ABBEY ROAD
APPLE SO-383
RELEASED 10/1/69

APPLE RECORDS LABEL VARIATION CODE NUMBERS AND PRESSING INFORMATION EXCERPTED FROM "THE BEATLES ON APPLE RECORDS" BY BRUCE SPIZER.

LP ALBUM COVERS & RECORDS ARE SOLD TOGETHER. GRADING LISTING IS FOR COVER/RECORD.

SHORT HISTORY OF THE 3 "ABBEY ROAD" COVER VARIATIONS

"ABBEY ROAD" (RELEASED OCTOBER 1, 1969) WAS THE FIRST BEATLES ALBUM IN AMERICA PACKAGED WITH PRINT-ON-BOARD COVERS. THESE COVERS INVOLVED THE PROCESS OF PRINTING THE COVER IMAGE DIRECTLY ONTO WHITE POSTER BOARD, WHICH IS THEN FOLDED AND GLUED TO FORM THE ALBUM JACKET. THE PREVIOUS BEATLES ALBUM COVERS WERE CONSTRUCTED BY AFFIXING SEPARATELY PRINTED SLICKS TO CARDBOARD JACKETS. THE NEW PRINT-ON-BOARD COVERS WERE A SUPERIOR LOOKING PACKAGE. ANOTHER ADVANTAGE WAS THAT THESE COVERS WERE MANUFACTURED BY ONE COMPANY, WHEREAS THE OLDER STYLE COVERS INVOLVED BOTH A PRINTER AND AN ALBUM FABRICATOR. CAPITOL DOCUMENTS INDICATE THAT THE ALBUM'S ARTWORK WAS SHIPPED ON SEPTEMBER 11,1969.

COVER #1: THE FIRST BATCH OF COVERS (SC1A, SPIZER) DO NOT LIST "HER MAJESTY" ON THE BACK COVER TRACK LISTING. THE FRONT COVER HAS MORE OF THE CROSSWALK AT THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE COVER, AND INCLUDES A PORTION OF A SQUARE ROAD SEWER POSITIONED ON THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE COVER, BENEATH RINGO AND JOHN'S FEET.

COVER #2: PRIOR TO THE ALBUM GOING ON SALE, CAPITOL HAD THE FILM FOR THE BACK COVER REVISED TO LIST THE SONG "HER MAJESTY" AFTER "THE END". BY THE TIME THE NEW ARTWORK WAS SENT OUT ON SEPTEMBER 24, MANY COVERS HAD BEEN PRINTED. THUS, THE SECOND BATCH OF JACKET COVERS LISTING "HER MAJESTY" (SC1B, SPIZER) ARE LESS COMMON AND RARER THAN THE COVERS NOT LISTING THE SONG. THE FRONT COVER IMAGE HAS THE EXACT CHARACTERISTICS OF COVER # 1, WHICH SHOWS MORE OF THE CROSSWALK AT THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE COVER, AND INCLUDES A PORTION OF A SQUARE ROAD SEWER POSITIONED ON THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE COVER BENEATH RINGO AND JOHN'S FEET.

COVER #3: AS STATED ABOVE, "ABBEY ROAD" COVERS ENDED UP BEING THE ONLY BEATLES ALBUM TO HAVE PRINT-ON-BOARD COVERS UPON ITS INITIAL RELEASE. ALTHOUGH CAPITOL WAS PLEASED WITH THE PRINT-ON-BOARD JACKETS, FUTURE DECISIONS REGARDING THE MASTERING, PACKAGING AND ADVERTISING OF APPLE RELEASES WERE HANDLED DIRECTLY BY APPLE BY VERY LOYAL INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD A LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH QUEENS LITHO AND SELECTED THEM AGAIN TO BE THE PRIMARY PRINTER OF COVER SLICKS FOR FUTURE BEATLES ALBUMS STARTING WITH "HEY JUDE".

