Format: CD
Titre: Virtual XI
Année: 1998
Pays: France
Lorsque j'écris que ce produit est français je sais que la plupart me prendrons pour un fou. En effet l''obi indique clairement une origine japonaise. Les deux stickers de prix, dont le dernier baissé à 15€, n'indiquent en rien une provenance. Mais revenons à son achat. J'ai trouvé ce CD de Virtual XI, neuf et encore sous cellophane, sur ebay.
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When I write that this product is French, I know most people will take me for a fool. Indeed, the obi clearly indicates a Japanese origin. The two price stickers, including the last one reduced to €15, do not indicate any origin. But let’s return to its purchase. I found this Virtual XI CD, new and still in cellophane, on eBay.
Et il s'agit bien de l'édition double CD avec calendrier vendue sous la référence EMI Toshiba TOCP 50440-1. Le boitier est bien garni avec donc le CD de l'album, un calendrier, un insert japonais, une obi, et un second CD contenant 2 titres live. Ce n'est pas un produit rare, bien qu'ici il soit neuf.
And it is indeed the double CD edition with calendar sold under reference EMI Toshiba TOCP 50440-1. The case is well stocked with the album CD, a calendar, a Japanese insert, an obi, and a second CD containing 2 live tracks. It is not a rare product, although here it is new.
Mais ce que mon exemplaire a de particulier, et ce qui le rend exceptionnel, c'est qu'il comporte le fameux sticker Pathé Marconi doré, sticker apposé sur les produits importés du Royaume-Uni, d'Allemagne ou du Japon. A la base tous les produits Pathé Marconi comportent un code prix qui est imprimé sur la pochette. Pour les 45 tours il commence par le chiffre 1, pour les 33 tours par le chiffre 2 et enfin pour les CD par 5. Mais cela est théorique et, en fonction des années, il y a eu des variations. Ainsi on pouvait lire du PM 100, du PM 251 ou encore du PM 512. Cela indiquait au disquaire, à une époque sans informatique, à quel prix vendre ce produit. Cela a perduré jusqu'au début des années 2000 pour disparaitre définitivement avec l’essor des codes-barres et de l'informatisation.
But what makes my copy special and exceptional is that it features the famous golden Pathé Marconi sticker, a sticker applied to products imported from the United Kingdom, Germany or Japan. Basically, all Pathé Marconi products have a price code that is printed on the pouch. For the 45s, it starts with the number 1, for the 33s with the number 2, and finally for the CDs with a 5. But this is theoretical and, depending on the years, there have been variations. So we could read PM 100, PM 251 or even PM 512. This indicated to the record store, in a computer-free era, at what price to sell this product. This continued until the early 2000s and disappeared definitively with the rise of barcodes and computerization.
J'ai déjà parlé de ce principe typiquement français mais je le rappelle régulièrement pour ceux qui n'ont pas lu mes articles précédents. Et donc, pour ce produit, le code PM était 617. Et le sticker doré a été collé sur l'arrière du boitier comme ceci:
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I have already subscribed to this typically French principle, but I remind you of it regularly for those who have not read my previous articles. And so, for this product, the PM code was 617. And the golden sticker was stuck to the back of the case like this.
Voici encore ce sticker aggrandi:
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Here again is this sticker higher.
Originellement tous les exemplaires importés en France, et probablement vendus en 1998 au Virgin Megastoire de Paris, comportait ce sticker. Mais combien ? 10 ou 20 ? Pas plus. Et sur les 20 au grand maximum, presque tous ont été ouverts, et la cellophane jetée. Le sticker PM doré a disparu. Mais pas ici. L'exemplaire que je vous montre dans cet article est probablement unique. Pour moi. Je vous laisse en juger...
Originally all the copies imported in France, and probably sold in 1998 to the Virgin Megastoire of Paris, included this sticker. But how many? 10 or 20? Not more. And of the maximum 20, almost all have been opened, and the cellophane thrown away. The golden PM sticker has disappeared. But not here. The copy I’m showing you in this article is probably unique. For me. I’ll let you judge...
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