Vinyl Nostalgia 
This post supplements the main feature on the history of Supraphon and the Artia–EMI contract from December 1968. In that article, I explained why this record was made in the first place. Here—I’ll explain exactly what a collector is holding in their hands if they’re lucky enough to come across it, and what to look for so they don’t get ripped off.
Basic Information
- Artist: The Beatles
- Title: A Collection Of Beatles Oldies
- Format: 12" LP, 33 1/3 RPM
- Label: Supraphon / Parlophone (EMI license)
- Country: Czechoslovakia
- Year: 1969 (second half)
- Series: Gramofonový klub Pop Music Edition
This release appeared in two versions:
- Supraphon 0 13 0599 — MONO version
- Supraphon 1 13 0599 — STEREO version
Both were distributed through the Gramophone Club rather than via the general retail network—which in itself was a politically convenient solution for the Prague bureaucracy, but from a collector’s perspective, this means that the total print run was limited and is difficult to determine today based on available records.
Cover
The outer sleeve is identical for both versions—mono and stereo share the same front and back. Supraphon did not commission its own design—it used the original British artwork by David Christian from the Parlophone PCS 7016 (stereo) version, featuring the distinctive silhouette of a young mod boy against a red background.
In addition, Supraphon added:
- On the front—Supraphon’s own boxed logo and a “Gramofonový klub” badge
- On the front—the added Supraphon mono and stereo catalog numbers
- On the back—the inscription “Edice pop-music Gramofonového klubu”
- In the upper right corner of the back, the original Parlophone number PCS 7016 was left as a licensing reference
The sleeve’s cardboard is very thin—it’s typical “budget” Eastern Bloc cardboard. The most common condition issues are: scuffed corners, delamination along the spine, tape marks, and yellowing on the left side (if it stood vertically on a shelf facing the window). Finding an NM copy is—literally and entirely in line with reports from other collectors—like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Insert
This is an element missing from most copies offered today, and its presence can increase the value two- or threefold.
The insert is gatefold-style, double-sided, with a front, back, and inside. It contains Czech-language notes for each track—brief explanations of “what it is, where it came from, and why it’s worth listening to.” From today’s perspective, it’s a fascinating document: an anonymous Prague music critic is tasked with explaining “Day Tripper” and “Yesterday” to someone who had heard of the Beatles but had likely never held one of their original records in their hands before. The writing is surprisingly knowledgeable.
What to look for: the insert should be uncut at the margins, with original creases (not re-pressed), and no tape.
Labels—the most important aspect of this release
This is the most interesting aspect for the advanced collector. The stereo release 1 13 0599 exists in two completely different label variants, and the early variant was created by mistake at the factory.
The correct variant (in accordance with the Artia–EMI agreement)
A navy blue label with dual branding—the Parlophone logo and the Supraphon logo side by side. This was the variant specified in the licensing agreement: the contract required the visual presence of the EMI/Parlophone brand on all pressed copies. Most copies in later pressings feature this label.
The “incorrect” variant—the old red domestic label
In the early stereo batch, instead of the navy blue license labels, the pressing plant staff used regular red Supraphon stereo labels—the same ones used for domestic releases of classical and pop music. Without the Parlophone logo. Simply a regular “in-house” Supraphon label with the Beatles’ title on it.
From EMI’s perspective, this was a breach of contract. From the perspective of the foreman at the Loděnice factory—just a routine Friday warehouse mix-up. However, these copies were released to the Gramophone Club and are now far more sought-after than the “contract-compliant” version. On the market, they are sometimes valued two to four times higher.
Mono version (0 13 0599)
The mono version has its own label layout—historically, a darker color palette has been used for it. The mono version is generally rarer than the stereo version (which is not surprising—the Gramophone Club promoted stereo as the “modern” format, and club members who spent money on the Beatles were likely to have purchased the appropriate equipment).
