Hello, my name is Stanley Panenka. I own the Finest Quality Beatles Record Collection in the World!!!! CHECK THE COLLECTION OUT AT http://www.ultimatebeatlescollection.com!!!!  The following is a little background about myself, and how this collection came to be.

I have lived in California for over forty years. I went to college in Sacramento and received a Masters degree in Computer Science at Sacramento State University. I currently work as a Computer Systems Analyst.

Like so many other Beatles fans, I have always considered myself to be THE “#1 Beatles Fan”.  I have loved The Beatles since I was a kid, and around 1987 I decided to seriously begin collecting Beatles records. Although many collectors jump at the opportunity to add a sought-after title to their collection, it’s very hard to sell me a record. This is because when it comes to buying Beatles records, I am meticulous in my pursuit of authenticity & quality, and very few dealers or collectors can satisfy my high standards. (Just ask John Tefteller!) As my collection grew, my standards were raised to the point where the collection now includes the Worlds Finest Known Examples of many titles.

It all first started when I heard “I Want To Hold Your Hand” on the radio, back in December of 1963. (This will always be my favorite song!) I told my Mom then, that The Beatles would be the greatest, even better than Elvis! A few years later in 1970, I was with some friends on a warm summer night. We were sitting at the end of the pier at the Lakewood Lodge in Minnesota and we were taking turns telling what we thought we’d like to do when we “grew up”. I remember saying that I didn’t know what I wanted to do, or even if I wanted to grow up, but that I did know that I wanted to be THE #1 Beatles Fan!

Sometime in the 80’s, I had an idea. It occurred to me that one way I could show the world my commitment to being THE “#1 Beatles Fan” was to assemble a collection of the Finest Existing Examples of The Beatles records.

In 1988, I picked up a copy of Goldmine Magazine at a San Francisco record convention. Through Goldmine I really got my start in collecting. I bought a few good records and met some good dealers. I told the dealers what I was doing and that only the finest examples would be considered for this collection. Unlike most other collectors, simply acquiring an example of the particular rare cover or disc to be placed in the collection was not acceptable. Any record acquired for this collection would be among the finest known examples of each title in the world. Any example of the most rarest records had to be the absolute verifiable best known condition in the world and in at least strict Near Mint condition or I would not buy the record. The ultimate goal was to possess the finest known remaining example of each Beatles record made.

In 1990, I found a few dealers who had the connections and the resources to allow me to be able to obtain the verifiable very best quality Beatles records in the world. This was probably the turning point for the collection. I told these dealers about my quest for the finest examples of Beatles records. During the first year of dealing with those dealers, they may have doubted my commitment to my strict standards. They tested me a few times and after I had rejected several records, they knew that I was for real! Some of the first purchases I made from those dealers are the only known Near Mint, Decca commercial “My Bonnie” single and a sealed 4 By The Beatles EP on the Capitol label.

As time progressed, we began to appreciate the quality of our business relationship as much as the quality of the records we were dealing with. Through those dealers, I was able to acquire some of the rarest and most valuable Beatles records in the world, including: the “Anna” DJ Special #8, PROMOTIONAL Single, The "Ask Me Why" PROMOTIONAL Title sleeve, “Can’t Buy Me Love” Picture Sleeve, and a Near Mint Hard Days Night PROMOTIONAL Album. The records I have acquired from these dealers are pretty much the foundation of this collection.

While these dealers have definitely been the most dependable sources on my long and winding road to the Worlds Finest Beatles Record Collection, other opportunities have presented themselves along the way. I’ve acquired a number of records from private collectors and auction houses, including the “Please, Please Me” DJ title sleeve, and the Songs, Pictures And Stories Mono and Stereo albums. Some of "those dealers" from the “Beatle-o-files” I’ve had the pleasure of dealing with, are Gary Hein, of Hein’s Rare Collectables. He has helped me make some important acquisitions, including an ORIGINAL FACTORY SEALED,         1^st State, Stereo “Butcher” Album, ORIGINAL FACTORY SEALED, 1^st State, Mono “Butcher” Album and an ORIGINAL FACTORY SEALED, Mono Sgt. Pepper Album. John Tefteller who is a World Renown record expert is another of those dealers who I have acquired several rare Beatles records from.

Beginning in 1988, my goal was to put together a collection of the finest existing examples of rare and important Beatles records. Ultimately, it would be recognized as the finest collection known, in the WORLD! In 1996, I acquired the Only Known, MINT Stereo Introducing The Beatles “Ad Back” Album, and another Mint, Stereo Introducing The Beatles, Version Two Album. Upon acquisition of those extremely rare albums, those dealers said that I had succeeded in putting together THE “#1 Collection Of Beatles Records In The WORLD, in terms of quality.” That was ten years ago, and I haven’t stopped yet!

There is an adage that I have used for inspiration as the collection was coming together: “You can always make the money, but not the original Beatles records!” I have always been willing to pay more than the “going rate” for a stunning example of a rare record. And, time and time again, my confidence in the Beatles marketplace has been rewarded, as the records continue to go up in value!

My name (and likeness) and pictures of many of the records from this collection have appeared in many Beatles books and Beatles and other record price guides.