Rockaway Records is proud to offer for sale a 1968 US 2LP White Album with "009" numbered gatefold cover (number nine...number nine...number nine...). According to noted Beatles experts and authors Frank Daniels and Bruce Spizer, "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". This copy is the third lowest.
This copy, "009", includes its original poster, set of four photos and a plain pale green protector sheet. It has a 1" seam split at top in the front pocket and a 2" split in the back pocket. Top right corner is slightly bent. Overall nice very good plus (VG+) condition.
Discs are Los Angeles pressings with track 6 on side one labels listed as "The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill" and are in (VG) condition. Also includes a letter of authenticity from renowned Beatles expert and author Perry Cox.
The consignor will consider offers on this individual title or on the set of all three that also includes #'s 007 and 008. Please call or email us to discuss. Serious offers only, please.