i'll tell you what I know .. which is not much..
Many many years ago I visited Gordon Frewin, then Head of UK Motown, at his London office. I was taken there by a London-based fellow Motown collector who has been a friend of mine since the 80's
Gordon had not long returned from LA where he'd been cataloguing and doing archive research on the Motown masters that had been relocated to the West Coast. during my visit Gordon gave me 2 records.
The first was the Marvin Gaye 45 of 'This Love starved Heart Of Mine' in the picture sleeve. Obviously I knew the track but, up to that point, was totally unaware of its existence on a 45. Gordon explained the circumstances around its existence, which is now common knowledge. As far as I'm aware this was the first copy that landed on to a 'Northern Soul' DJ turntable when I played it a few weeks later at a local gig. I recall showing it to Roger Banks, John Philips and an Elephant who were bemused to say the least. Soon after further copies surfaced from a LA Motown Source
The other 45 was Syreeta. Gordon was very clear that the track was halted at promo stage and very few had been distributed to the usual suspects. I don't recall if he specified the number but he did infer it was the standard promo mail out. So if that was 25 or 50 I can't say but he did say it was very unlikely I'd get the chance to get another ... so a statement not supported given John has auctioned 2, and a few others have it, but enough of a steer to indicate it would be a tough 45
That's it
Andy