These first press copies are distinguished by four main components. 1 the first issue sleeve. This is front laminated and the rear has a small peephole on the top right see my photo of this . This peephole allows the 2 appropriate original inner sleeve to show through - red for Mono and blue for Stereo. Component 3 ,and one you rarely see, is the original first issue lyric inner. To be a first issue inner it has to have the catalogue numbers for both Mono and stereo issues. All later issues only have the stereo number. Component 4 is the record which should have the unboxed Decca labels. These Unboxed labels were being phased out by Decca from 1968 - 1969 . The second issue from later in 1969, and all subsequent Decca presses had the boxed labels.
Side 1: ZAL-8839.P-1W 1 C
Side 2: ZAL-8840.P-2W 1 U
Sleeve VG : The original front laminated sleeve is in very good condition with a few thumb wrinkles near opening edge and some general age related storage wear. The edges and spine are fully intact. There is also some very light ringwear to the laminated front and unlaminated rear. The other first press copies I have seen have all had creases and lifting to the lamination.
Inner EX : The blue coded original lined inner sleeve is excellent with only a couple of minor creases and no tears or seam splits.
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Insert EX : The original first issue lyric inner, which has the catalogue numbers for Mono and stereo has only some minor age related discolouration. Otherwise it is excellent.
Record VG /EX : The record, with the 1W/2W matrices and the mother/stampers of 1U/1C Decca used the word BUCKINGHAM to code their stampers has the all-important Unboxed labels with only minor spindle marks as an issue. No writing or scrapes. Visually the record surface is VG . There is only one minor scuff to side 2, and a couple of non-feelable whispy hairline marks to each side, most likely from inner sleeve removal. Otherwise it has a lovely sheen. No major issues considering this is a 50 year old record.
