ALL labels include the Sold in the UK... text but OMIT the An EMI Recording wording.
Matrix numbers: XEX 709-1/XEX 710-1 XEX 711-1/XEX 712-1
Stamper codes: 5/OM, 7/OL 2/LM 7/LL
Vinyl weights: 152g 159g
Housed in a fully laminated Garrod Lofthouse printed, top-opening gatefold cover numbered: No.0067813
This album comes complete with 4 portrait photos, UK printed poster original matt-black inner-sleeves.
CONDITION
Disc
Labels: EXCELLENT
All are clean bright, each with a moderate collection of light spindle trails around each centre hole.
Visual: EXCELLENT
All playing surfaces are perfectly clean and retain all of their deep-gloss factory shine. All shine as new in strong daylight with just a couple of harmless stylus hairlines on side 1 and some of the usual faint inner-sleeve storage marks on side 4. It s very difficult to find a mono set these days in anything approaching this condition and this particular set would be a challenge to upgrade.
Sound Quality: EXCELLENT
As every Beatles collector knows, finding a decent sounding set of mono discs is a tall order. However this set is one of the rare ones that has been carefully played on quality equipment. The sound throuhgout both discs is sound clean unworn and free from any significant or major audible distractions. Disc 1 is normally the weakest link but here sounds great with no crackle or peakwear distortion and minimal low-level vinyl background between tracks. Apart from a few soft ticks on Julia we found little to fault with this disc. Disc 2 sounds just as impressive with again nothing more than some low-level vinyl background on side 4 in the quieter passages, together with a few ticks at the beginning of Revolution 9 . It s a long time since we have had the opportunity to list a decent mono White Album , but thankfully this copy bucks that trend and will not disappoint.
Cover: EXCELLENT
A worthy cover for this set from a non-smoking environment and retains an excellent whiteness all-round.
Both outer panels retain unworn high-gloss laminates free from any thumbnail wrinkles, creasing or even a spine bend.
The low number is clean bold and there is no damage to the raised front panel wording.
All top-opening edges are perfectly sharp and clean with no pushes , tears or feathering to any.
There is a shelfwear bruise to the lower right corner but all others are in find shape and are undamaged.
Both panels inside the gatefold are immaculate, again with no thumbnail s or any other traces of wear.
There is a tiny 2mm scuff to the leading edge of the front panel but the lower seam is unworn and all seams are unstressed.
The spine has a few small areas of laminate split but the wording in the upper part is clearly readable.
Some dirt has got into a split on the lower part and only the mono catalogue number is clear.
Overall, this is one of the best early covers we have seen in recent years and would be tough to upgrade.
Poster: NEAR MINT
Looks like it has never been unfolded, let alone been anywhere near a wall.
Photos: MINT
Inner-sleeves: EXCELLENT
Both are clean flat with just a faint disc impression and a few light handling wrinkles but no tears or seams splits to either.
