Description THE BEATLES:"Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" LP. UK PICTURE DISC 12" LIMITED EDITION PRESSING, 1979, STILL IN VERY RARE SHRINK WRAPPING. The rarity of UK shrink wrapping is well known, but for the Limited Edition covers with most of the front cover cut away to display the picture's discs exactly matching picture, that becomes even more rare.  A continuous sheet of thick plastic over the entire front and back, gave more than just extra strength to the weakest positions on the front.   Dirt, dust and the very atmosphere was prevented from affecting the cover and shrink wrapping also added the record shop appearance of being brand new.  Preserving a perfect cover without any fading, scuffing, creases or wear at all, no more than a few ripples on the front opening side.  Had the the album been sealed it would have caused horrific damage but by being finished before the   opening sides the there was a natural stress relief.  Even so, shrink wrapping had to have some degree of effect on that position due to the amount that was die-cut away from the front, considering this now 37 years of age, the 1979 'record shop' appearance is wonderful to see. PARLOPHONE:  PHO 7027. FRONT AND BACK LAMINATED SINGLE COVER WITH A DIE-CUT CENTRE ON THE FRONT, PRECISELY MATCHING THE   PICTURE DISC'S POSITION ONCE INSIDE IN THE CIRCULAR  'WINDOW' SETTING. THE SHRINK WRAPPED COVER IS UNUSED AND LIKE BRAND NEW, ABSOLUTELY SUPERB! Shrink wrapping was extremely rare in 1979 in Britain, as I said, fortunately they were never not completely sealed but machine crimped well before the opening sides. 100% in place as the day it left the factory 37 years ago, unsealed is a blessing in disguise because shrink wrapping.....shrinks   Acting as a pressure release and the ripples are common to the standard covers without  shrink wrapping.m You can't have one without the other, due to the enormous circular removal of most of the front to show as much of the picture disc inside as possible, with such perfect protection there is nothing else to detail.  The sentence I love to type for this vulnerable cover, can be typed in place of a grading, I never grade shrink wrapped covers unless there was any damage to it, in this case it  just looks like brand new and still how it was put on display in a British record shop in 1979. The circular edges on the die-cut front are perfect  without any of of the usual tears or pronounced laminate wrinkles. UNSPILT ORIGINAL 1979 EMI INNER PLASTIC SLEEVE, JUST A FEW GENTLE CREASES. From the excitement and sheer pleasure of offering the ultimate condition major Beatles Limited edition, I now have to deal with the opposite spectrum of beautiful items like this, the disgraceful  open sale of counterfeit copies.  I have campaigned against them and exposed how to identify fakes, urging buyers to boycott sellers handing them, as I write, on ebay there are no more fake "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" counterfeit picture discs being offered on the UK site now. ALL AUTHENTIC 1979 UK "Sgt. Pepper" LIMITED EDITION PICTURE DISCS WILL HAVE THIS SCRIBED: SIDE 1:   MAITRIX: PHO 7027 A   HAND SCRIBED IN THE RUN-OUT GROOVES: "To George & Mabel"     SIDE 2:   MAITRIX: PHO 7027 B    HAND SCRIBED IN THE RUN-OUT GROOVES: "Another winner from Ernie" Trying to take a picture of the scribed messages was extremely difficult due to the very nature of having colours in the run-out grooves, my only method of counteracting counterfeit items is in text and pictures of genuine items. I did my best and you should   be able to make out both side's inscription's.     THE RECORD IS IN MINT/UNPLAYED CONDITION. "It was 20 years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play." Since the Beatles sang that in 1967, it is difficult to believe that we have now over doubled the time period and could substitute,   "It was 45 years ago today... back in 1979 it was only 12 years since the release of what is still regarded as the greatest album   of all time, not just for sensational music, the packaging and artwork were just as innovative and lavish, instilling a mystique   that exists to this day.   