This set came my way about two months before the release of the Abbey Road Set in 2019.Â
It was what we call a ‘Brown Envelope Job’.Â
I was totally amazed at what was inside – although the finished and released package was beautifully packaged and set out, this gave me a huge insight into how the package was heading. Again this is a ‘working’ box set, it displayed some wonderful thought. Apparently, there were 100 constructed and this is number 12.
This is the front of the sample package.
All four parts note pieces displayed. You will find that the wording displayed here was used except for package four – The Alternate Abbey Road.
Abbey Road Project
Abbey Road Internal Package
This is the general shot of the internal workings of the package thus far. You can see that it resembles in some way the design of the UK Our First Four Package from 1968. Complete with four photos 3 of which are from that famous shoot in August 1969. Sample CDs are displayed along with a small photograph also from that shoot. Some are perhaps the original copies being somewhat light struck!! This photograph also shows the holding box to the left.
Abbey Road Package contents
This is the rear of the interior package
It shows different versions of the rear of the Abbey Road cover, complete with the track listings for each album. Of great interest is package four which was never issued, This is another 2019 re-mix with the later versions of Here Comes The Sun, – the Accapella version of Because. and an Intro version of Come Together. As said this was never issued in any form, but is canned somewhere, nice to have it. I admit I have it on my computer and make backup copies when my playing one gets scratched due to the potholed roads offered by the authorities in our wonderful country!!Â
Rear of the Abbey Road Package
This set was never issued, but having it in my collection is a real plus. Knowing that only 100 were issued, having one is extra special. So, I do hope this one-off viewing will meet with your approval. Like all of my Apple material, it is kept in a box stored out of sunlight and is very rarely opened, hence its excellent condition!
Inside Number Three – The Illustrated History of Apple Records
Inside No3 takes you through that famous door, deep into the minds of all who worked there at Apple Records. This is done also in a very different way. This is not a kiss-and-tell diary, it is through fan adulation and understanding via a personal collection of artifacts and memorabilia that author Nigel Pearce has built up over the last 50 years.
This set piece of the Apple Records Our First Four US Press Information Pack is perhaps the most rare press offering coupled with the UK Set, that is so sought after by fans and collectors.
The number of complete sets of both can be probably numbered by the fingers on both hands, This set which compliments the United Kingdon Pack is also from my own collection. Both sets are held within a standard Apple box file complete with an autographed Apple Records card on the Top. The autograph is by Tony Bramwell and was given to me by a relative who met him at Apple in 1969.
The photographs display the full USA Set pack, and like my UK Set, are kept out of the sunlight, and viewed occasionally by myself to show people.  It is a simply gorgeous but different set to the UK offering. The only similarity is the wording used, it was matching all the way through. The photographs are as follows.
The Apple box-type file, with the autographed Tony Bramwell Card, and the envelope used to hold the Our First Four US package
Apple Record’s Our First Four US
The holding paper/ card folder with the Apple motif printed on the front.
The Holding Paper/ Card with Apple Logo
The general package, showing each artist card front and the 45 rpm singles US release
The Apple First Four US Package
The package for the Black Dyke Mills Band issue Thingumybob / Yellow Submarine
The Black Dyke Mills Band
The general package part for Jackie Lomax Sour Milk Sea
Jackie Lomax “Sour Milk Sea”
The general package for Mary Hopkin’s Release “Those Were The Days” / “Turn, Turn, Turn”
Mary Hopkin’s “Those Were The Days”
The package for “Hey Jude” / “Revolution”
“Hey Jude” / “Revolution”
This is the general package unit for the whole presentation, showing the extra items envelope, stamps, leaflet, small Apple cube, and accompanying Double White Album Leaflet
General US Package
This really was a beautiful package destined to disappear very quickly and therefore ultimately to grow in value
I hope that you enjoy this presentation, as this will be the only time it will be photographed for display.
Get Nigel’s Great book on Apple – Inside Number Three
Inside Number Three – The Illustrated History of Apple Records
Inside No3 takes you through that famous door, deep into the minds of all who worked there at Apple Records. This is done also in a very different way. This is not a kiss-and-tell diary, it is through fan adulation and understanding via a personal collection of artifacts and memorabilia that author Nigel Pearce has built up over the last 50 years.
Discover Jude’s Fascinating John Lennon Series here
Shivering Inside (Vol 2) Dec 1961 – Jan 1963
But for John Lennon, the hectic rise to glory failed to cure the constant Shivering Inside. He was still searching for something…or someone…to fill the hole in his heart. There are no hard copies left but you can get it on Kindle here for $9.99.
With this Blog I decided that as The Our First Four was featured in my book Inside No3, I thought that it would be very much an experience for many Beatle fans who visit The Beatles Bookstore, that they would appreciate an in depth look at my very own copies. The set was originally published and distributed to just over 400 very notable people in August 1968.
It announced to the world that Apple Records, ( a part of the Apple Foundation for the arts) was now fully in swing, to give artistic and talented people a fairer chance to be able to produce a telling work of art. The record division was only one of the five divisions that the company would operate through to reach its audience
Those Divisions were Apple Retail, Apple Records, Apple Electronics, Apple Films, and Apple Books. Apple Records was by plan and effect the most visible to the everyday punter, as their products were able to be bought via your local record store. However, to announce Apple Records a wonderful and now extremely rare Public Information vehicle was to be used. That item was the package simply titled “Our First Four”.
This package was altogether a Black Cardboard package with the words Our First Four printed in various colours on a white background on the front. This package when turned over opened a small box / packet which contained within it the first 4 Apple Records Released singles. ( Again, this was in effect the first 3 Apple singles, as Hey Jude was ostensibly an EMI Parlophone release, complete with Parlophone catalogue numbers ).Â
However, in effect it contained 4 Apple labelled singles. Each of these singles were held in a plastic polythene sleeve stuck onto a piece of foldable card, which contained a photograph of the artist. This was to be inside the card, and the front carried on it an introduction to the artist penned by PR man Derek Taylor. The back was intentionally left blank.
