Expert: Pattie - 8/9/2009

Question
No one seems to be able to answer this one.  Maybe, you can.  I have a 2nd state Yesterday & Today stereo version.  Ringo's upper torso is clearly visible as a bleed through.  I hear everyone talk about the number on the back to the left of the R.I.A.A "stamp".  Mine does not have a number!  I thought it might have to do with it being stereo but I found another on ebay today and they had a number listed that was on theirs.  I've had a magnifying glass to it several times, I see no number.  Why would the number fade when the rest of the jacket is in pretty good shape 40 years or so later?  I really hope you are able to give me an answer, it's sort of driving me bonkers, in a way...thank you so much for your time...

Answer
Hi Michael!

Yeah, there's no reason for that number to fade away. Seeing the dark 'V' of Ringo's shirt is the most obvious way to tell a butcher, but that number on the back should be there, whether it's stereo or mono. The number indicates which pressing plant created the back cover of that particular LP. HOWEVER...there is light at the end of this tunnel! If the copy of your LP was made in-house, by Capitol, there won't be a number on it, also, some of the copies that came out of Scranton had no number at all. ! I've never actually seen one without a number, but yes, they're out there. I would think that would make them even more valuable because there aren't that many out there to my knowledge. In today's market, I wouldn't even venture a guess at it's value. You'd have to have it done by a licensed appraiser. Hope this helps and thanks for the question!

Peace,
Pattie
8^)