WHEN CAPITOL'S PRESSING PLANTS RAN OUT OF THE PRINT-ON-BOARD COVERS, APPLE HIRED QUEENS LITHO TO PRINT SLICKS FOR ADDITIONAL "ABBEY ROAD" JACKETS. THESE THIRD (AND FINAL) BATCH COVERS (SC2A, SPIZER) USED SLICKS PRINTED BY QUEENS LITHO AND BERT-CO AND WERE MANUFACTURED BY IMPERIAL AND/OR MODERN ALBUM. THE BACK COVER SLICKS WERE MADE FROM THE ALBUM'S ORIGINAL ARTWORK AND ACCORDINGLY DO NOT LIST "HER MAJESTY" ON THE BACK COVER.

THE FRONT COVER IMAGE WAS ENLARGED TO ALLOW FOR THE FRONT SLICK TO BE WRAPPED AROUND TO THE BACK COVER. THUS, THE PICTURE ON THE FRONT SHOWS LESS OF THE TREES AND CROSSWALK (THE SQUARE SEWER IN THE ROAD IS MISSING) AND HAS A LARGER IMAGE OF THE BEATLES.

THIRD AND FINAL PRINTED ISSUED COVER WITH
PAPER SLICKS ADHERED TO THE BACK OF STANDARD CONSTRUCTED FLATS. BACK COVER IS WITHOUT "HER MAJESTY".

HERE IS A MOST OUTSTANDING AND IMMACULATE FACTORY SEALED EXAMPLE OF AN "ABBEY ROAD" LP ALBUM. THIS EXAMPLE IS THE THIRD AND FINAL OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUED COVERS THAT HAS THE PAPER SLICKS ADHERED ONTO THE BACK OF THE STANDARD CONSTRUCTED FLATS (AS OPPOSED TO THE FIRST TWO ISSUES THAT HAVE THE PRINT-ON-BOARD COVERS).

THIS IMPECCABLE AND IMMACULATE COVER HAS AN EXTREMELY TIGHT SEAL CORNER TO CORNER, WITH FOUR FACTORY SHRINK "BREATH HOLES" EVIDENT (2 ON FRONT, 2 ON BACK). THERE ARE NO RIPS, TEARS AND ALL FOUR CORNERS ARE SHARP. AS  DEPICTED IN OUR IMAGES, THE COLORS REMAIN VIBRANT, CRISP AND BOLD ON BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK, WITH A PERFECT, LEGIBLE SPINE. A TRUE WINNER INDEED - AND TRULY A WORLD-CLASS EXAMPLE.

CONDITION: STILL SEALED
ITEM#: LP540
PRICE: $1,500

PREVIOUSLY SOLD "ABBEY ROAD" LP ALBUMS

INSANELY-RARE VERY FIRST PRESSING WITH
THIN-COMPRESSED FONT LABELS AND CAPITOL "SUBSIDIARY" PERIMETER PRINT

WITHOUT "HER MAJESTY" ON BOTH COVER AND LABELS

THIS IS THE LEAST COMMON FIRST ISSUE LABEL VARIATION WITHOUT "HER MAJESTY" WHICH HAS THE AMATEURISH-LOOKING LABELS WITH A THIN COMPRESSED FONT.  THIS LABEL, WHICH HAS A LIGHT GREEN APPLE, WERE PRINTED IN-HOUSE BY CAPITOL'S SCRANTON FACTORY. THIS PARTICULAR COPY WAS PRESSED BY CAPITOL'S WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA FACTORY,

THE FIRST ISSUE COVER REMAINS IN THE ORIGINAL FACTORY SHRINKWRAP, AND IS THE FIRST BATCH OF COVERS (WRAP-AROUND PRINT-ON POSTERBOARD STYLE) THAT DO NOT LIST "HER MAJESTY" ON THE BACK COVER TRACK LISTING.

IT HAS BEEN RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THESE LABELS WITH THE CAPITOL RECORDS "SUBSIDIARY" PRINT ALONG THE PERIMETER WERE MISTAKENLY PRODUCED AND LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED WERE RELEASED BEFORE PRODUCTION OF THESE LABELS WAS HALTED. WHEN THEY DO SURFACE, THE CONDITION HAS BEEN POOR COMPARED TO THIS BEAUTY. THESE HAVE QUICKLY BECOME ONE OF THE RAREST APPLE RECORDS TO COLLECT. THIS IS THE FIRST EXAMPLE OF THIS RARITY THAT WE HAVE EVER OFFERED.

