The Beatles Yesterday and Today Butcher Cover Value Guide

The 1966 Yesterday and Today Butcher Cover is one of the most infamous artifacts in music history, featuring the band surrounded by raw meat and doll parts. This specific mono edition is a 'Second State' example, where Capitol Records attempted to hide the controversy by pasting a trunk photo over the original artwork.

What affects the value of The Beatles Yesterday and Today Butcher Cover?

• The visibility and clarity of the original Butcher image beneath the trunk cover significantly impacts the $450-$500 price point.
• Overall jacket condition, specifically looking for seam splits, ring wear, or damage from attempted 'peels'.
• The presence of the original mono vinyl record and inner sleeve in good condition.
• The absence of heavy bubbling or glue discoloration on the pasted-over trunk slick.

How to Identify The Beatles Yesterday and Today Butcher Cover?

• Verify the mono catalog number T 2553 printed on the top right of the jacket.
• Look for the 'V' of Ringo Starr's black turtleneck sweater visible through the white background of the pasted-over trunk image.
• Check for the small factory designator number (like 2, 3, 5, or 6) printed on the lower right back cover.
• Examine the edges for the slight thickness and alignment characteristic of a professional 1966 Capitol Records paste-over.

History of The Beatles Yesterday and Today Butcher Cover

Released in June 1966, the original cover depicted the Beatles in white smocks with raw meat and doll parts. Following immediate public outcry, Capitol Records recalled all copies and pasted a new, innocuous trunk image over the existing covers. These are known as Second State covers. This specific copy, identified by the T 2553 mono catalog number, is a sought-after collectible due to the visible V of Ringo's black shirt through the trunk cover paste-over.