Beatles Christmas Album--advice here?

Hi-
I placed a bid on this thing before realizing that the Christmas album is a title that often shows up in counterfeit form. I have emailed the seller asking for 100% assurance that I am bidding on a legit version and if not, to please retract my bid. Any thoughts?



http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3370186918&ssPageName=ADME:B:BN:US:1

 

Well your getting a bargain if it's a real one for $50.

The photos are so poor it's really hard to tell, but I don't think these puppies were ever shrink-wrapped.

You usually tell by the quality of the cover graphics and the label. Look for "Bell Sound" in the matrix area.

I’d say off hand it’s a boot.

 

I second that emotion.

 

I have three legit Xmas LPs. I opened one because all three were sealed. It's legit. They were shrink wrapped. It is true that there are many counterfeit copies out there, however.

mud-

 

BTW, I can't check my opened copied because it's packed for moving but, IIRC, originals had "Bell Sound" stamped in the dead wax area.

mud-

 

Thanks guys! Did any of the boots have a "bell sound" stamp? I checked out Bruce Spizer's Apple book last night. In his chapter on this album, he mentioned that bootleg versions could be identified by the larger than normal center hole and a picture on the cover. Apparently, the lower left hand photo of Ringo (in shadow) should have two clearly visible eyeballs. On counterfeit versions, you can only see one eyeball. I haven't heard from the seller yet but I am remaining hopeful. If I can determine that it is not legitimate, I really don't want to pay for it. How difficult is it to get eBay to work with me in a situation like this?

 

mike, the seller has "buyer protection" offered. Double check on that but I think that means there's a guarantee of some type.

mud-

 

Seems you'll be okay if it's not legit:

When am I covered under these programs?

Both programs offer protection when you pay for an item that you don't receive, or receive an item that is substantially different than what was described in the listing. In addition, the following eligibility rules apply:
You must purchase the item on eBay.
Only tangible items (physical goods that are shipped) are covered. Services and intangible items such as emailed recipes, e-books, etc. are not covered.
You may only file one claim for each purchase. PayPal Buyer Protection is limited to 2 claim awards per user, per calendar year. eBay's buyer protection program allows 3 claims every 6 months.
PayPal Buyer Protection only covers qualified items paid for with PayPal.
The programs do not cover items purchased using cash or wire transfer services such as Western Union or MoneyGram.


mud-

 

Ya know, the boots weren't half bad. But no, they didn't say Bell Sound. Anyone with half-decent sight can tell a counterfit by looking closely at the Apple label.....

 

It's a boot from how I'm looking at it....

 

Sckott, true. The printing on the boots is not very "crisp." The vinyl's not as heavy either.

mud-

 

Folks I have one too...it even has Bell Sound in the dead wax on both sides...

The Bruce Spizer Apple book has about six or seven tests (with illustrations) that a xmas LP MUST pass in order to be a legit. I wish I could say mine is a real one. It only flunked the last test...the size of the ring on the label has to be about 1 and a half inches.

 

Mine had Bell Sound, but you are right. The labels were a bit fuzzy, so I knew it was a boot...(It was a gift so I did not complain . )

 

Originals had a pasted on slick on the back cover (like the "Hey Jude" lp which came out at about the same time). The insides were made with brown cardboard like most of the old Capitol lps, where the boots I have seen were made with thin white cardboard, no slick. They were shrink wrapped.

It's so hard to tell from these pictures...

Note that the description says you are bidding on "a Lovely copy", which could get him off the hook if it's a boot...

On the other hand, the boots do sound OK, and now sell for around $50, so don't worry too much.

 

I'd say it's a boot as well. No second eyeball on G. Harrison in the lower left-hand corner. Didn't The Beatles albums also have a copyright symbol?

 

Where did you get this information?

 

No, the master tapes weren't used for this release for sure, although it does sound decent!

What I'd like to hear is the unedited tapes of the 1st one or two flexis with the silly and obnoxious stuff put back, but that will never happen.

The Xmas flexis AND the fan club Apple LP was put together in kindofa rush. Even now that record is considered to be a Beatles curio, not a 'serious catalog' LP.

 

For that price, you should consider this a nice placeholder for your collection. (that is, likely aboot.) The best assurance, of course, is knowing the history of a piece. And, re getting satisfaction from the seller, so many sellers these days don't know - or care - whether they are selling reproductions or original issues, that I'm not sure you can make a case.

BTW, I believe that I had heard, in the late 70's, that runoff imprints, such as BELL SOUND or MASTERED BY CAPITOL, could be "lifted" and used on counterfeits.

Whether or not this is the real mccoy, it does have a real value, and should / could be appreciated on its own terms.

My take would be to assume it's a boot and bid accordingly, but not ridiculously.

 

From my look at the picture it doesn't look like it has the paste on slick. I have a boot and it did come sealed, the print was crisp and Bell sound is in the dead wax but it was not a paste on cover. Very enjoyable never the less.

 

After contacting eBay and the seller (a second time), my bid has been cancelled. This is obviously a phony disc. Interesting how the seller chose to explain the bid history in the current listing.......

Cancelled
Explanation:user bid in my item and another identical, now wants to reneg - loser! Bidec-09-03 14:35:26 PST
Cancelled Dec-13-03 07:57:37 PST


I try to deal only with honest, reputable sellers. This guy is neither!
By the way, I also sent him a link to this thread so he could read how we feel about his "lovely copy". Who knows...maybe he'll join the forum and we can rehabilitate him!