The Beatles : A Hard Day's Night (3N/3N)

I am selling a number of Beatles' records, all in superb condition.  This very first mono pressing plays with fantastic clarity and the majority plays 'as new'.  The laminated cover is also in stunning condition, just look at the back!

First Mono 3N/3N pressing on Yellow/Black label.  'The Parlophone Co. Ltd' etc printed around the perimeter edge.  'Recording first published 1964' and 'Sold in U.K. subject to resale price conditions' on labels. First label variation also. The KT tax stamp is on the S2 label.

E.J. Day laminated cover with mid-sized 'mono' on the front

PMC 1230 // XEX 481 - 3N / XEX 482 - 3N // ART 4 / AAM 4

The audio on S1 is Mint-

The audio on S2 is Mint- (track 3 is Near Mint)

The cover is Ex+

The inner sleeve is Ex+

The labels are Ex+

 Visual grading

  This is one fantastic looking vinyl!  It still has a such a strong vibrant glossy sheen and it has only been lightly played down the years.  There is some spindle wear but not that much it has to be said.  There is no groove wear and the vinyl just looks so good!  S1 is almost 'as new' it is visually stunning!  I can only detect a couple of very minor hairlines.  S2 does have one very very small scratch type line, but this results in very little interference, and a couple of other very faint hairlines also.  This is still without doubt one of the most impressive first pressings I have seen in a long time.  A superb example.

Play grading

The lead in grooves on S1 are so clean and have no static at all, so rare!  The opening 'clang' of the guitar on 'A Hard Day's Night' plays so precisely and with none of the static distortion that you so often hear.  The sonic quality from then on is just superb!  This is a 'high end' version and qualifies as Mint with absolutely no interference at all.  You will not hear better.  The final notes on the guitar fade out have no distortion again which is another rarity.  A fantastic opening to this side.  'I Should Have Known Better' is of exactly the same standard and again there are no clicks, pops etc.  This is clarity of the highest calibre and I can't quite believe I am listening to a first press of 54 years!  'If I Fell' is the first 'quiet' track and it passes with flying colours.  There is a touch of minimal static on the vocal every now and then but it certainly isn't intrusive and once again there are no clicks or pops.  Thus far there has been complete silence in the dead wax between every track so this gives you a good indication of just how clean this record is.  'I'm Happy Just To Dance With You' plays without fault and is yet another track with Mint quality audio.  'And I Love Her' plays with remarkable clarity and is nigh on perfect.  The only minor imperfection is a barely audible hint of light static on the vocal.  It is only intermittent and is perhaps not even worthy of mention.  If I stand in the middle of the room I cannot hear it!  'Tell Me Why' and 'Can't Buy Me Love' end the side with no clicks or pops although there is some distortion. Again any audiophile will know this is commonplace towards the end of any vinyl.  They still play extremely well with no other 'background'.

Again there is no lead in static on S2 and 'Any Time At All' then plays with what can only be described as immaculate Mint quality audio.  No interference, no distortion just pure audio at its very best.  'I'll Cry Instead' I am glad to say plays to the same breathtaking standard.  This clarity and depth is just astounding and in all honesty this side is playing 'as new' thus far! The first thing I will say regarding 'Things We Said Today' is the depth and separation.  It plays with such a strong bassline and each note you can hear so perfectly, there is no muddiness to the sound whatsoever.  It plays very near to perfection although there are about 3/4 very faint clicks near the start.  However, I must add that they are so quiet and very much buried deep in the music.  This is still a superb version and the fade out plays 'as new' which is how the vast majority of this track sounds.  The remaining tracks play with sublime quality once more although there is just the obligatory minor distortion on the final two tracks.  However, an interesting point of note is that they play with far less distortion than you usually find on genuine first pressings.  This distortion is generally caused by the pressing process but when a vinyl has not been played that much the distortion will be considerably less.  And that is a case in point with both 'You Can't Do That' and 'I'll Be Back'.

In summary this first pressing plays with astonishing clarity and depth and has been so well preserved down the years.  You only have to look at the super clean cover to notice that!  Rarely have I heard a genuine first press play as clearly as this with hardly any interference.  The sonic quality and the definition of each note is just sublime and yes there is complete silence between each track.  How often does that occur on a 54 year old record!

The Cover

The E.J. Day laminated gatefold is in superb condition with only very minor shelf wear and I do mean minor!  The edges are super clean with no rubbing and the spine only has a small amount of creasing at either end.  The two right hand corners are again very clean with only minimal 'rub' on the bottom right one.  Remarkably the opening edge has no handling wear at all.  The laminate on the front cover is in lovely condition with no splits or lifting and there are only a small number of faint creases around the edges that you always see.  The back cover is in superb order!  It is still so 'white' and has no marking of any kind and the flipbacks have none of the staining that you so often find and they only have a couple of very minor creases.  This iconic cover has been extremely well preserved down the years.

Inner sleeve

The original poly-lined Emitex sleeve has no splits or tears just some creasing here and there.  A very clean example.

The labels

The yellow/black Parlophone labels are in great condition with no marking or writing.  There is very little spindle wear on the S1 label and only a little more on S2 although there are 3/4 spindle lines outside of the centre ring.  The KT tax stamp is on the S2 label.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

Recent Feedback

Very happy with this item, and special thanks for perfect packing!

Fabulous - like new. Fast dispatch, well packaged. 5* seller. Thank you

100% reliable seller. Fast shipping and great communication. A++++

Everything perfect as usual!! Item in pristine condition and quick delivery!

Top seller! Well packed record and great condition of item.

Fast, safe post, packing & comms. Ebay needs more sellers like this. Thank you.

Fantastic shipping, killer service, amazing seller, buy from him !!

Best seller! A++++ always great collectible items in perfect condition!

Postage & Packaging

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SHIPPING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE. WHEN ITEMS EXCEED A SALE PRICE OF £50.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT INTERNATIONALLY TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY PLUS INSURANCE AND THIS COSTS AN EXTRA £7.50 IN TOTAL.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE, MANY THANKS.

COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN MORE THAN ONE ITEM IS WON.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PLACED IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE THE COVER IN ORDER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST. EVERYTHING IS THEN PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

UK Postage Rates (First Class)

LPs/12" singles : £5.45 (recorded) up to 1kg then £0.95 per extra item 

7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

EUROPE 

LPs/12" singles : £8.95 then £1.75 per extra 

7" singles / CDs : £5.45 then £0.95 per extra 

REST OF WORLD  

LPs/12" singles : £12.45 then £2.50 per extra

7" singles / CDs : £6.95 then £1.45 per extra

I WILL LEAVE FEEDBACK ONCE IT HAS BEEN LEFT FOR ME. THIS IS SO I KNOW THE ITEM HAS BEEN RECEIVED SAFELY AND THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH IT. IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  I WILL ALSO PAY THE RETURN POSTAGE COST IF I AM AT FAULT - yes this can happen as I am only human!!

In the coming weeks and months I will be selling plenty of Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Genesis and Marillion items so please keep a look out!  Many thanks.  Please look at my other items on now!