This is a highly rare South African original mono pressing of The Beatles' popular mid-period album, Help! The record is 60 years old, and in remarkably good condition, especially considering it's a South African pressing. When it comes to the mono version of Help, the UK original isn't very well-regarded (though I personally think it sounds fine), and attention has shifted to pressings from other countries, with this South African version being particularly excellent. The Italian original with the black label is considered the best, followed by the dark blue French original, but this South African pressing is also a hidden gem and popular among enthusiasts. I feel the overall sound pressure is high, making it a treat for those who love a booming sound. The reason why the UK version is considered so-so and the other country pressings are favored is likely because they have better high and mid-range frequencies. The Italian and French versions might also be popular because of their different jacket designs. The disc has some scratches and hairline marks, but I believe it's in the beautiful condition for a South African pressing. The actual playback is also very good. In my setup (AT VMN10CB), when listening carefully with my ear close to the speaker, I can detect slight background noise in places like A3, but nothing significant, and the sound is consistently excellent, almost perfect. With the recent popularity of records, the rarity is increasing, and UK originals are no longer available in the used market. Furthermore, serious collectors who have completed their UK original collections are now seeking out pressings from other countries, and due to their rarity and demand, further price increases are expected. Especially for Help, there are many serious collectors looking for better sound in other country pressings, making this one extremely rare. This record has no critical playback issues, of course, but how the sound is perceived, and the actual playback condition, will vary depending on the playback environment, such as the shape and wear of the stylus, the characteristics of the cartridge, the arm setup, stylus pressure, and the overall combination of playback equipment. As you can see from my past reviews, my impressions seem to be almost identical to those of my buyers, but please purchase only if you understand the characteristics of used records. I do not smoke, and I do not have any pets. Thank you. johnlennon paulmccartney georgeharrison ringostarr