LP BEATLES Please Me GOLD & BLACK 1st Oz Mono -500 only

	A$		273
	$		181

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This record have been cleaned and played through completely both sides as well as visually inspected under a bright halogen desk lamp to provide an accurate grading.

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1963 Australian issue
BLACK & GOLD Parlophone Label # PMCO 1202
Matrix No’s :- # XEX 421-1N and XEX 422-1N

CONDITION

LABELS : Both labels are clean / spindle marks aplenty near hole / no writing or tears etc / a touch of fading near the album title otherwise pretty clear & distinct gold print

SLEEVE : They really mucked it up when it came to issuing this first Australian made sleeve for this album. It is hard to fathom why they released this cheaply constructed, flimsy style cover which is hugely susceptible to ring wear, seam splits and generally age wear much quicker than you would normally expect ….to find a near perfect sleeve it seems is ‘mission impossible’ and never-mind the vinyl.
The sleeve here regrettably is no exception to the rule however I’ve seen much worse. The front is clean with indications of ring-wear. Apart from a previous owners name in small fading blue pen on the top rear flap there is no writing. The spine, corners and edges shows signs of age-wear and there is a 2.5cm and 3cm split at the top and lower entrances respectively which, alas, is rather typical for this issue.
As indicated certainly not the greatest though certainly worth grabbing. I suppose the question arises ‘when and if a better cover will come along …and at what price?’

DESCRIPTION

1st pressings are denoted with the inset print around the rim of the label reading "Made in Australia for the Parlophone Co., Ltd. Sydney, N.S.W." ~ see 2nd photo above.
Most sources indicate that as few as 500 of these LP's may have been made before the slight change (December, 1963) when EMI (Australia) altered the print to indicate that indeed they were manufacturing their own LP's. These copies have print on the label indicating that they were "Made in Australia by E.M.I. (Aust.) Limited" and is in a single full circle around the rim differing from the inset print shown in the photo above….these 2nd pressings are known in collectors circles as the Black and Gold Mono ‘B’ label and first appeared on the shelves here in January 1964.

I realise that sometimes it is all a bit hard to take in but the bottom line here is that this LP on offer is categorically and without any doubt whatsoever one of the initial 500 Australian pressings.

The history of the album sleeve is, from a collectors view, quite interesting. The cover was made in England at first (precise numbers are not known but it is felt perhaps 200 to 300)…before being made in Australia ; the cover here is the 1st Australian issue. :
Following the relative failure (at the time) of the Beatles first 3 singles EMI (Australia) was not convinced this band was going anywhere (??!!). Consequently when the album was due out they opted for importing the UK sleeve for the first few hundred copies which were issued with the locally made Black and Gold Mono-A 1st pressing labels….

These are truly collectable items that naturally enough very rarely surface….even then you need to be certain it is ‘ the Real McCoy ’ and not a combination of the UK sleeve / 1st Oz Black & Gold label neatly re-packaged by a ‘smartie’. So whilst this album on offer here is technically the ‘second cover release’ ( ..and good luck finding one with the first UK original cover.. ) it is also essentially the first wholly made Australian issue and being one of about 500 still rates near the top of the all-time rarest / most collectable LPs in this country. Regrettably these locally made sleeves, in blue writing instead of the UK black, and with the unique MONO PMCO 1202 stamp in the top right hand corner of the back copy (all other early issues had both stereo & mono stamps) were never the best quality and it is near impossible to find one without splits, ring-wear, marks and such ….criminal really.
The Black and Gold label lasted until March, 1964 when the album was eventually re-pressed in the more familiar Black and Yellow label. The initial Stereo pressing appeared here the following month.

A timeless classic and serious collector’s item in any playable condition.

SONGS
I Saw Her Standing There
Misery
Anna (Go to Him)
Chains
Boys
Ask Me Why
Please Please Me
Love Me Do
P.S. I Love You
Baby It's You
Do You Want To Know A Secret
A Taste of Honey
There's a Place
Twist and Shout.

A NOTE ON PACKING & POSTAGE
* Australia Post does not provide a Tracking No. system as some other countries have in place and therefore any item sent unregistered (within Australia) or uninsured (outside Australia) cannot be traced.
* All care is taken in packing your item safely & professionally however I cannot accept responsibility for any item delayed, lost or damaged in the post.

SHIPPING COSTS
* Registered Post (for within Australia) / Insured Post (for Overseas mail) is optional however recommended.

* Packaging and postage within AUSTRALIA for this item is :
Regular - AUD$7.50 ( as a rule of thumb 3x LP’s is $13.00 )
Registered - AUD$10.50

* Air-Mail outside of Australia for this item is :
AUD$18.00 to USA / Canada
AUD$22.00 to UK / Europe/ Sth America
AUD$16.00 to JAPAN / Asia / New Zealand.

PAYMENT
* AUSTRALIA
Bank Deposit / Direct Transfer (preferred option) or Paypal

* OVERSEAS
Paypal

Auction winners are free to use E-Bay check-out and pay immediately. Otherwise please allow 24 hours from the time auction closes for me to e-mail confirmation advice and payment information.

P.S.
* All vinyl listed on auction has been thoughtfully graded and you can bid with confidence. Albums are sent with the record outside of the cover and placed in an outer plastic sleeve (to prevent ring-wear during transit) before safely packed with strong cardboard.
* Multiple items won will be combined to save on postage
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