BEATLES
1968 White Album Set Of Three 007 / 008 / 009
$250,000.00
Rockaway Records is proud to offer for sale a remarkable, one-of-a-kind set of 1968 US 2LP White Album sets with consecutively numbered gatefold covers. These three covers are numbered as "007", "008", and "009" (number nine...number nine...number nine...). According to noted Beatles experts and authors Frank Daniels and Bruce Spizer, these "three-digit" White Albums were made as a test run for the Bates-type number stamper at Bert-Co in Los Angeles, where the cover slicks and inserts were printed.
This is new information discovered since the publication of Spizer's books. These test run covers were numbered from "001" to "100," and only one of each number of these three-digit covers was printed. Conversely, multiple copies of "A0000001" numbered covers exist (printed by Queens Litho in New York), as extra covers numbered as “A0000001” were made by a Queens Litho employee to be given away as souvenirs. Some have estimated that maybe a dozen of those were printed.
After the initial three-digit test run, Capitol Records allocated different blocks of numbers to Queens Litho, Bert-Co in Los Angeles and Gugler Litho in Milwaukee for the printing of the cover slicks, which were then sent to fabricators for assembly of the covers and inserts, which were then sent to Capitol to add the two records for mass distribution. These covers had seven digits and some added a prefix as well.
In the late 1980s, Rockaway sold two still sealed White Albums that were numbered as "064" & "065". Before then, three-digit versions were not known to exist! Since then, of the one hundred three-digit covers that were made, only about ten have ever surfaced. The lowest of these is numbered "007".
What we have here is a truly unbelievable set that took a passionate midwest collector over 40 years to assemble. Sadly, that Beatles collector passed away earlier this year. Although he was a serious collector of Beatles and other artists as well, he had the world's finest collection of White Albums (many low numbers), which was his all-time favorite album.
This set of three we are offering not only includes the lowest number to ever surface in the US three-digit series ("007"), but it is mostly likely the lowest sequentially numbered set ever offered anywhere in the world!
Low numbered White Albums from the US and UK are extremely collectable, with numbers less than 100 selling for tens of thousands of dollars each. Numbers less than 10 are virtually unheard of, with an extreme example being Ringo Starr's personal UK mono pressing "No. 0000001", which sold in 2015 for almost $800,000.
Condition Report: Since these albums are unique and irreplaceable, the condition of the covers is almost immaterial. However, for full disclosure, here are the details.
- 007 - Top has a 5" seam split in the front pocket and a 8" split in the back pocket which was secured by tape at one time and the tape residue remains. The front top right corner has a small area of paper loss and there is some light staining on the inside gatefold at the bottom center. Overall (VG) condition.
- 008 - Top and bottom seams are almost completely split. There is a 2" seam split in the center inside gatefold and there is a plain inner sleeve inside the back pocket which seems to be glued in. The spine has about 2" of paper loss. front and back covers has some general wear. Overall (G) condition.
- 009 - Top has a 1" seam split in the front pocket and a 2" split in the back pocket. Top right corner is slightly bent. Nice!Overall (VG+) condition.
Most of the issues here could be professionally repaired. However, we prefer to leave these covers in their original "as found" state and let the buyer decide to restore them or not.
Discs are Los Angeles pressings with track 6 on side one labels listed as "The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill".
All three sets have the same matrix numbers - disc one - A34/B35. disc two - B37/A34.
007 discs each have a "19" sticker on the unsliced Apple label at the stem. Vinyl condition ranges from (G) to (VG).
Each set includes its original poster, set of four photos and a plain pale green protector sheet. In addition, each set includes a letter of authenticity from renowned Beatles expert and author Perry Cox.
There will likely never be another chance for someone to obtain three consecutively numbered White Albums with low numbers such as these, which date from the very first batch of numbers printed on the covers. Incredible!
Condition: See Condition Report
Item#: 37182
Label: Apple
ROCKAWAY IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON:
