I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges. However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale. No shipping to Russia currently.

The Beatles : Please Please Me 1N/2N Mono Pressing

This early mono pressing on the iconic yellow Parlophone label plays with near perfect audio - there are no ticks, clicks, pops or static the clarity is absolutely stunning There is also much less distortion on the last track of each side which is another very impressive feature on this album. Based on all this and that there is only minimal spindle wear this is clearly a record that has only ever been lightly played, it really has been so well preserved down the years. Not surprisingly the vinyl is visually stunning and is easily one of the finest mono versions I have seen.

The iconic cover is in great condition with only very minimal shelf wear and is still very strong and robust because it has not been handled very much. The white back cover is also very clean. The original EMI inner is in excellent condition.

This is known as the 6th mono pressing or the 4th on the yellow/black Parlophone label and has The Gramophone Co. Ltd... around the perimeter edges. However, this particular label variation is not on the Beatles-collection site which may interest some collectors. This pressing was produced between 1965 and 1969 so is still over 50 years old.

I prefer not to use the term rare but there cannot be many early pressings as impressive as this one, it is a superb example

PMC 1202 // XEX 421 - 1N / XEX 422 - 2N // RHG 1 0 / GA 6

The audio on S1 is Mint - T7 Near Mint

The audio on S2 is Mint - T7 Near Mint

The cover is Ex

The labels are Near Mint

This vinyl is in superb condition and still has a very impressive glossy sheen with no marks or scratches. I can only find a small number of faint hairlines and there is no groove wear either. The run out grooves are very clean and the yellow Parlophone labels are near perfect with only very minimal spindle wear on S1 and just a little more on S2. There is no KT tax code on this copy. A stunning record

Play grading

I Saw Her Standing There plays with superb audio from the countdown intro through to the final note with no interference. The clarity and power of the audio is so impressive and already you can tell this vinyl has been so well looked after down the years. This track was recorded loud and yet there is no distortion on the top end and is a Mint- start to the album.

Complete silence in the dead wax gives you an idea of the clarity on offer here and Misery then plays with super clean audio and no background whatsoever not even on the fade out. The vocals are so high in the mix and yet they still retain their original sonic quality with no static distortion etc. Each note is so clean and precise and you can even hear the very faint clatter type sound right at the end as if an instrument is being put down This is Mint no need for a minus here.

Anna Go To Him plays to same standard with no intrusion. No ticks, clicks, pops or static. Just pure Mint audio from start to finish.

The harmonica intro on Chains is as new and it continues to play with sublime quality. The clarity and definition is so good and this is another Mint track with another immaculate fade out.

Boys plays with great power from the word go and the quality does not decrease the more you get into the track. There is no interference and still no distortion. A powerful Mint version.

Ask Me Why once again plays very clearly with no ticks, clicks, pops or static and only the first sign of some minor distortion on the vocal, it really is very minor It is totally non-intrusive and perhaps should not be downgraded as a result because it is to be expected as you approach the end of the side and also this is a mono record being played through a stereo set up. It still plays with exceptional quality and the clarity remains very impressive indeed. Mint-

The classic Please Please Me has a little more inner groove distortion but then I have never found a Mint version of this track on a mono record no matter how clean or unplayed Again this is down to the vagaries of vinyl and it still plays very clearly with a lot less distortion than usual and there is no other intrusion on the audio. I think Near Mint is fair.

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The iconic intro on Love Me Do plays perfectly and the opening vocal is just as as good. It continues in the same precise way with no interference and the harmonica has never played better The fade out has no background either. A stunning Mint version.

P.S. I Love You plays so clearly with no intrusion. Exceptional clarity once again and this is another Mint track.

Baby It s You could not play any better. From the first note to the last there is no interference and the original sonic quality is still very much there. Further proof if it was needed that this record has hardly been played. Mint

That high end standard is kept up during Do You Want To Know A Secret which plays beautifully with a clarity that is second to none. I just cannot believe how well this early press is playing A Taste Of Honey is just as impressive and both tracks grade as Mint from start to finish.

There s A Place plays with great power and clarity considering it is the penultimate track. There is barely any of the usual distortion and will grade as Mint- accordingly.

The intro on Twist And Shout is faultless and the high octane vocal then plays very clearly for the same reasons as mentioned above for the final track on S1. This is one of the strongest version of this classic that I have ever heard and has so much less of the distortion that you always find. The clarity really is so impressive and it brings this STUNNING album to a satisfying Near Mint conclusion.

In summary this early mono pressing plays with sensational quality with no interference at all, that is hard to believe I know but having played every track in full that is the honest truth There is not even a single tick let alone any clicks or pops the clarity is just on another level. Another measure of this clarity is on the dead wax between each track - they have no background either. This is without question a FINAL UPGRADE archive pressing and was purchased to own as a collectors item rather than to play. It obviously wasn t taken to any parties It is visually in superb condition and that shines through in the sonic quality. Ok some minor distortion on the two final tracks but find me a mono record that hasn t The clarity, depth and warmth on both sides is stunning with a super clean cover as detailed below.

The Cover Inner Sleeve

The Patents pending G L cover is in lovely condition with only very minimal shelf wear and has been so well preserved over the last 50 years. The edges and thin pinched spine are incredibly clean with no marking or rubbing and the corners also have barely any wear. The opening edge is nigh on perfect and I cannot see any obvious handling wear. The laminated front cover is unmarked and has just one crease top left and an even smaller one bottom left. The back cover is one of the cleanest I have seen with only a couple of very small faint marks and the flipbacks remain firmly attached to the cover with none of the staining that you so often see around the edges. There is perhaps just a little age related fading on the flipback next to the spine but it is very minimal. There is also a minor rough feel to the surface just above their names so perhaps it got slightly damp at some point but it isn t at all obvious in my opinion and is only across a small area. A superb example overall and there cannot be many around as good as this today.

The EMI inner is in excellent condition with no side splits or tears, no obvious marking and barely any creasing.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

PMC 1202 // XEX 421 - 1N / XEX 422 - 2N // RHG 1 0 / GA 6

I grade according to Record Collector guidelines.