Beatles - Abbey Road - Rare Czech *MONO* Press + 36-Page Exclusive Booklet

	£		359
	$		476

THE BEATLES - 'ABBEY ROAD'
Under the harsh communist regime's 'Normalization' policies in the early '70's in Czechoslovakia, western pop music was impossible to find. Only a handful of western albums to be released to be released on the state run 'Supraphon' record label, most of which were strictly controlled and only available via a 'Hi-Fi Club'.

Only two 'Western' Beatles LPs were ever granted release ('A Collection of Oldies' and 'Abbey Road') and these were only available via the 'Gramofonovy Klub' (Gramophone Club). Both were cut and pressed in Prague from UK tapes and were available in both mono and stereo. The covers and packaging were also locally produced.

This extremely rare MONO version of 'Abbey Road' is on the earliest blue & silver Supraphon label: 0 13 1016

Matrix numbers: A 5917/A B & A 5918/B A

Unlike the UK pressing, side 1 is clearly banded.

Vinyl weight: 174g

Housed in a fully laminated cover with the Supraphon logo & mono/stereo catalogue numbers printed on the rear panel

Initial copies such as this, came with a lavish 36-page colour & black & white 12" stapled booklet containing an introductory essay (in Czech), along with a number of interesting photos dating mostly from 1969/70, with the lyrics to each song printed in Czech and English.

CONDITION

Disc

Labels: NEAR MINT

A perfect pair with just two faint spindle trails around each centre hole.

Visual: MINT

Immaculate, factory-fresh playing surfaces which are 'as new' and totally unmarked both in strong daylight AND directly beneath my unforgiving halogen desk lamp. You will not find a better copy of this.

Sound Quality: NEAR MINT

This interesting sounding copy is pressed on quality vinyl and the cutting is excellent, if quite low in volume. The sound is full and clear and has strong and warm bass response - making it much different in texture to the familiar stereo mix. This copy has received just one or two careful plays at most on good equipment and the sound throughout is unworn and free from any groove/playwear distortion or any other significant deterioration to the sound quality. My single careful play-check at volume detected a few light clicks on 'Come Together' but apart from that, side 1 plays without any further significant distractionsf. Side 2 begins with a fine sounding 'Here Comes the Sun' and the only distractions to catch my ear during this side were are few light ticks on this track and on 'Because'. Apart from those minor distractions, it is a fun listen and would be difficult to upgrade.

Cover: EXCELLENT

A very respectable example of this fragile affair which retains unscratched high-gloss front laminates front & rear. The only significant trace of wear are some small dried glue spots possibly from manufacture on the front panel. However, these does not occur on the rear panel and there are no 'thumbnails' or any other creasing to be seen. There is a little wear to the corners and opening edges and a few small 'pushes' to the opening edges, but the spine is clearly and fully worded and both seams are smooth and unworn.

Booklet: EXCELLENT

This rare item has some light handling/age wear but is intact and 100% complete. The two central staples show no signs of rust & there are no loose/missing pages.

• This item is located in and will be shipped from AUSTRIA. Tracked airmail postage to UK addresses will be 12 GBP**

• We play-grade every record we sell on an EMT 950 transcription turntable fitted with a 'TSD 15' cartridge.

• Our grading is strict & conservative grading in strong daylight & directly beneath a halogen desk lamp to UK 'RECORD COLLECTOR' standards.

• All images in this listing were taken by ourselves (with a Canon G1X camera) and are of the actual item for sale.

• Each record is professionally & securely packaged in custom-made record mailing boxes with the disc removed from the cover.

• For more information on our grading and packaging policies, take a look at our About Me page.

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