CONTINUOUSLY strives IN ACQUIRING THE VERY BEST CONDITION
OF ORIGINAL BEATLES RECORDS. YET, It is important to understand
thAT IN ADDITION TO the monetary value of RARE
BEATLES RECORDS, THERE IS THE EMOTIONAL VALUE AS WELL.

WHAT IS FOREMOST, IS OUR VERY STRICT STANDARD AND BELIEF
THAT THE CONDITION OF A PIECE HAS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE PARAMOUNT.
WHEN OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT THEMSELVES, WE ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT WE
REFUSE MORE ORIGINAL BEATLES RECORDED MATERIAL THAN THAT IN WHICH
WE BUY. WE HOPE THIS FACT PRESENTS ITSELF THROUGHOUT
THE INVENTORY AND ITS PRESENTATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

 WE are proud to present

WHEN ACQUIRED, theSE "CREAM OF THE CROP" ORIGINAL RELEASES
DISPLAYED here were in HIGHLY respectable, VERY decent condition -
YET NOT QUITE REACHING THE ULTIMATE LEVEL OF OUR STRICT CRITERIA
THAT WOULD MERIT INCLUSION TO THE PREMIUM standard
OF OUR INVENTORY. the aesthetic value of these
items HAVE BEEN elevated respectively, and
to paraphrase chef emeril lagasse,
"kicked up to our  notch" !

the rare ACQUISTIONS that are available IN THIS SECTION WERE
PROFESSIONALLY RESTORED BY ONE OF THE PREEMINENT
RESTORATION, PRESERVATION and conservation EXPERTS IN
THE UNITED STATES. HIS credentials include projects REPRESENTED
for PRESTIGIOUS auction houses such as christies,
sotheby's, bonhams & heritage galleries.


LP ALBUMS
prior to restoration, MINOR FACTORS OF AGING AND WEAR WERE
EVIDENT on the lp album covers. the condition of the VINYL AND
LABELS OF THE records that accompanied the covers WERE
near mint or better. therefore, the restoration work that was
METICULOUSLY performed were on the lp covers only.
PROMOTIONAL "DJ" 45 RPM SINGLES
the vinyl condition of PROMOTIONAL "DJ" 45RPM singles wERE
near mint or better AND the only restoration work
THAT WAS METICULOUSLY performed wERE on the labels.
45 RPM PICTURE SLEEVES
IN THE CATEGORY OF RARE 45RPM PICTURE SLEEVES,
AGAIN, VERY MINOR SIGNS OF WEAR AND AGING WERE EVIDENT,
AND PRECISE RESTORATION WAS PERFORMED.

for each item offered, a detailed description
of the RESTORATION PERFORMED IS GIVEN
FOR COMPLETE ACCURACY, and THE PRICES REFLECT THE
"PROFESSIONALLY RESTORED" STATE OF THE PIECE.

these RARE, MUCH SOUGHT AFTER COLLECTIBLES have
extraordinary social and artistic merit.
THEY DESERVED TO BE "BROUGHT BACK" TO
A RESPECTABLE NEAR MINT LEVEL -
ENHANCED AND PRESERVED - FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

 

 

THE BEATLES & FRANK IFIELD
ON STAGE

Vee-Jay, VJLP1085,  Released 9/18/64,
PORTRAIT COVER (MONO)
ITEM # RES982
COVER FOLLOWING RESTORATION : NEAR MINT (M-)
ORIGINAL CONDITION OF RECORD : NEAR MINT
PRICE : $8,500

 

The RAREST of the Vee-Jay Beatles albums is the second
and "very limited" pressing of 
THE BEATLES & FRANK IFIELD ON STAGE.
Because of poor sales on the original release JOLLY WHAT ! ,
the solution was to repackage the album in such a way
as to focus on the album's strengths and downplay its weaknesses.
The reissue cover features the striking portrait of the Beatles
previously used on the Love Me Do picture sleeve.

(ACTUAL PHOTOS OF THIS ITEM) :

The Beatles songs are prominently listed on the cover.
There are both Mono and STEREO versions of this cover,
which is known among Collectors as the "PORTRAIT COVER".
On the back cover, both use the same liner notes slick from
the first issue of JOLLY WHAT !

