JOHN LENNON/BEATLES 1968 UK 1st TWO VIRGINS

	£		480
	$		636

Mega Rare Original 1968 Stereo **1st Press** 'Two Virgins' by John Lennon & Yoko Ono. Complete with 1st Press A1//B1 Matrix Endings and 1st Press Dark Apple Labels w/ Residual Track Record Logo on Each Side. Original 1st Press Technink Fully Laminated Sleeve with 'Made in Merrie England' Rear Text and Original Apple Black Die-Cut Inner Sleeve. This is a Massively Rare Record. What's More it is in Absolutely Stunning Condition Throughout - The Best Example I Have Ever Seen!  One Of the real Holy Grail's of UK John Lennon/Beatles Related 1st Pressings!!!

Here is another gem from my own mostly Nr Mint personal collection (which I am selling off gradually to lessen the pain... ) I have been collecting very rare vinyl for a long time now. As a collector, I have been very critical about the condition of the records I have chosen to buy over the years, and only selected the most pristine 1st pressings from all over the UK.  My collection is therefore filled with not only the rarest UK 1st pressings, but also records of the highest grade quality condition, some of the best you will probably ever come across. Sadly, all will be finding new homes in the near future. As I said, I am very strict with my grading, so when I describe a record as Nr Mint - you can rest assured that it will be a true Nr Mint record (I never grade any records as Mint because Mint does not exist in the world of vintage vinyl - in my opinion, as soon as the record has been taken home from the store it is no longer Mint!!) I hope you enjoy my listings.

You are bidding on the earliest possible 1968 UK Stereo Pressing of the infamous 'Two Virgins' by John Lennon & Yoko Ono. Not to be confused with the much more common U.S. pressing, this is quite simply one of the rarest UK Beatles-related pressings you will ever see, bar none. On the rare occasions this record shows up, it sells for a lot of money, even in poor condition (see the following link for an example - http://www.popsike.com/php/detaildatar.php?itemnr=4710082197). That copy only graded as Ex/VG+... This one however is in truly superb condition. The playing surfaces are remarkable, with a pristine glass-like shine. Side one grades at least Excellent with just a small solitary wispy hairline, whilst Side 2 remains in Near Mint condition!!! Believe me, this record is impossible to find in this kind of condition. The rare fully laminated 1st issue sleeve grades as excellent-, whilst the original black Apple inner sleeve is very near mint. I have only ever seen two other copies of this record before and both were in very very poor, virtually un-playable condition, grading only fair at best. This one however is my own keepers copy. There are a number of features marking this out as the original UK 1st Stereo pressing. Firstly the **dark** Apple labels have the important 'Apple rim text'. Also the residual Track Record logo's are present on both sides. As this was originally pressed in 1968,  most came with came with a KT Tax code, this one omits these codes on both sides, again, very rare for this LP. We also have the 'Sold in the UK' label text  and the all important A1//B1 matrix ended, as mentioned above. Further this record is complete with its original fully laminated Technink sleeve complete with 1st press 'Merrie England...' blurb on the back, and the original Apple Records black windowed die-cut inner sleeve (this has been beautifully preserved and treated as an insert rather than an inner sleeve; the record has been housed in a replacement poly-lined inner since purchase; this is how it will come shippped you you. Please read below for a full deatiled description, but all you really need to know is that this record is near pristine with no major faults at all, and I seriously doubt you will find better. You will probably have to push the boat out a bit for this one as the bidding will be high, but whoever wins this record can rest assured that they will be the owners of what is probably John Lennon's rarest UK LP - good luck!

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Cat No:

613012

1st Press Matrix:

Side 1 - SAPCOR 2A - 1

Side 2 -  SAPCOR 2B - 1

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The Classic 1st press dark Apple Centre Labels are in stunning condition with NO Tears, NO Peeling, NO Scribbles and NO unwanted writing of any kind, they have just the faintest wispy traces of spindle lines around the spindle holes that can only be seen under very strong light. 

The disc itself is also in absolutely pristine condition!!! It has a beautiful 'factory pressed' deep glass-like sheen with NO scratches, NO Blemishes, NO Dullness/ Groovewear and NO Warping! It is simply stunning. There is just a very small wispy superficial non-sounding hairline at the beginning of side 1 (virtually invisible unless holding the record angled towards strong light) and just the occasional paper lines (almost invisible & simply caused by removing the record from its inner sleeve). Side one grades as Excellent whilst side two remains Near Mint!!! It plays ''Near Mint** Totally pristine with NO pops, NO sticking, NO jumps, NO crackle and virtually NO low level surface noise, even in the quietest passages (of which there are many on this record). I can guarantee you will no find a more pristine playing copy of this record!!! Please remember that our records are not over-graded at all. 

