The Beatles I Want To Hold Your Hand UK Decca 1st Pressing 1963 Factory Sample

	£		48
	$		64

I am selling off some of my collection and over the next few months will be listing some very nice and very rare albums and singles from the 50's through to the 90's!! I will be listing The Beatles, Cream, Purple, Zeppelin, The Stones, Small Faces, Floyd, Creedence Clearwater, Beach Boys and many, many more so please add me to your watch list as I may have something you need to help complete you collection!!!!

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Artist or Band: The Beatles 

Album/Single Title: I Want To hold Your Hand 

Producer(s): George Martin

Cat Number: R 5084

Label/Format: Parlophone (Decca)

Country of Manufacture: UK

Original Year of Release: 29th November 1963

Rarity: Very Rare especially so being a DECCA Parlophone Label "Factory Sample Not For Sale" (Demo) with it;s Correct Sleeve. No more than 500 Singles/Albums were allocated these stickers on 1st Pressings and were handed out to Executives at EMI, DJ's and Major Record Outlets. These were NOT for sale to the general public. To find a Factory Sample sticker on an EMI Parlophone Label is Rare but to find one on a DECCA Label Very Rare.

Some copies at the original time were pressed by Decca Records to assist EMI who could Not keep up with the Demand for this Beatles release. EMI sub-contracted Decca to run off a small batch at their Pressing Plant. As you can see from my Pictures above there is a Distinct difference between the routine EMI pressing and the Much Rarer Decca Contract Pressing. The Decca version has a Push-Out centre with four Prongs and Wider spacings

PLEASE NOTE: There seems to be a fair amount of Controversy regarding Factory Sample stickers. All I really know about them is that in the early 60's they used a Tapered Edged sticker and these were Replaced in late 69 to a Squarish Edged type. Sadly during the Early years of my Collecting I actually bought a couple that were Incorrect. From that Moment on I decided to use only Reputable sellers to purchase any more.

Track list: 

Side 1: I Want To Hold Your Hand

Side 2: Day Tripper

Matrix Nos: Side 1: 7XCE-17559-1N    Side 2: 7XCE-17560-1N

Stamper Codes: Side 1: 22  Side 2: 10

Other Etchings: Both side have the KT tax coded Stamped into the run out grooves

Musicians: John Lennon: Vocal, rhythm guitar, handclaps. Paul McCartney: Vocal, bass guitar, handclaps. George Harrison: Lead guitar, handclaps. Ringo Starr: Drums, handclaps.

Brief Artist & Album/Single Info: "I Want To Hold Your Your Hand" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and recorded in October 1963, it was the first Beatles record to be made using four-track equipment.

With advance orders exceeding one million copies in the United Kingdom, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" would have gone straight to the top of the British record charts on its day of release November 1963 had it not been blocked by the group's first million seller "She Loves You", their previous UK single, which was having a resurgence of popularity following intense media coverage of the group. Taking two weeks to dislodge its predecessor, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" stayed at number 1 for five weeks and remained in the UK top 50 for 21 weeks in total.

It was also the group's first American number 1 hit, entering the Billboard Hot 100 chart on 18 January 1964 at number 45 and starting the British invasion of the American music industry. By 1 February it topped the Hot 100, and stayed there for seven weeks before being replaced by "She Loves You". It remained on the Billboard chart for 15 weeks. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" became the Beatles' best-selling single worldwide selling more than 12 million copies. In 2013, Billboard magazine named it the 44th biggest hit of "all-time" on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

CONDITION 

Labels: The Black & Silver Text DECCA Parlophone Labels have for the First time on the Outer perimeter the statement  "PARLOPHONE CO LTD" in UPPER CASE only.1st pressings of this release Also have the Push-Out centre with NO printing in it. They are Both in Very Nice condition with Only small signs of Spindle Wear and Spider Marks. There is no Writing, Label Lifts, Tears or Rips and the ALL important Factory Sample sticker is attached to Side 1:. I would grade these as Very Good ++!!!!

Vinyl: Plays throughout absolutely Fine  with no Pops, Clicks or Jumps. Though there is a Fair Bit of background noise during the Beginning of Both sides, though once the tracks have Started it's Hardly noticable The record still looks good and there are Several surface marks and thumbnails to be seen. However these in NO way Overly interfere with the sound quality. This Single plays up to it's visual grading with hardly anything of note to fault (apart from the background noise). It offers strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear – sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. A typical polished production from George Martin. Minimal surface sound and no tracking issues. This play-grade proved a real pleasure when playing this fast disappearing single. It will prove quite difficult to find a Significantly better copy and merits a Very strong recommendation. I would grade both sides as Very Good +!!!! 

Cover/Sleeve: The cover is the ORIGINAL sleeve that accompanied this single. It truly is in Remarkable condition. There is no Writing, Tears, Rips or Splits anywhere. This cover is incredibly difficult to find in Excellent or Better condition simply because of it's design and age. However I would be happy enough to grade it as Very Good ++!!!!

Cover/Sleeve Summary: Not seen often, this one is in Fine condition with only Reasonable clues of age, any blemishes mostly light. This classic cover should as (as described) please many collectors.

Single Played For Grading: I play/grade ALL records I offer before submitting, I also play them in their entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippets or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end. I use a Linn LP12 Sondek turntable with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge and Linn Lingo, with my Linn system and Forest Totem Speakers. This system is guaranteed  to pick up any distortion or interference within the sound.

Grading: In my opinion I REFUSE to believe that there is ANY record that can be truly graded as Mint; the BEST that could be offered is Mint- (minus)!!!! Especially so from the 50's, 60's, 70's or even up to the present date!!!! Even copies bought new today would have some form of imperfection on the Record or Cover!!!! Under that assumption I will NEVER use the word Mint in any of my descriptions and Mint-is the HIGHEST grade I would ever offer. So I will only from Excellent, Good or Poor with a -(minus), +(plus) or ++(plus, plus)!!!!

Bid With Confidence: I take great care and pride with what I sell and offer a FULL money back guarantee, in the unlikely event of the buyer not agreeing with my description. As long as the item is repacked and returned to me in the same condition it was sent.

Postage: All of my records will be professionally packaged. I use Dependapack Vinyl Record Mailers that have locking tab closures with strong locking tab record wraps. I also use corrugated record stiffeners and extra strong tape marked with Handle With Care. This is to ensure your Valuable Record/s are protected whilst in transit. I will add a nominal fee of .40p to my postage and packaging for this service. Any Record valued at £100 or more I would prefer to send by Special Delivery/International Signed For.

INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS PLEASE NOTE!!

I am NOT here to make a Profit on the Post. However MOST buyers (and rightly so) pay for Economy Postage which goes by Ship and not Plane. I have been instructed by the Post Office that Economy Postage can take UP to 10 weeks (and beyond) to reach some destinations. If you pay for Economy then that HAS to be the method I will ship your Item. Should at any time I (mistakenly) Overcharge I will Immediately Refund the payment. My Word is my Bond so please have Faith. I had to put this statement up because at the moment I seem to be paying more to send my Items than I'm actually charging. Unfortunately I have NO control over Postage rates.