Disc: VG
Sleeve: VG
Matrix/Stampers:
Side A: XEX421-1N / Stamper 2RG
Side B: XEX422-1N / Stamper 21GL
Labels:
Original gold Parlophone mono labels with Dick James publishing credits. Labels remain especially presentable overall with strong gold print and only moderate spindle wear visible.
Sleeve Notes:
Original front laminated Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd sleeve with matte rear and exposed flipback flaps. This sleeve carries the later-position Angus McBean photo credit variation. Having been compared directly with a number of standard 1963 later-position Angus McBean sleeves, this example displays noticeably richer photographic reproduction, with darker tonal values, deeper shadow detail and stronger overall colour density. The difference is immediately apparent when viewed alongside many contemporary examples, which often exhibit a lighter and flatter photographic appearance. Rear sleeve shows foxing and age wear. One-inch tear visible to the lower opening edge area of the front sleeve. Spine lettering remains largely legible overall.
Description:
Original UK 1963 gold label mono pressing of Please Please Me by The Beatles released on Parlophone Records.
This copy carries the desirable Dick James publishing credits together with the early XEX421-1N / XEX422-1N matrix combination.
The vinyl remains in very good condition overall with glossy surfaces throughout, showing a number of marks and lines consistent with careful regular play over the years.
Labels remain especially attractive overall with strong gold print presentation still retained.
Playback remains particularly enjoyable throughout with strong, clear and punchy mono audio following careful play testing.
The original Garrod & Lofthouse sleeve remains in very good condition overall with authentic age-related wear visible including edge wear, laminate creasing, opening edge wear, foxing to the rear panel and a one-inch tear to the lower opening edge area.
The sleeve and record present as a naturally aged and highly coherent early production-period example overall.
The combination of components seen here is entirely consistent with the overlapping production and stock-utilisation practices commonly encountered during early EMI manufacture, where existing stocks of printed sleeves, labels and records were routinely used rather than discarded. As a result, transitional and mixed component combinations are well documented across many early 1960s EMI releases.
Viewed in this context, the pairing of this early gold label Dick James pressing with the later-position Angus McBean sleeve credit presents as an authentic and entirely plausible period combination.
A highly collectible early UK gold label Beatles pressing.
Carefully cleaned and fully play tested prior to listing.