This was to prove a stunning package and as only slightly over 400 were produced, and many were simply just thrown away or destroyed forever without anyone realising the value to which this document package would accrue. To further enhance this wonderful and expensive package roughly a dozen was made in plastic, and sent to world notable dignitaries, which included Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, The British Prime Minister, The President of the United States, and a few others. We believe that Buckingham Palace has kept the copy sent to the Queen as well as the White House, but the others very likely have been stolen, or most likely destroyed.
So, what were the packages like. Well for the very first, (and may I say only time), I have displayed my set to be photographed and seen here at The Beatles Book Store, so that others may get to see this long lost and much sought after item. Finally, I have placed the whole set inside a heavy black box for protection. That is not part of the set, and I have stuck to the lid an officially printed Apple ID card which has been personally autographed by the late Tony Bramwell. This makes the collection to me, very complete.
You will now see the collection fully displayed and described. Thank youÂ
This is my separate box to hold the sets in and to protect them further. The box is completely black, and the top card is an officially produced Apple box label autographed by Tony Bramwell in 1972.
Our First Four by Apple Corps
This is a general package shot of the American Our First Four Package. This will be described fully in a later Blog.
Here is the package outer box art used for the UK Package. This is the cardboard version.
Our First Four UK Box
The inside header sheet fronts for the artists and individual records held within
Inside Header Sheets
The American package in a general presentation.
The USA Package
The internal design for The Beatles Hey Jude Record and Folder.
Hey Jude
The internal Design for Mary Hopkin Those Were The Days Folder.
Mary Hopkin
The Internal Design for Jackie Lomax Sour Milk Sea Folder.
Jackie Lomax
The Final internal package for The Black Dyke Mills Band Thingumybob Folder.
Black Dyke Mills Band
The Associate Stamps set for Our First Four.
Apple Stamps
The Apple Collection
As you can see it is a truly wonderful set, and displayed here one can only marvel at the splendour, which also includes 4 nice shiny Apple 7-inch record sleeves to protect the records still further. This only enhances the visual effect of the entire package, which was bright, beautiful and so very daring, not to mention the cost at the time either!!. This is the complete United Kingdom package, which as I explained earlier is kept out of the sunlight and very rarely opened.
Inside Number Three – The Illustrated History of Apple Records
Inside No3 takes you through that famous door, deep into the minds of all who worked there at Apple Records. This is done also in a very different way. This is not a kiss-and-tell diary, it is through fan adulation and understanding via a personal collection of artifacts and memorabilia that author Nigel Pearce has built up over the last 50 years.
“A short, sharp podcast for busy Beatles People in-the-know!”
Bruce Spizer
He has “music in his bones.” Actually, he has music everywhere – in records, in notes, in notes about records, and in books from the notes about the records…Bruce Spizer is The Beatles Music Man!
Enjoy this conversation about his latest release, The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night and More!
The Video Presentation is now fully complete and is available as the centre-piece of The Inside No 3 Experience / Presentation Evening. This event is to educate and bring to the audience that period of artistic revolution that came from within that famous white door at Number 3 Savile Row.
Apple
Using the book as the template, we show to full effect the sense of mission ideals that The Beatles had in vision for the whole organisation that was to be Apple. We all know the outcome, but what is not known is how that so nearly came about. Well you can wonder no more for it is now laid out for everyone in a bright colour and beautiful happening that reflected those marvellous aims.
Inside No 3
Inside No 3 Book
These are standard presentation photographs that extol and support the link between the book Inside No 3 and the DVD Disc to which we use on the presentation. The second photograph is a rear view of the DVD Presentation package. !!
Abbey Road
This is one of the photographs taken on the day of the shoot which was ultimately rejected. I have all of the photographs used and they make a stunning collage.
One of the Rejected Abbey Road Photos
This is a shot from 1968 and is from Hey Jude – Terrific!!
The Beatles 1968
Mary Hopkin
This is a portrait of the beautiful Welsh singer Mary Hopkin who as many know was a very successful Apple artist. She had a voice of an angel and sang as clear as a bell. She is still in the music business, only doing projects that really appeal to her. Long may she continue to do so.
Mary Hopkin
Badfinger
The final photo plate is of Apple Records most successful bands Badfinger. They were a most impressive band to hear and to see, and their sheer talent has been long hidden away, and even today when one sees old film of them it still has the power to impress shock and deliver mis-belief at their sheers talent !!
The Iveys who became Badfinger
Bookings have already been received and completed and a review is available via links to The Beatles bookstore website.
FELIXSTOWE BEATLES WEEKEND
We will be a central core to the fabulous Felixstowe Beatles Weekend at The famous Spa Pavilion on Saturday / Sunday 21st /22nd June 2025.
So book that weekend and make it a most enjoyable one as well. The Quarrymen will be appearing , alongside ex Capital Radio DJ/ Host Nicky Horne, with his very special and unique show as well as Inside No3 with the brilliant Apple Presentation!!
There is more to be added, and the Special website will be active shortly- so stay tuned, you won’t want to miss this totally awesome weekend, It will be a Beatles Fans Dream !!
Inside Number Three – The Illustrated History of Apple Records
Inside No3 takes you through that famous door, deep into the minds of all who worked there at Apple Records. This is done also in a very different way. This is not a kiss-and-tell diary, it is through fan adulation and understanding via a personal collection of artifacts and memorabilia that author Nigel Pearce has built up over the last 50 years.
