Welcome to our Vee-Jay Introducing The Beatles page. It seems almost every copy of this album that turns up is a fake, due to the fact that several different companies in the 60s and through the 70s manufactured an endless array of different counterfeit versions. Add those to the more than 30 different authentic versions that VJ managed to produce in 1963 and 1964, and you have quite a complicated situation for collectors and historians. More variations of this album exist than perhaps any record every issued by any artist. It is the most frequently asked about LP on the Internet, and probably causes the most confusion for collectors of any Beatles album ever released. Some of these fakes are remarkably close to the originals, with the quality of some covers even equaling or exceeding that of originals, making them a little harder to authenticate. Fortunately, there are easily identifiable clues in most cases, which we will cover thoroughly.

This Reference Guide was made to help both the novice and the experienced collector identify and authenticate copies of Introducing The Beatles, including both real and counterfeit issues, and to determine their rarity and value. We welcome any comments, suggestions, additions, and/or corrections for this page.

The values given are for records in VG+ condition. Records in true Near Mint to Mint condition, which are very difficult to find, would in most cases command noticeably higher prices. Both the discs AND the jackets need to be checked for variations and authenticity. We have found, like with other records, that discs and jackets get mixed up, intentional or otherwise. Also, many mono discs were incorrectly issued from the factory with stereo labels, so check the trail-off area for an "S" suffix to the master number, and/or play the record for stereo vs. mono sound. The Number listed is the new unique reference number assigned to all variations and releases for Bruce Spizer's VJ book and Perry Cox's upcoming Beatles 4th edition Price Guide. These numbers will be used by many collectors to help identify and classify the endless array of variations and will most likely be used on sales lists as well. New Guide numbering system:  M = mono,   S = stereo,   C = cover,   R = record (disc) On the first example below, VJ 1062 (1).MC1 would read as: "VJ 1062, version (1), mono cover, variation 1" "LP/M" refers to the words "LONGPLAYING" and "MICROGROOVE", which appear on some of the labels.

• Covers with a brown border around the front cover photo are fakes.
• Covers with a bright yellow tint and the word "STEREO" printed in black at the upper left are fakes.
• Covers without George Harrison's shadow-visible to his right of where he stands, near the edge are fakes.
• Covers with red, blue, and yellow dots, unmistakable under the top of the back cover, are fakes. The dots are used by the printers during the printing process. On originals, the dots are in a different area and are not normally visible. (This fake is of particular importance due to the high quality of the front cover photo. For that reason, this cover has fooled many a collector. Look for the dots! Fake covers are almost always accompanied by a fake disc.)
• Covers for the stereo issue that list Love Me Do and P. S. I Love You, among the two columns of tracks on the back, are almost always fakes. Only a couple of authentic copies of these versions are known to exist.
• If either the front or the back cover is flat (lacking gloss) it's is a counterfeit.

• Any labels with flat textured rainbow/colorband labels are fakes.
• Labels that have "THE BEATLES" and "INTRODUCING The BEATLES" separated by the center hole are fakes.
• If the width of the vinyl trail-off -the gap between the end of the last track and the edge of the label is greater than one inch, you have a fake.
• Any copy with black labels that do not have the rainbow colorband, that are printed on glossy paper stock, are fakes.
• Copies with rainbow/colorband labels that have faint print and/or weak color brightness and a lack of clarity are fakes.

• Covers-front and back-must have slicks that are either glossy or semi-glossy.
• Printing on covers must be of high quality and professional looking.
• Back cover lists contents in two columns
• Stereo copies must meet one of the following conditions:

  1. Back cover pictures 25 color photos of other Vee-Jay albums. This copy is commonly known as the "Ad Back" cover.

  2. Back cover is totally blank; a completely white slick with no print whatsoever.

  3. Back cover lists content in two columns, almost always containing Please Please Me and Ask Me Why. Only a couple of original copies have been verified listing Love Me Do / P.S. I Love You.

• Labels have "THE BEATLES" and the title "INTRODUCING THE BEATLES" above the center hole.
• Only gloss or semi-gloss rainbow/colorband labels are used on originals.
• All original labels have bright, sharp silver print.
• The vinyl trail-off -the gap between the end of the last track and the edge of the label usually measures from 7/8" to 1" wide, but never greater.
• The rainbow/colorband that circles the perimeter of an original label is of high resolution, with smooth, gradual changes in color.
• The vinyl trail-off area on over 90% of all originals has one or more of the following mechanical Stampings:

  1. The term "AudioMatrix."

  2. The letters "MR" inside of a circle.

  3. The letters "APP" in italics. Among originals, only those made in Santa Monica lack machine Stampings. Regardless, these still have the aforementioned bright silver print and glossy labels. To date, we have never seen a counterfeit copy with machine stamping in the trail-off area.

• We have never found a counterfeit with the word "STEREO" printed on the label.
• Any copy with "STEREO" printed on the label is more than likely an original.
• All originals with black labels that do not have the rainbow colorband are printed on a flat-not glossy-paper stock.
• Any item under scrutiny must measure up in all the above areas of originality testing. If either the cover, disc or label fails even one criterion of the test, then it is likely from that secluded, middle Eastern country: Itsa Faykuh!