Sold For $13,315
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Exceedingly rare original 'first state' Yesterday and Today stereo album released by Capitol Records in 1966 (ST-2553). This extraordinary album features the notorious 'butcher' cover in which the Beatles are seen in butcher smocks draped with meat and plastic doll parts; 'first state' signifies that this is an original example which never had the 'trunk cover' pasteover applied. Matted and framed with a letter of authenticity from Beatles expert Perry Cox to an overall size of 30 x 21. The consignor notes that the record is included. Condition is VG+, with very light proper age mellowing to edges and back, some very light soiling and small surface abrasions to the back cover, some minuscule flaws to seams and edges, and the upper left corner tip of the front slick color matched in. The Cox letter reads, in part: “This is the number one collectible album of all time by any artist anywhere. Indeed, this is the ultimate record collectible period…This example was manufactured at the Scranton, PA factory as evidenced by the light plumb tinting to the 'Stereo' banner bar at the top of the front cover…Stereo examples of this album are much scarcer than their monaural counterparts."
Within days of releasing this miscellany of previous hits, Capitol recalled all copies in response to retailers' negative reactions to the original macabre cover image. The recalled copies were 'retrofitted' with a new pictorial flat, pasted over the first, featuring an innocuous image of the boys posed around a steamer trunk. First-state versions of the infamous Beatles butcher cover, especially of the rarer stereo variety, are among the most desirable and elusive of all Beatles collectibles.
