Deep Purple shades Of . Withdrawn Dismembered Doll Sleeve. Very Rare

Deep Purple Shades of .
Withdrawn dismembered doll sleeve.
Very Rare UK issue vinyl LP Possibly up there with the original mono copy of this classic first album with regards to rarity value.
This sleeve was issued in Nov 1987 as a replacement for the rising strat Harvest Heritage re-issue of the album.
However, it was withdrawn almost immediately, to be replaced again by the rising start cover.
As I understand it and as was reported at the time, story goes that this version was issued by mistake following a mix up at the EMI art dept/printers?.
Originally the dismembered doll sleeve was meant to replace the old 1960 s group portrait head shot cover in 1977.
However, the dismembered doll sleeve proofs were rejected replaced by the first issue of the flying strat design and this artwork was just filed away.
When a re-vamp of the flying strat sleeve was required the old dismembered doll sleeve was retrieved from the stores at the printers and with a new bar code away you go.
Needless to say once EMI HQ discovered the wrong sleeve had been printed up they allegedly ordered all copies be withdrawn, with only a few escaping into the community , Shades not being a huge seller back in the 80 s.
So there we have it.
This copy has been stored in a plastic sleeve in a cupboard for the last nearly 34 years, having never been played other copies of Shades were in the collection if retro classic 60 s psyche progressive rock vibe required