The cover was the first to include the full lyrics on the back, the first gatefold to have lamination on the   inside as well as outside, the first album to have a theme 12"x12" insert and the first to have a custom designed inner sleeve. I will keep this going, the first LP to feature electronically created 'phasing, the first Beatles album to contain a banned track,   due to overt drug references,  the first album without bands between the tracks and cross-fading links to give continuous music   on both sides, the first album to have a tape loop inserted at the end of a side to repeatedly play in the run-out groove on every   revolution of the record. I will leave it there but I could add that list of ground breaking, revolutionary ideas that accompanied   the most incredible psychedelic music. One point that never gets raised is "Sgt. Pepper" was also the last of a kind, from here on the Beatles albums were released on   their Apple label until the band broke up in 1970. In the late 70's pictures discs were appearing and it was appropriate to press   something representative of the Beatles magnificent catalogue, while still in the same decade they disbanded in.  If any Beatles LP was to be given an honour of being pressed on a Limited Edition picture disc, one candidate stood out as a visual masterpiece. The other LP was of course "Abbey Road," iconic for the road crossing scene, but also their last LP made and it meant Parlophone and Apple had been catered for.   Every UK Beatles single was pressed as a picture disc during the 1980's decade but there were no UK official album picture disc additions ever made to the pair chosen in 1979, the curtain came down on them leaving only two superb items, the "Sgt. Pepper" & "Abbey Road" picture discs were definitive for the Beatles.   I would like to concentrate on positive aspects of exciting Limited Editions like that stunning pair but 1979 was a very long time ago.  Successive generations have been smitten by the same magical spell cast in the 60's, many will have only known an internet market place that brings together every country in the world. Wouldn't it be great if they only found the spirit of Beatles thriving in a global communication network where honesty, truth and brotherhood /sisterhood had become a reality, or even virtual reality. Yet with every listing of the two UK album titles, I feel morally obliged to give details to prevent the inexperienced collector's from being ripped off and conned on ebay.  Beatles singles, EP's & LP's are listed on ebay that are anything but original, you also   have fake /repro or copied Beatles items like;  autographs, hand written lyrics, birth certificates, driving licenses, gold discs,   factory samples, "Let It Be" Box set trays, 7" & 12 " record sleeves, "White Album" posters and all four prints. Even counterfeit black & gold label Stereo "Please Please Me" records in fake 'UK covers,' the same fake stereo labels are also on colour vinyl LP   "Please Please Me" LP's.  They have now gone too far and ebay must take action if enough complaints are given,  you name it   and fakes are being made as I write, test pressings, acetates and the host of memorabilia I see daily on ebay, the depth of the   deception is sickening.   Of course the USA same pair of Beatles picture disc albums are indeed official releases from the same time period! The whole cover format was re-designed for a picture disc, unlike the USA Capitol version, I should say I have both and I do not   mean to appear critical, just making comparisons because both were pressed and released in 1979.  The British version's cover   kept the original front and back artwork, it was not seen as surplus to requirements, on   the contrary it was fully integrated in with the 12" record to create a stunning near 3D effect. The picture disc was presented in a specially designed single cover, the   original gatefold cover's outside was left as designed by artist Peter Blake.   Not only that, it was given 60's quality ultra thick, deluxe glossy lamination, which by 1979, was now a really thin plasticised coating that came away if you looked too hard at it!   The "Abbey Road" picture disc cover had the same original cover die-cut front format but not the glossy lamination, a plasticised   coating could not and did not provide the needed protection, they wore poorly. I can rare sell them unless I can find an exception to that rule, the last was a very rare shrink wrapped cover.  