CONDITION: NM / M- (UNPLAYED)
ITEM#: LP531
PRICE: ------

RARE VERY FIRST PRESSING WITH THIN-COMPRESSED FONT LABELS AND "MFD. BY APPLE RECORDS, INC" PERIMETER PRINT.

RARER COLUMBIA RECORDS PRESSING

WITHOUT "HER MAJESTY" ON BOTH COVER AND LABELS

THS IS THE LEAST COMMON FIRST ISSUE LABEL VARIATION  WITHOUT "HER MAJESTY" WHICH HAS THE AMATEURISH-LOOKING LABELS WITH A THIN COMPRESSED FONT FOR THE ALBUM TITLE AND GROUP'S NAME. THIS VARIATION HAS THE "MFD. BY APPLE RECORDS, INC" PERIMETER PRINT ON THE SIDE 2 LABEL, AND IS CONSIDERED THE COMPANION PIECE TO THE ULTRA-RARE VARIATION THAT HAS THE CAPITOL "SUBSIDIARY" PERIMETER PRINT ON SIDE 2. THIS EXAMPLE IS A COLUMBIA RECORDS PRESSING, IDENTIFIED BY THE 2 11/16" DIAMETER RING LOCATED 1 11/16" FROM THE SPINDLE HOLE.

THE FIRST ISSUE COVER REMAINS IN THE ORIGINAL FACTORY SHRINKWRAP, AND IS THE FIRST BATCH OF COVERS (WRAP-AROUND PRINT-ON POSTERBOARD STYLE) THAT DO NOT LIST "HER MAJESTY" ON THE BACK COVER TRACK LISTING.

CONDITION: NM / M- (UNPLAYED)
ITEM#: LP532
PRICE: ------

RARE VERY FIRST PRESSING WITH THIN-COMPRESSED FONT LABELS AND "MFD. BY APPLE RECORDS, INC" PERIMETER PRINT.

RARER DECCA RECORDS PRESSING

WITHOUT "HER MAJESTY" ON BOTH COVER AND LABELS

PRINT ON POSTERBOARD CONSTRUCTION (SC1A, SPIZER). DOES NOT LIST "HER MAJESTY" ON THE BACK COVER TRACK LISTING. FRONT COVER HAS MORE OF THE CROSSWALK AT THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE COVER, AND INCLUDES A PORTION OF A SQUARE ROAD SEWER POSITIONED ON THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE COVER, BENEATH RINGO AND JOHN'S FEET.

THIS IS THE LEAST COMMON FIRST ISSUE LABEL VARIATION ( WITHOUT "HER MAJESTY") WHICH HAS THE AMATEURISH-LOOKING LABELS WITH A THIN COMPRESSED FONT FOR THE ALBUM TITLE AND GROUP'S NAME. THIS LABEL, WHICH HAS A LIGHT GREEN APPLE, WERE PRINTED IN-HOUSE BY CAPITOL'S SCRANTON FACTORY, AND HAVE ALSO BEEN FOUND ON NON-CAPITOL PRESSINGS. (APP383.SR1S(AS), SPIZER), LIKE THIS EXAMPLE WHICH IS A DECCA PRESSING.

THE COVER REMAINS IN THE ORIGINAL SHRINKWRAP AND IS VIRTUALLY FLAWLESS, GRADING A MINT MINUS. THE RECORD IS STELLAR MINT MINUS AND IS AN UNPLAYED GEM.

CONDITION: M- / M- (UNPLAYED)
ITEM#: LP351
PRICE: ------

IN THE SHRINKWRAP.

