Beginning in December, 1963, the Beatles U.K. Fan Club released a Christmas record each year until 1969. Early discs were a mixture of songs and skits that blended English pantomime, "Goons" humour and ad-libs. In later issues each Beatle made their own contribution of song snippets and dialogue rather it being a group effort.
In Canada it is not uncommon to come across Beatles' Christmas records. Many Canadian fans maintained membership in the U.K. or U.S. Fan Club and received their respective Christmas records. In Canada it is more likely to come across a U.K. Christmas flexi rather than U.S. versions and the majority are usually later issues.
I have come across several copies of the U.S. 1968 Christmas record
I believe that this was the address of a Canadian Fan Club.
Readily available to Canadian fans through subscription or at news agents and outlets was the December, 1964 Beatles Monthly #17 edition with the added title "Christmas Issue".
For Christmas 1965 & 1966 The Beatles Monthly Magazine published two large format Christmas specials. It is likely these were sold in Canada or sent to Canada from the U.K.
With the break up of the Beatles came the end of both the U.K. and U.S. fan clubs. To mark the event a compilation L.P. consisting of all Christmas records from 1963 to 1969 was pressed and sent to all members of the U.K. club in December, 1970, and to U.S. club members in the spring of 1971. Canadian members of either club would have received copies. The U.K. issue was titled "From Then To You" and the U.S. issue was titled "The Beatles Christmas Album"
From 1971 through to the late 1980's there was a steady demand for these records which led to numerous unofficial pressings and bootlegs as well as counterfeit copies of both the U.K. and U.S. L.P.'s.
The U.S. Christmas L.P. in particular has been counterfeited a number of times. If examined closely the counterfeit can be identified by less sharp graphics on the cover and labels and a large pressing ring. The counterfeits were widely available in Canada in the 1980's at independent record stores and ordered through the classifieds of collector magazines.
In 2017 a limited edition box set of the seven complete Christmas records pressed on coloured vinyl was available in Canada.
A near mint copy of any of the Beatles U.K. Christmas records with sleeve has a value of between $150 and $200. The initial 1963 issue will be closer to $250. If the discs come with an original mailer add $25 to $50.
The initial 1964 U.S. Christmas issue in near mint condition has a value of approximately $160. The 1968 and 1969 issues in near mint condition sell for $100 to $120.
A genuine U.K. Christmas L.P. "From Then To Us" sells for approximately $500 and a genuine U.S. "The Beatles Christmas Album" has a value between $150 and $300.
The sealed box set reissue from 2017 sells for approximately $100.
Current values for U.K. Christmas flexi discs.
Current values for genuine U.S. Christmas L.P.'s
With the break up of the Beatles came the end of both the U.K. and U.S. fan clubs. To mark the event a compilation L.P. consisting of all Christmas records from 1963 to 1969 was pressed and sent to all members of the U.K. club in December, 1970, and to U.S. club members in the spring of 1971. Canadian members of either club would have received copies. The U.K. issue was titled "From Then To You" and the U.S. issue was titled "The Beatles Christmas Album"
From 1971 through to the late 1980's there was a steady demand for these records which led to numerous unofficial pressings and bootlegs as well as counterfeit copies of both the U.K. and U.S. L.P.'s.
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| Trade Mark of Quality bootleg of the Christmas records. |
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| Zap Records Christmas bootleg (1976) |
The U.S. Christmas L.P. in particular has been counterfeited a number of times. If examined closely the counterfeit can be identified by less sharp graphics on the cover and labels and a large pressing ring. The counterfeits were widely available in Canada in the 1980's at independent record stores and ordered through the classifieds of collector magazines.
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| Genuine Christmas L.P. with small pressing ring. Counterfeits have a larger pressing ring just slightly smaller than the green apple. |
In 1995, the song "Christmas Time Is Here Again" from the 1967 Christmas record appeared on the B-side of "Free As A Bird" and on the Anthology L.P.
In 2017 a limited edition box set of the seven complete Christmas records pressed on coloured vinyl was available in Canada.
A near mint copy of any of the Beatles U.K. Christmas records with sleeve has a value of between $150 and $200. The initial 1963 issue will be closer to $250. If the discs come with an original mailer add $25 to $50.
The initial 1964 U.S. Christmas issue in near mint condition has a value of approximately $160. The 1968 and 1969 issues in near mint condition sell for $100 to $120.
A genuine U.K. Christmas L.P. "From Then To Us" sells for approximately $500 and a genuine U.S. "The Beatles Christmas Album" has a value between $150 and $300.
The sealed box set reissue from 2017 sells for approximately $100.
Current values for U.K. Christmas flexi discs.
Current values for genuine U.S. Christmas L.P.'s
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