The "Abbey Road" cover differed by having "Limited Edition" printed   on the front top left corner,plus a disclaimer stating the sound quality would not be the same as standard black vinyl.  The same applied to "Sgt.Pepper" but the artwork was deemed to be too sacrosanct to over print such trivialities onto, or at least that was   how I perceived it in 1979.     The record's actual picture was made to the precise scale of a "Sgt. Pepper" LP cover, given a die-cut centre to precisely match the record's own artwork when sitting inside.  Left like that inside it looks really beautiful, but when when removed, the picture disc becomes a major work of art in it's own right.  Please see my pictures, the artwork and still dazzlingly bright colours look absolutely stunning on both the record and the cover, the sheer quality of both beautiful item's visual appearance, reflects how it was designed and manufactured to EMI's highest standards, an ultimate picture disc for a visual impact.  The extremely vividly rich colours on the actual record, are matched by the  sharpness of the images themselves, the same "Sgt. Pepper's" front cover picture is on both sides, removing the need to decide which side to have displayed, or if being framed for the wall.       This is complete with the original 1979 EMI plastic inner sleeve made only for picture discs, (that sounds familiar!) they were   often discarded, damaged or lost.  This is unsplit and with only the usual very light record shape, related creases.      As an unplayed record I have decided against my usual sound grading, I know  that the records play superbly in stereo from my own copy, but obviously they were not intended to have the Hi-Fi qualities of standard  black vinyl.  As just explained about the "Abbey Road" picture disc having a disclaimer to that effect printed on the back cover.  I am only repeating that for anyone who   is newish to records, to really hear "Sgt. Pepper"in all it's glory original black vinyl is strongly recommended and if possible, make it 1967 vinyl!     For storage and protection I have now put the record in a plain inner sleeve and then into a white card sleeve, the die cut-out 'window' is usually badly creased and torn around the circular edges.  This cover has been kept in such perfect condition by not tearing the shrink wrapping off, that is why they are so rare today, the few with  shrink wrapping  were removed because we were uncustomed to buying records like that.   More than that, the actual storage was lovingly made and so the spine, all the edges and the corners are in the same ultimate as new condition.   I can assure anyone new to my records, packaging and shipping, this will receive my usual care to every detail, to arrive safely anywhere in the world.  For die-cut centre covers, after removing the   record and placing it in a new inner and card cover, I cut a cardboard square the precise dimensions to slide in and support all the corners, spine, edges, back & front. That also acts to prevent the shrink wrapping reacting to an empty cover, nothing is too much trouble to continue the preservation of such time defying, fantastic condition. {Roy}     R & M RECORDS. My lifetime's love of music and records began at a very young age, the arrival of the Beatles and the 1960's decade   in general had a very profound effect. It was only natural to bring all my first hand experience of collecting vinyl   into becoming a professional record seller.  Nearly thirty years ago we entered into the wonderful atmosphere of record fairs with the highest possible standards set. When the Internet became the world's new market place for   vinyl, in 2001 it was time to join ebay. Those standards were rigidly adhered to as they will always continue to be, the basics of honesty and integrity were very much part of the era the music I love originated in, so here is our friendly and very efficient service we are proud to provide; EVERY RECORD IS FULLY PLAYED AND COMES WITH A 'NO ARGUMENT' MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.   