As mentioned above, the inner sleeve is Near Mint, and the outer laminated jacket easily grades as Excellent- at the very least. We all know how discoloured the predominantly white artwork becomes on this album, so to find one that is a brightly white as this is impossible, you will not be disappointed with this sleeve! The laminate is very well preserved with a glistening almost 'wet' appearance (i have tried to show this in the 4th picture below) with NO noticeable laminate creasing to the front side. The corners are mint sharp. The back side has just some some laminate lifting along the spine. Again it is super clean and has none of the usual discolouration you see on this sleeve!!! It must easily grade as Excellent- The inner sleeve is also in superb condition, and grades as very Near Mint with NO faults at all!

To all intents and purposes, this is the sound of Lennon shaking of the perceived shackles of The Beatles. This record was the result of an all-night session of musical experimentation in Lennon's home studio at Kenwood, John and Yoko's debut album is known not only for its avant garde content, but also for its cover. The couple used a time delay camera to take the nude photographs of themselves, the front cover displayed them frontally nude, while the rear cover features them from behind. (The photos were taken not at Kenwood, but at Ringo Starr'a  basement apartment at Montagu Square where Lennon and Ono stayed later that year.) The recording consists largely of tape loops, playing while Lennon tries out different instruments (piano, organ, drums) and sound affects (including reverb, delay and distortion), changes tapes and plays other recordings, and converses with Ono, who vocalises ad-lib in response to the sounds. Lennon's longtime friend Peter Shotton remembered later in his memoir that many of the loops were made by Lennon and himself, in the days before the recording. Lennon recorded directly to two-track stereo, but much of the source material was mono.

The cover provoked an outrage upon release, prompting U.S. distributors to sell the album in a plain brown wrapper. Copies of the album were impounded as obscenity in several jurisdictions (including 30,000 copies in New Jersey) Lennon wryly commented that the uproar seemed to have less to do with the explicit nudity, and more to do with the fact that the pair were rather unattractive (and the photo unflattering; Lennon described it later as a picture of "two slightly overweight ex-junkies"). The album was named so because immediately after recording was finished, John and Yoko consummated their relationship for the first time. Don't miss this opportunity to win a copy of this very rare piece of musical history. Good Luck!

Please check our Other Auctions as we have some more incredibly rare Beatles & related 1st pressings and rarities currently listed and coming up soon!!! This is an absolutely essential record for any high grade 1st press Beatles/Psych collection

Please refer to my 100% feedback rating for the many valuable records I have already sold for reassurance. I will be selling my entire UK 1st Press collection of 1960/70's Psych/Prog./Rock & Folk over the coming months, most of these records are in Mint- condition and many have 3 figure book prices. All will be listed here on eBay UK at a £2.99 start with No Reserve - bookmark my pages. Like the vast majority of my collection, this record has been archived upright in a thick outer PVC sleeve in a smoke & damp free environment for the best part of 20-30 years!

All my records have No reserve, a Low Start and No Surcharges!

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Hazey Jane Records... always combines P+P if you win more than 1 auction so you can save money on postage!  We always use a ridiculously low start price and never use nasty hidden reserves, so go ahead and bid, you just might grab this auction at a decent price... There are absolutely no surcharges or fees in our auctions, just pay what you bid plus the postage

Other Stuff ... Hazey Jane's grading adheres strictly to the UK Record Collector Grading System.  The record you are looking at in the images will always be the record you are being sold - we do not use deceptive stock photos.  Your record(s) will be shipped safely to you in the latest and strongest designed cruciform box-type mailers (1-4 records) or high quality thick sturdy purpose-designed record mailers (for single LP records and 7"s). Your package will also contain stiffening inserts to protect against bending or folding of the package during shipment. All records are professionally cleaned prior to being sent and are safely packaged outside their jackets to prevent seam any stress or 'knifing' during shipment.  Rest assured we will not send your record in a jiffy bag or Pizza Box (unfortunately it happens)!!!!