Prior to restoration, the Cover displayed balding tip wear
on all four corners, and 2" corner seam splits near the mouth
opening on top and bottom. The Back Cover had minimal dirt and
sporadic AGE spotting. There was no evidence of ringwear
or other distractions on the Front cover.
The Spine and it's lettering was not affected by age at all.
Upon completion of repair, the entire Cover was cleaned,
removing all signs of dirt or yellowing,
then refinished with a low gloss AS THE FINAL STEP.
The result following Restoration of this Mono "Portrait" is a
magnificent Near Mint (truly bordering on Mint Minus).

Accompanied by its Stunning Near Mint,
COLORBAND & OVAL LABEL RECORD,
(VJ1085.MR1, Spizer) :

Unfortunately, no documents regarding the "Portrait Cover"
have surfaced. What is known is that this album is EXTREMELY RARE.
In all likelihood, only a few thousand Mono and a few hundred
STEREO copies were sold. Isn't it ironic that an album Vee-Jay
could not give away in 1964 has become
so sought after by Collectors attracted to its beautiful cover
and colorful history ? Due to the albums poor sales performance,
even the Mono version of the Portrait cover is difficult to find
and commands a high price among Collectors.

Both the Mono & Stereo version of this album is one of the
RAREST and MOST COLLECTABLE of all Beatles records !
This Mono Portrait Cover in this beautifully Restored state
is one of the cornerstone records needed to complete any
serious collection of the Beatles American records.

 

 

The Beatles vs.The Four Seasons
VeeJay DXS-30, STEREO
, Released 10/1/64
ITEM # RES983
COVER FOLLOWING RESTORATION : NEAR MINT
ORIGINAL CONDITION OF RECORDS : MINT AS NEW (UNPLAYED)
PRICE : $6,000

S O L D !!

WITH ONLY 725 COPIES OF THE STEREO PRESSING
BEING DISTRIBUTED TO THE PUBLIC IN 1964, IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT
THE STEREO VERSION OF THIS ALBUM IS QUITE A RARITY !

THIS CLASSIC VEE-JAY DOUBLE ALBUM SET INCLUDES
THE BEATLES "INTRODUCING THE BEATLES" (VJLP1062) RECORD, ALONG WITH
THE FOUR SEASON'S "GOLDEN HITS OF THE FOUR SEASONS" (VJLP1065) ALBUM. 

VEE-JAY'S CONCEPT WAS TO REPACKAGE THESE "ALREADY RELEASED" ALBUMS
TO LURE THE FANS INTO "RE-BUYING" THEM WITH THIS CLEVER "CONTEST" THEME.
THE RESULT WAS MANY UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS WHO REALIZED ONLY LATER
THEY ALREADY HAD THIS MATERIAL. BUT COLLECTOR'S TODAY COULDN'T BE
HAPPIER AS THEY NOW HAVE ONE OF THE MOST COLORFUL AND ELABORATE
BEATLES HISTORIC ALBUM COLLECTIBLES OF ALL TIME -
AND COMPLETE WITH THE ORIGINAL POSTER THAT ACCOMPANIED THIS SET !

(ACTUAL PHOTOS OF THIS ITEM) :

Prior to restoration, the Cover displayed balding tip wear
on all four corners, and A CRINKLE IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER
WHERE AN AREA OF MINOR FLAKING AND PEELING WAS EVIDENT.
THIS COVER IS TYPICALLY NOTORIOUS FOR THIS TYPE OF AGING.

There was no evidence of ringwear
or other distractions on the Front or back cover.
Upon completion of repair, the entire Cover was cleaned,
removing all signs of dirt or yellowing,
then refinished with a low gloss AS THE FINAL STEP.
The result following Restoration is a GORGEOUS Near Mint

WITH GRAPHICS & COLORS THAT REMAIN AS
VIBRANT AS THE DAY RELEASED !

