The Smiths Stop Me un released U.K sleeve Morrissey

	£		180
	$		239

The Smiths.
"Stop me if You Think That You've Heard This One Before"
Gloss Paper  "Proof" Sleeve. U.K Issue RT 198
Sleeves were issued by condor litho printers whom were Rough Trades Official printers of these proof sleeves.
Printed on Glossy paper stock i.e. This is what you call the pre proof stage which is before the card proof stage. The paper measures 15" by 8" and shows the front and back of this iconic sleeve which features  actress Avril Angers in a film still from the 1966 film The Family Way.
Only 5 of these were printed. 

"Stop Me  If You Think You've Heard This One Before"         was going to be the second of three UK singles from the band's last studio album Strangeways, Here We Come, and was released after the band had announced their split. The record company had originally intended to release "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" as a single in the UK but felt this would be inappropriate following the Hungerford massacre that happened in the U.K.(because the lyrics used in the song contain a reference to "mass murder"). "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" was still released as a single in other countries with Murrey Head as the cover star, but its promotional video—which featured Morrissey plus a large number of Morrissey look alikes went on to be used for the uk release "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish"
So here we have the pulled U.K sleeves for stop me this image on this sleeve was used in the u.k for the release of  "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish"
The single    "Stop me if You Think That You've Heard This One Before"       was pulled for U.K release and these were the artwork sleeves designed for the now pulled single.
The condition of the sleeve is near mint as i have kept them in professional storage boxes in a cool,dark and damp free environment. Also an added bonus is all my items come from a smoke and pet free home. 
Up for auction is a proof sleeve for the above release for the sole purpose of seeing what the sleeve would look like aesthetically before they went to print. These mock sleeves were printed up for Joe Slee who was the art co-ordinator for Rough Trade Records. I came across these pieces of historic art around 1998 and was just bold over by the history of it all its not everyday you come across items like these and there so stunning to look at and hopefully my pictures will try to allay this to you.
I purchased these items from a person who i cannot name but they did work at Rough trade up and till they closed in the 1990's. These pieces of art pop history are genuine, not re-worked prints i can and will 100% guarantee this and anything else i will be selling.
Hopefully these items will appeal to you as much as they did to me over a decade ago and i think there's something here for every kind of enthusiast and every type of collector from the completest to the occasional collector but i must stress that these individual proofs are very rare and were not made in the 100's they were very limited mostly to only 6 or 7 of each and others that i own are less than that number as they were only made so that Caryn Gough,Joe slee and Morrissey could view them to see if they had the finished product they all liked or to view alternate versions of sleeve. These are very rare items indeed and it's unusual to find any bands proof sleeves never mind The Smiths proof sleeves. Here's a chance to be the envy of the Smiths collecting world.



"Stop me" is a song by The Smiths.  It was going to be the second of three UK singles from the band's last studio album Strangeways, Here We Come, and was released after the band had announced their split. The record company had originally intended to release "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" as a single in the UK but felt this would be inappropriate following the Hungerford massacre that happened in the U.K.(the lyrics contain a reference to "mass murder"). "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" was still released as a single in other countries, but its promotional video—which featured Morrissey plus a large number of Morrissey lookalikes—was used in the UK to promote "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish". The track features an outtake during the fade-out at the end, with Morrissey asking "Okay Stephen (Street, the Producer) shall we do that one again?" The cover of the single features actress Avril Angers in a film still from the 1966 film The Family Way.


The artwork proof sleeves will be posted flat and posters will be sent out in plastic tubes all carefully packaged to help prevent damage.
I will also combine postage costs to multiple winners where possible and i welcome bids from all over the world as i will ship items worldwide.
 All items and/or multiple items over the value of £40 will be sent recorded mail. Sorry no exceptions can be made as then we are all covered if things get damaged or lost GOD FORBID that would be tragic.
If i have missed something out that you need to know however large or small please email via ebay and i will get back to you as soon as i can with an answer.


*******As for the postage and packaging prices please wait for me to send you an invoice after the auctions end with an exact price, possibly the NEXT DAY.  I can assure you it will be at cost. Its only the insurance that will have to be factored in.You never know it could be less than quoted********
Thanks to all who read this and good luck to you all in collecting and life.