I USE GOOD OLD COMMON SENSE AS WELL AS A GLOBALLY ACCEPTED GRADING TERMINOLOGY   FROM THE U.K. "RECORD COLLECTOR PRICE GUIDE" BOOK. THERE IT CLEARLY STATES "Sound Quality" AFFECTS EVERY GRADING LEVEL AND THAT IS THE ONE AND ONLY POSSIBLE WAY TO ACCURATELY GRADE RECORDS. i.e. COMBINING A STRICT VISUAL INSPECTION WITH VERY CLOSELY LISTENING TO EVERY SECOND, UNLESS PERHAPS IN THE CASE OF GENUINELY UNPLAYED VINYL.  EVEN THEN WE STILL TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR A RECORD WHEN A CUSTOMER RECEIVES EITHER A SEALED OR AN UNPLAYED RECORD.     We take 100% responsibility after an item has been posted and offer our fullest support in the event of any problems. "There Are No Problems, Only Solutions" (John Lennon) MY DESCRIPTIONS WILL ALWAYS BE 100% HONEST AND TOTALLY ACCURATE ON ALL GRADINGS FROM 'V.G.' ( VERY GOOD), TO THE ULTIMATE 'MINT' CONDITION. ANY QUESTIONS ON OUR ITEMS ARE WELCOMED AND WILL BE PROMPTLY REPLIED TO.   WE ARE FULLY EXPERIENCED AT SHIPPING WORLDWIDE AND NO EFFORT IS SPARED TO PROTECT RECORDS AND COVERS ETC.  WE WELCOME BIDDERS FROM ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. ALL RECORDS ARE REMOVED FROM THEIR SLEEVES AND PLACED INTO NEW PROTECTIVE CARD SLEEVES AND THEN PLACED INTO NEW, HEAVYWEIGHT PLASTIC OUTER SLEEVES. THE GREATEST ATTENTION IS PAID TO MAKING THE PACKAGING EXTREMELY STRONG & SECURE. EVERY POSSIBLE EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE A SAFE DELIVERY AND WE ONLY USE THE VERY BEST QUALITY PACKAGING MATERIALS, THE COST OF THE ITEM IS IMMATERIAL, EVERY RECORD IS TREATED EXACTLY THE SAME. WE DO NOT TREAT POSTAGE AS A MONEY MAKING PROJECT, POSTAGE IS LESS THAN COST, USING ONLY PROFESSIONALLY PACKED BOXES WITH SUBSTANTIAL PROTECTIVE PACKAGING THAT DOES WEIGH A LITTLE EXTRA. UNDER PAYPAL & EBAY'S GUIDELINES, ALL RECORDS WILL BE SENT VIA A FULLY INSURED TRACKABLE SERVICE. We have kept all our charges at the same level for years now, but due to the Post Office's new price increases, regretfully we will have to increase the cost of LP's, however, singles will remain unchanged.  Ebay were aware of that happening and have   increased their minimum postal cost for LP's to £7.00, that figure has been enforced by the UK Post Office and it will become our UK First Class, Recorded Delivery cost for albums up to the value of £46.  A temporary reduction this week means we can now post LP's for £5, but who knows how long before the Post Office return to £7? For LP's valued above £46, the cost will be £9, we are unhappy about either increase but our high standard of packaging has meant in 13 years of ebay trading, there has not been one record damaged, we are determined to maintain that in the present and future. IN THE UK RECORDS UP TO THE VALUE OF £46 WILL BE SENT RECORDED DELIVERY, OVER £46 WILL BE SENT SPECIAL DELIVERY.   FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD ALL RECORDS WILL BE SENT VIA 'INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR.' POSTAGE  COST FOR LP's UK: UP TO VALUE OF £46, FIRST CLASS RECORDED DELIVERY  £5.00 UK: OVER VALUE OF £46, FULLY INSURED SPECIAL DELIVERY £9.00 EUROPE: FULLY INSURED VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR  £15.00 USA,JAPAN & REST OF THE WORLD FULLY INSURED VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £20.00 POSTAGE COST FOR EP's & 7" UK: UP TO THE VALUE OF £46 FIRST CLASS RECORDED DELIVERY £3.00 UK: OVER THE VALUE OF £46 FULLY INSURED SPECIAL DELIVERY £6.00 EUROPE: AIR MAIL VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £10.00 USA, JAPAN ETC. AIRMAIL VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £12.00 PAYMENT DETAILS. WE WILL SEND ALL WINNING BIDDERS AN INVOICE WITH THE FULL PAYMENT AND POSTAL DETAILS, AS NEAR TO THE AUCTION ENDING AS POSSIBLE. OUR AIM IS TO MAKE YOUR PURCHASE SMOOTH AND TROUBLE FREE. FOR UK BUYERS; WE ACCEPT:  PAYPAL, CHEQUES, POSTAL ORDERS & BANK WIRES. FOR OVERSEAS BUYERS; WE ACCEPT:  PAYPAL, INTERNATIONAL MONEY ORDERS IN POUNDS STERLING ONLY. OR BANK TO BANK WIRE TRANSFERS. WE WILL NOT MAKE FALSE STATEMENTS ON CUSTOMS DECLARATION FORMS AND WILL ALWAYS CONDUCT ALL OF OUR BUSINESS WITH TOTAL HONESTY. AS MUCH AS WE SYMPATHISE WITH THE WAY SOME COUNTRIES CHARGE SUCH HEAVY IMPORT DUTIES, WE WILL NOT LIE.   Pay me with PayPal. I don't charge my buyers extra!