THE GATEFOLD IS MOST STUNNING TO SAY THE LEAST,
WITH IT'S ONLY MINOR FLAW BEING A FACTORY RELATED ONE,
WHERE THERE IS A NATURAL ONE INCH WRINKLE
AT THE VERY TOP OF THE CENTERFOLD THAT WAS KEPT AS IS
WITHOUT RESTORATION :



 Original POSTER that accompanied this release
IS included and GRADED AS a GORGEOUS MINT MINUS :


 
Both Records are MINT MINUS AND UNPLAYED, LIKE NEW !
Labels are equally gorgeous WITH AN UNTOUCHED HIGH-GLOSS !
Beatles Label: (VJ1062(2).SR2C
,Spizer), Colorband & Brackets :

Four Seasons (VJLP 1065) Label variation is identical,
also PRESSED BY ALLENTOWN RECORD COMPANY (ARC) :

FOLLOWING PROFESSIONAL RESTORATION, IT IS A MOST SPLENDID
EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE VEE-JAY STEREO ISSUE ...

... AND WOULD MAKE A MOST PROUD ADDITION
TO THE SERIOUS BEATLES RECORD COLLECTION !!

 


Please Please Me
b/w
Ask Me Why

VEE-JAY 498
RELEASED 2/20/63,
DISC JOCKEY ADVANCE COPY
"BEATTLES" WITH "DOUBLE TT"
ITEM # RES122
LABEL FOLLOWING RESTORATION : NEAR MINT
ORIGINAL CONDITION OF VINYL : NEAR MINT
PRICE : $3,750

 

The first record released in the United States to bear
the Beatles name was VJ 498. The single contained the group's
second British 45RPM single, "PLEASE PLEASE ME" backed with
"ASK ME WHY". Vee-Jay wasn't quite sure what it had with The Beatles,
and interestingly enough, Vee-Jay did not even know how to spell
the group's name. All initial issues of the PROMO & STORE STOCK
record added an extra "T" to the name.

(ACTUAL SCANS OF THIS ITEM) :

 THIS PROMOTIONAL RELEASE OF THIS INFAMOUS RECORD IS
SIMILAR TO THE STOCK COPY, AS IT WAS ALSO MANUFACTURED BY
ARP. ITS TYPESETTING IS IDENTICAL TO THE STOCK COPY
DOWN TO THE MISSPELLING OF THE GROUP'S NAME IN THIN PRINT.
ITS TRAIL-OFF AREA MARKINGS ARE ALSO IDENTICAL TO THOSE OF
THE STOCK COPY, MEANING THAT THE ARP STOCK AND 
THIS PROMO RECORD WERE PRESSED FROM THE SAME STAMPERS.
THE MOTHER & MASTER FOR THIS RELEASE WERE PREPARED BY
AUDIO MATRIX, AND THE WORDS "AUDIO MATRIX" IS STAMPED AND
CLEARLY VISIBLE IN THE TRAIL OFF AREA.

Prior to restoration, THE LABELS ON BOTH SIDES
DISPLAYED LIGHT WEAR
AND SLIGHT YELLOWING
THAT was cleaned, removing all signs of dirt or AGING.

IN ADDITION, THE "b" SIDE LABEL
HAD TWO HANDWRITTEN "X" MARKINGS IN BALLPOINT PEN,
ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE SONG TITLE
- WHICH WERE REMOVED.
THESE "x" MARKINGS DESIGNATED THE SIDE THAT WAS TO
BE PLACED DOWN ON THE TURNTABLE.
FINALLY, THE LABELS,
INCLUDING THE GRAY CIRCULAR EDGE BAND, WERE refinished
with a low gloss TEXTURED SHEEN. THE FINISHED PRODUCT IS
AMAZING, WITH
"SNOW WHITE" RESULTS.

THE VINYL ON THIS SUPER RARE "DISC JOCKEY" 498 PROMO 45
REMAINS IN STUNNING CONDITION, AND GRADES A VIBRANT NEAR MINT.
THE GROOVES RETAIN THEIR SHEEN AND HIGH GLOSS THROUGHOUT.
IT'S EVIDENT THAT THIS RADIO STATION COPY WAS WELL CARED FOR
OVER THE YEARS AND HAS NOT SEEN MUCH PLAY TIME AT ALL !

