sealed LPs). We are communicative individuals and understand that mistakes happen. We will strive to make things work out!!  WE ENDEAVOR TO SHIP WITHIN 48-72 HOURS OF PAYMENT RECEIPT. 

We accept US Post Office Money Orders, International Money Orders, which can be CASHED INTO US $$$,  Bank Checks, Personal Checks (Must wait until clearing to ship), and Cashiers' Checks.

We reserve the right to cancel any bid or this auction if individuals with a questionable payment history manaGes to Snipe or otherwise, bid on this Item.