UK release from 1968 with Apple labels.
This is a very early issue. It is a mono, numbered, top-loading copy without the text An E.M.I. Recording on any of the 4 labels sometimes referred to as a misprint copy . It is complete with black inner sleeves, poster, 4 colour prints and a separator.
I have fully play-tested both discs using a cartridge Ortofon VMS 20E Mk II tracking at 1.5 grammes.
Visually, the discs are in excellent condition. All 4 sides play through with no sticks or skips and only very occasional, minimal crackle, with two exceptions there is a solitary skip of one revolution in Side 1 Track 1 and a solitary skip of one revolution in Side 1 Track 2. This latter did not skip when I tested using a different cartridge Ortofon VMS 10E Mark II tracking at 2.0 grammes the skip in Track 1 persisted .
The sleeve and all the inners and inserts are in very good condition. The black inner sleeves are a little crumpled but the rest, including the top-loading edge and the spine, are excellent.
Were it not for the skips mentioned above I think this record could justifiably be graded as near mint.
Catalogue no.: PMC 7067/7068
Matrix Side 1: XEX 709-1 1 RR
Matrix Side 2: XEX 710-1 26 RM but see below
Matrix Side 3: XEX 711-1 2 T
Matrix Side 4: XEX 712-1 4 PR
The stampers details for Side 2 are a bit mystifying. The 2 and the 6 which may be G are vertically-aligned in the 9 o/c position relative to the matrix proper . Usually, you would expect to find only the mother stamper number here. It is unlikely the mother stamper is 26 as this is much too high and out of kilter with those on the other sides.