ACCOMPANIED by ITS OWN Original
Vee-Jay 1963 Generic Sleeve :

 

 

FROM ME TO YOU
b/w

Ask Me Why

VEE-JAY 522
RELEASED 5/6/63,
DISC JOCKEY ADVANCE COPY
ITEM # RES126
LABEL FOLLOWING RESTORATION : NEAR MINT
ORIGINAL CONDITION OF VINYL : NEAR MINT
PRICE : $2,000



THE PROMOTIONAL 45 PRESSING FOR VEE-JAY'S SECOND BEATLES' RELEASE
IS SIMILAR IN APPEARANCE TO THE PROMO COPY OF THE FIRST SINGLE, VJ498.
ITS TRAIL-OFF MARKINGS ARE IDENTICAL TO THOSE OF THE 522 STOCK COPY.
THE ARP LOGO SIGNIFIES THAT THE PROMO RECORD LIKE ITS PREDECESSOR
WAS MANUFACTURED IN OWOSSO, MICHIGAN.

(ACTUAL SCANS OF THIS ITEM) :

 

Prior to restoration, THE LABELS ON BOTH SIDES
DISPLAYED LIGHT WEAR
AND SLIGHT YELLOWING
THAT was cleaned, removing all signs of dirt or AGING.

IN ADDITION, THE "A" SIDE LABEL
HAD ONE HANDWRITTEN "X" MARKING IN BALLPOINT PEN,
WHICH WAS REMOVED.
THIS "x" MARKING DESIGNATED THE SIDE THAT WAS TO
BE TURNED FACE UP AND PLAYED ON THE TURNTABLE.

FINALLY, THE LABELS, INCLUDING THE GRAY CIRCULAR EDGE BAND,
WERE refinished with a low gloss TEXTURED SHEEN.
THE FINISHED PRODUCT IS AMAZING, WITH
"SNOW WHITE" RESULTS.

THE VINYL CONDITION OF THIS PROMO COPY IS STUNNING,
WITH A CLEAN, GLOSSY VINYL, AND APPEARS TO HAVE PLAYED ONCE,
PERHAPS TWICE - AND GRADED AT
STRONG NEAR MINT (BORDERING ON MINT MINUS).
THE VINYL SHEEN ON THIS IS ASTONISHING !

Accompanied by its own Original
Vee-Jay 1963 Generic Sleeve :

 


 

A Hard Day's Night
b/w
I Should Have Known Better

GEORGE MARTIN and HIS ORCHESTRA
United Artists UA-750, 1964
PICTURE SLEEVE
ITEM # RES120
CONDITION FOLLOWING RESTORATION : NEAR MINT
PRICE : $2,250



Although United Artists was not allowed to issue Beatles
songs from the soundtrack LP in the singles format,
the label did release the four George Martin
instrumentals on 45 SINGLES.

The second George Martin single (UA750) is one of the
RARER Beatles sleeves available, for it's low numbers are
due to United Artist's very Limited Press run, and very few of
the 45s were issued in this very attractive picture sleeve.

The front of the sleeve features a black and white picture
of the group with a vibrant blue backround rectangular box
at the top. The text, graphics and layout of the
striking blue upper portion of the sleeve is similar
to that of the Red upper sleeve of the
first United Artists Beatles single, UA745.

(ACTUAL SCANS OF THIS ITEM) :

Prior to Restoration, the Sleeve displayed faint ringwear on both
sides that ran slightly into the blue portion on the Front side.
Originally, there were no signs of splits or tears anywhere.
Following Restoration, all signs of ringwear and aging has been removed,
and a final texture SHEEN refinishing was performed for completion.

Following Restoration, the Sleeve radiates from corner to corner.
The Photo sections on both sides are crystal clear. The Blue area
on the front side gleams, and the white border
on the back side is crisp and clean.

All that remains from its original state is the slightest
and most faint evidence
of record impression (not ring-wear),
which is hardly detectable and close to invisible,
yet mentioned here to be completely concise.

 

 

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