PRINT ON POSTERBOARD CONSTRUCTION (SC1A, SPIZER). DOES NOT LIST HER MAJESTY ON THE BACK COVER TRACK LISTING. FRONT COVER HAS MORE OF THE CROSSWALK AT THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE COVER, AND INCLUDES A PORTION OF A SQUARE ROAD SEWER POSITIONED ON THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE COVER, BENEATH RINGO AND JOHN'S FEET.

RARER LABEL: WITH CAPITOL LOGO "SUBSIDIARY" PRINT IN PERIMETER,
WITH "HER MAJESTY" ON THE LABEL (APP383.SR2L(i)(C), SPIZER), WEST COAST PRESSING ON LIGHT GREEN APPLE LABEL.

THIS COVER NO. 1 IS A STUNNING NEAR MINT AND REMAINS IN THE ORIGINAL SHRINKWRAP, REALLY A BEAUTY. TWO TINY IMPERCEPTIBLE STAPLE HOLES IS IN UPPER LEFT CORNER WHERE PRICE STICKER ONCE WAS.. THE RECORD IS A SHIMMERING NEAR MINT MINUS, WITH JUST A FEW  HAIRLINE INNER SLEEVE "WHISPS" PREVENTING IT FROM NEAR MINT STATUS. BEAUTIFUL GROOVES AND HIGH SHEEN.

CONDITION: NM / NM-
ITEM#: LP294
PRICE: ------

SECOND PRINTED "PRINT-ON- POSTERBOARD" ISSUED COVER WITH "HER MAJESTY" ADDED ON BOTH COVER AND LABELS

WE PROUDLY OFFER AN ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS FACTORY SEALED EXAMPLE OF THE SECOND INITIAL ISSUED PRESSING OF THE "ABBEY ROAD" LP ALUM (APPLE SO 383) THIS IS THE SECOND BATCH OF COVERS (WRAP-AROUND PRINT-ON POSTERBOARD STYLE) THAT DOES LIST "HER MAJESTY" ON THE BACK COVER TRACK LISTING AND ON THE RECORD LABELS.

THE CONDITION ON THIS FACTORY SEALED COPY IS STUNNING WITH AN EXTREMELY TIGHT SEAL ALL AROUND, ESPECIALLY AT THE MOUTH OPENING. THERE ARE FOUR FACTORY SHRINKWRAP "BREATH HOLES" EVIDENT (2 ON THE FRONT COVER AND 2 ON THE BACK).  THE COLORS AND GRAPHICS ARE BRILLIANTLY CRISP AND BOLD. THE FOUR CORNERS ARE SHARP. THE SPINE IS SOLID THROUGHOUT AS IS THE PRINT. SIMPLY STATED, THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE WINNER.

CONDITION: STILL SEALED
ITEM#: LP537
PRICE: $1,975

(ACTUAL IMAGES)

RARER LABEL: WITH CAPITOL LOGO "SUBSIDIARY" PRINT IN PERIMETER,
WITH "HER MAJESTY" ON THE LABEL (APP383.SR2L(i)(C), SPIZER).

IN THE SHRINKWRAP.

PRINT ON POSTERBOARD CONSTRUCTION. "HER MAJESTY" IS PRINTED ON THE BACK COVER TRACK LISTING. THESE SECOND BATCH OF JACKET COVERS LISTING "HER MAJESTY" (SC1B, SPIZER), ARE LESS COMMON AND RARER THAN THE COVERS NOT LISTING THE SONG.

JUST A MOST STUNNING SET. THE SHRINK WRAPPED COVER IS A GORGEOUS NEAR MINT WITH JUST A TOUCH OF WEAR IN UPPER RIGHT CORNER WHERE SHRINK ENDS. THE RECORD IS AN UNPLAYED JEWEL.

CONDITION: NM / M (UNPLAYED)
ITEM#: LP289
PRICE: -----

COVER IS A GORGEOUS NEAR MINT CORNER TO CORNER. RECORD HAS A BRILLIANT NEAR MINT VINYL APPEARING TO HAVE BEEN PLAYED ONCE THEN STORED AWAY. THE LABELS ARE A EQUALLY STUNNING NEAR MINT.

CONDITION: NM / NM
ITEM#: LP298
PRICE: ------