How do I tell which Butcher Cover state I have?

First State has no paste-over. Second State has a raised paste-over you can feel and see through with strong light. Third State shows evidence of peeling - residue and surface damage.

Why is the stereo Butcher Cover worth more than mono?

The stereo pressing had a smaller initial run and fewer survived in First State. Lower supply drives higher prices.

Beatles Yesterday and Today Butcher Cover Value Guide (2026)

Name: The Beatles - Yesterday and Today (Butcher Cover)
Brand: Capitol Records

Vinyl Records

In June 1966, Capitol Records shipped The Beatles' Yesterday and Today with a cover that featured the band grinning in white butcher coats, surrounded by raw meat and dismembered baby dolls. Within days, retailers revolted. Capitol recalled approximately 750,000 copies - some destroyed, most simply pasted over with a new, inoffensive cover. That recall created one of the most famous collectibles in music history. An original, untouched "First State" Butcher Cover in sealed condition can sell for $125,000 or more.

Quick Value Summary


Item	The Beatles - Yesterday and Today (Butcher Cover)
Year	1966
Label	Capitol Records
Category	Vinyl Records
Format	12" LP (mono and stereo)
Condition Range
Third State (peeled)	$500 – $2,000
Second State (paste-over intact)	$5,000 – $15,000
First State mono (NM)	$20,000 – $40,000
First State stereo (sealed)	$125,000+
Rarity	Rare (First State); Uncommon (Second State); Scarce (Third State)

The Story

The photo was Robert Whitaker's idea. Whitaker was The Beatles' photographer, and he shot the "butcher" session as part of an art concept exploring the public's consumption of the band. It wasn't shock value - it was commentary. The Beatles went along with it.

Capitol Records used the image for the US release of Yesterday and Today, a compilation album that didn't exist in the UK (the British releases had different track listings). When advance copies reached radio stations and retailers, the backlash was immediate. DJs refused to play the album. Record stores sent copies back.

Capitol panicked. They recalled the unsold copies - around 750,000 - and pasted a new cover directly over the original. The replacement image showed the band posed innocuously around a steamer trunk. Many copies weren't destroyed, just covered up. That decision, driven by cost savings, accidentally created three distinct collectible "states" - each worth dramatically different amounts.

The album itself contains some of The Beatles' best work: "Yesterday," "Drive My Car," "Nowhere Man." But nobody's paying five figures for the music. The value lives entirely in the cover.

The Three States

First State - Original, Untouched

The Butcher Cover as it was meant to be. No paste-over applied. The original shrink wrap may still be intact on sealed copies.

How to identify: No evidence of paste-over. Original shrink wrap if sealed. The Butcher image is crisp, undamaged, and sits flush against the cardboard sleeve.
Value: Mono copies in excellent condition: $20,000 to $40,000. Stereo copies are rarer and more valuable - sealed stereo First States can exceed $125,000.
Why stereo is rarer: The stereo run was smaller to begin with, and more stereo copies may have been recalled before reaching stores.

Second State - Paste-Over Intact

These are recalled copies where Capitol pasted the new "trunk" cover directly on top of the Butcher image. The original image is still underneath - hidden, but intact.

How to identify: Look for slightly raised edges where the paste-over meets the original cover. The surface may feel slightly thicker or uneven compared to a standard cover. Hold it up to a strong light - you can sometimes see the Butcher image underneath.
Value: $5,000 to $15,000 depending on condition of both the paste-over and the vinyl inside.

Third State - Peeled

Someone removed the paste-over to reveal the Butcher image underneath. The quality of the peel determines the value. A clean peel with minimal residue is worth far more than a botched one.

How to identify: Visible paste residue, surface texture differences, or slight damage to the underlying print from the peeling process.
Value: $500 to $2,000 depending on peel quality and overall condition.

Mono vs. Stereo

Both mono and stereo pressings exist in all three states. Mono copies are more common - most of the original print run was mono. Stereo copies are rarer, especially in First State, and command higher prices across the board.

The music is the same either way. The premium is about scarcity, not sound quality (though audiophiles have opinions on that too).

Authentication & Fakes

What to Watch For

The Butcher Cover's high values attract fakes and misrepresentations:

Counterfeit First States: Some sellers create convincing reproductions of the Butcher image and apply them to standard Yesterday and Today sleeves. Examine print quality, color saturation, and paper texture carefully.
Fake peels: A Second State copy "peeled" to simulate a Third State but with the paste-over actually being the original cover removed. The underlying print quality will be different from a genuine Third State.
Condition exaggeration: "Near mint" is used very loosely in the vinyl market. Insist on detailed photos of all surfaces, edges, and corners.

Verification Steps

First State: No paste-over evidence. Original shrink wrap if sealed. Print quality matches known authentic examples.
Second State: Telltale raised edges or texture from paste-over. Butcher image visible when held to strong light.
Third State: Paste residue visible. Surface shows evidence of peeling process.
Pressing details must match Capitol Records US release specifications. This was a US-only release - it was never issued in the UK.

Where to Sell

Third State ($500–$2,000)

eBay - Active market for peeled copies. Good photos are essential.
Discogs - Strong vinyl marketplace with knowledgeable buyers.
Record fairs - Browse offers from multiple dealers.

Second State ($5,000–$15,000)

Heritage Auctions - Handles high-value music memorabilia.
Specialist record dealers - Beatles-focused dealers will know the market.
eBay - Can work, but the risk of buyer disputes increases at these prices.

First State ($20,000+)

Heritage Auctions or specialized music auction houses - This is a museum-quality item. It needs a venue with reach and credibility.
Specialist Beatles dealers - For private sales with authentication.

Not sure which state you have? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for a free AI estimate. Upload a photo →

Common Questions

How much is a Beatles Butcher Cover worth?

It depends entirely on the state. A Third State (peeled) copy runs $500 to $2,000. A Second State (paste-over intact) is $5,000 to $15,000. A First State (original, untouched) mono is $20,000 to $40,000, and a sealed stereo First State can exceed $125,000.

How do I tell which state I have?

First State: No paste-over, Butcher image is clean and original. Second State: Feel for raised edges around the cover - the paste-over creates a slightly uneven surface. Hold it to a strong light to see the image underneath. Third State: Evidence of peeling - residue, surface damage, or texture differences.

Why is the stereo version worth more?

The stereo pressing had a smaller initial run, and fewer survived in First State. Supply and demand - fewer exist, so the price is higher.

Was the Butcher Cover meant to be offensive?

No. Photographer Robert Whitaker conceived it as an art commentary on how the public "consumed" The Beatles. The band participated willingly. Capitol Records used it without fully considering the commercial response.

Is the record inside valuable?

Not particularly. The tracks on Yesterday and Today were widely released on other Beatles albums. The value of a Butcher Cover copy lies almost entirely in the sleeve, not the vinyl inside.