Payment ... Hazey Jane gives you many different ways to pay for our vinyl records. We accept virtually ALL forms of payment including Paypal (which we do not charge to use), Personal Cheques (GBP Sterling, Euro or USD), Money/Postal Orders (GBP Sterling, Euro, USD), Bank Transfer etc.  We also accept many other methods of payment, so if the payment method that suits you best is not listed below please email us and we'll do our best to arrange a method of payment that is most convenient to you.

A little note about Invoicing - Please read carefully. Please wait until we invoice you before paying via the checkout, we will do this as quickly as possible, usually within a few hours of you winning the auction, and no later that 24 hours after the auction ends.

UK -

If the payment option you prefer is not listed below please just ask, we do  accept other methods of payment - just ask and I will try my best to accept it!!!

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• If the payment option you prefer is not listed here please just ask, I will try my best to accept it!

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If the payment option you prefer is not listed below please just ask, we do  accept other methods of payment - just ask and I will try my best to accept it!!!

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• Many more payment options will be included in your invoice

• If the payment option you prefer is not listed here please just ask, I will try my best to accept it!

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Please note, if you cannot pay via Paypal or in GBP £ Sterling, then US Dollars & Euro is the only currency we can accept. If the payment option you prefer is not listed below please just ask, we do  accept other methods of payment - just ask and I will try my best to accept it!!!

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• Bank to Bank Transfer (Money Wire) - PLEASE include Ebay ID as reference! Please note this method incurs a reasonable charge to cover our own bank charges. (Account information will be sent upon request),

• Money Orders (Made GBP £ Sterling to cash in a UK Post Office (Issued in UK by Alliance & Leicester) - Common with our Japanese Buyers

• Many more payment options will be included in your invoice

• Remember; If the payment option you prefer is not listed here please just ask, we do  accept other methods of payment - just ask and I will try my best to accept it!!!

Postage ... Hazey Jane has absolutely NO hidden surcharges; the price you win is the price you pay, just add the relevant postage, it's as simple as that! We always combine postage so if you win more than 1 auction you save money on postage costs! We will only ship to non-UK countries via Airmail - we do not use surface mail, it is way too slow and thus increases the risk of records being damaged during transit.

A little note about insurance - Please read carefully... If the value of your record(s) is over £30, your invoice will include an insured option. Being the responsible adults you are, it is entirely up to you to take this up  - we strongly advise you to do this but will not hassle you about it. You either add the required insurance or you don't. If you do add the required insurance and your record is lost/damaged, you will get a refund. If you don't add the required insurance and your record is lost/damaged, you will not get a refund. Can we be any clearer? I think not.

• LP/Album Postage and Packing within the UK = £3.85.   

• LP/Album Postage and Packing to Europe via Air Mail = £4.95. 

• LP/Album Postage and Packing to Rest of the World (USA, Japan, Korea etc.) via Air Mail = £7.95. 

• Double LP/Album Postage and Packing within the UK = £4.85.   

• Double LP/Album Postage and Packing to Europe via Air Mail = £5.95. 

• Double LP/Album Postage and Packing to Rest of the World (USA, Japan, Korea etc.) via Air Mail = £10.95. 

• 7" Postage and Packing within the UK = £1.49.   

• 7" Postage and Packing to Europe via Air Mail = £2.85. 

• 7" Postage and Packing to Rest of the World (USA, Japan etc) via Air Mail = £4.95. 

Refunds & Feedback ... Please read this carefully ... We try to give you the best quality examples of rare records available. However, there will always be somebody out there whose expectations far exceed UK record collector grading standards.  If you are in anyway unsatisfied with your record or our grading of it please refer to the UK Record Collector Grading Chart very carefully BEFORE emailing us. We strictly adhere to it and will only offer refunds (minus the postage AND our eBay costs) if we are satisfied that we have fallen below UK record collector grading standards. This will very rarely, if ever, happen. We will not be impressed with buyers disputing our gradings without even bothering to check the UK record collector grading standards chart first - you have been warned ...

Buyers who continually Haggle, Whine and Moan to try to decrease the price they won their auctions for will be blocked from bidding on future auctions and can toodle off down to HMV or Virgin where they can harass the counter staff there.

We will always leave feedback upon receipt of feedback. In an ideal world we would like to leave feedback as soon as the record has been shipped but due to feedback blackmail in the past (i,e, ",,,I want a partial refund or I will leave negative feedback") we have opted to take this measure. Contact must be made within 3 days of winning the auction. If payment has not been received after 10 days a non paying bidder alert will be placed. If payment is then not received within 7 days Negative feedback WILL be left and the buyer WILL be given a strike by eBay. Thanks for reading.

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