“Something New” was released in June of 1964 and certified Gold by the RIAA on August 24, 1964. Yet this White Matte, presented to Capitol Records, was probably made in 1974 to honor The Beatles 10th anniversary.
Within the White Matte period, from 1964 to 1975, there are differences that can distinguish first, or early, presentations from later ones. One way to identify the differences, that make earlier awards rarer and more valuable, is to know what to look for on the presentation plates.
Here are a few tips: In 1964 RIAA awards were presented to artists or groups, not to labels or other individuals; the quotation marks around the title looked like little “11’s” not the “reversed teardrops” of 1974; and the edges of the plate expose the thicker Bainbridge boards, used in 1964, from the thinner machine cut mattes used later.
For comparison, here’s a plate from a first presentation “The Beatles Second Album”, certified on 4/13/64…
… and the plate from the “Something New” award, certified on 8/24/64, but made in 1974…
The “Something New” award also has the original backing paper with the appropriate John Street address of award manufacturer, New York Frame & Picture. (Prior to 1969 the address of New York Frame & Picture Co. was on Fulton Street, and after 1969 they were on John Street.)
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