Matrices and runouts
There are several master variants—the letters after the slash indicate the master generation. Key strings to look for:
MONO (0 13 0599):
- Side 1: A 4922 / [letter]
- Side 2: A 4923 / [letter]
STEREO (1 13 0599):
- Side 1: E 1466 / [letter]
- Side 2: E 1467 / [letter]
The numbers are machine-stamped (not hand-engraved). Following the slash are generation codes—Supraphon and other Czechoslovakian pressing plants used a letter-based system to identify successive generations of matrices (master, mother, subsequent stampers). Copies with low generation letters come from the first pressings—which means better dynamics and a less worn-out master.
Reversed stereo channels
Very important. In the stereo version, the channels are swapped—the left channel plays on the right side, and the right channel on the left. This is not a defect in your turntable. It is a pressing error, likely caused by reversed connections on the turntable during master preparation. It is consistent across all known stereo copies, so it has become part of this edition’s “character.”
Audio Source
After a detailed analysis of the recording on the monaural version, it was determined that this is a fold-down from a stereo source—that is, not Parlophone’s original British mono mix, but an electronic sum of both stereo channels into one. In practice, this means that the British mono version (which, for some tracks, features different mixes than the stereo version) is not what you hear on the Czechoslovakian mono release. This is not a detail you can tell from the label—you have to know it to recognize it.
For audio purists, this means that if you’re hunting for “the original 1966 mono mixes of the Beatles,” Supraphon 0 13 0599 won’t deliver them. Instead, it features its own unique fold-down mix, which isn’t available anywhere else—which, for a collector focused on variations, is an asset rather than a flaw.
Market availability—what you can find, and for how much
The record appears regularly at auctions (Aukro, Discogs, occasionally on Popsike), but in NM/NM condition it’s practically nonexistent—mainly due to the poor quality of the original sleeve. Realistic “good” copies are EX/EX+ vinyl in a VG to VG+ sleeve.
Approximate price range (data from the last few years, for reference):
- Stereo, complete (with insert), VG+/VG+, navy blue “correct” label: approximately 40–80 EUR (approx. 91 USD)
- Stereo, complete, VG+/VG+, red “incorrect” label: approximately 100–200 EUR (approx. 228 USD)
- Mono, complete, VG+/VG+: approximately 60–120 EUR (approx. 137 USD) (rarer, but less sought after by stereo purists)
- NM/NM with original insert in perfect condition: it’s difficult to set a reasonable upper limit. Such copies do not appear on the market on a regular basis—they are subject to private negotiations, not price lists.
These price estimates are, of course, a general guide—the market for these items can fluctuate wildly, especially around major events (anniversaries, press releases, auctions of collections from deceased collectors).
Pre-Purchase Checklist
If someone offers you Supraphon Oldies, check the following one by one:
- Catalog number on the label and the spine of the sleeve—0 13 0599 (mono) or 1 13 0599 (stereo). Without this, it’s not what you think it is.
- Insert—is it present? Is it complete? Are the folds original?
- Label color—if it’s stereo, is it red or navy blue? Take a photo and send it to the seller before you transfer the money.
- Is the Parlophone logo present on the label? This information determines the variant.
- Molds—ask for clear photos of the runouts on both sides. Early generation letters = better dynamics.
- Sleeve condition—corners, spine, discoloration. “Mint” condition is very rare here.
- Tape residue—cheaply repaired covers are sometimes listed as VG+, which is a scam.
If you have a copy with an incorrect red label—please let me know
Honestly: I’m collecting data on the variants of this record, and I’d be very happy to see any known stereo copy with an incorrect red label. Please contact me via the blog’s contact form or privately—I’d like to create a more comprehensive catalog of master discs, broken down by factory and year, in the future, and that’s impossible without photos from collectors.
Details regarding the Artia–EMI agreement, the context of August 1968, and why this record was produced at all in a country under Warsaw Pact occupation—in the main article “How Supraphon Smuggled the Beatles into the Eastern Bloc”.
