Reclaiming VAT on old stock

I have a very small business with a very low turnover, which would not normally be VAT registered; however as I sell exclusively outside the EU, I registered for VAT at the outset of my self-employment, for the purpose of reclaiming VAT on purchases. I have some stock which I bought (initially for personal use and I still have the receipts, which qualify as retail VAT receipts) before I became self employed which I would like to introduce into the business for sale. I see it is possible to reclaim VAT on old stock acquired up to 4 years before you were VAT registered. However as I was not self employed during this period (ie not the same trading "entity"; not a trading entity at all, in fact!) I am guessing it will not be possible for me to reclaim the VAT on this old stock.