Hello and welcome to my record auctions. I am a private seller auctioning records from my personal vinyl collection. I have been buying records since the early 1970s. Most have been only lightly played or never played at all as I often taped them for my own personal use when new. Of course, then CD came along and I bought most on CD too which meant the records were redundant! As a result, the records have been extremely well looked after and when they were played it was generally on Linn or Rega turntables with properly aligned quality cartridges and a light stylus tracking force of 1.5 to 1.75 g.

When I have been playing these records for grading purposes I have been staggered with the sound quality compared to digital. Basically, vinyl sounds far superior to my ears than most digital, more full bodied and with greater impact. I'd love to keep my records but with impending downsizing I need to reduce my collection somewhat before it is forced on me!

Please read the description below for vinyl condition (as per the Record Collector Grading System), but for most of my records the vinyl can be considered as in near mint or excellent condition, shiny and with no significant marks – basically almost as good as when it came out of the original shop. What's more - my records are beautifully clean because they have received proper professional care - see details below. The covers vary in condition but most are excellent just showing the usual signs of storage. Most have been stored in plastic protective covers. I try my utmost to provide accurate descriptions, test playing all records in their 

entirety. The quality of my records is reflected in the excellent feedback I have received from satisfied buyers, many of whom come back for more. I provide detailed photographs to illustrate the quality.

A word about hairline marks. It is almost impossible to find any non-sealed record without any hairline marks - many had them from new, particularly if sold with cardboard inner sleeves. They are a result of storage and use and have little impact on sound quality. Likewise, very few original vinyl records lie totally flat. As for background noise, all records will have some background noise which varies wildly and often reflects the very variable pressing quality. I have bought new heavy pressing LP's in recent years and many of the original records I am selling not only look better but they sound better! I only draw attention to marks, warping or background noise in my listings if I consider them significant.

All records (unless "mint" to start with) have been cleaned using high quality professional Record Cleaning Machines (either a £3,000 Keith Monks Omni VII RCM or a Moth Pro Mk II RCM) and the best record cleaning solutions such as "Art Du Son". Not only does this wet clean/vacuuming process remove surface marks such as fingerprints, etc, it also significantly reduces background noise and many argue that the lower noise floor results in opening up of the sound and improved fidelity. Following cleaning, records are placed in new inner sleeves and the sleeve is given a new plastic outer protective cover.

Records are then test played on a Rega RP6 turntable through top of the range Graham Slee or NJC phono stages/headphone amplifiers to professional Sennheiser or AKG headphones. This enables me to undertake careful evaluation of the record quality and grade accurately.

This album is David Bowie's superb "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" LP on the RCA Victor Records label SF 8287 (LSP 4702).

Machine stamped matrix marks BGBS 0864-1E/BGBS 0865-2E, Early (Possibly First) English Pressing. Although 1E/1E matrices are generally accepted as first press, the 1E/2E was not far behind it and may indeed have been contemporaneous. Original shiny orange RCA/Victor labels in SUPERB condition.

Vinyl grading is Excellent+/Near Mint according to the Record Collector Grading System. It appears barely, if at all, played - this is possibly an unplayed copy before my test plays! This is yet another copy I sorted away after purchase and did not play to my best knowledge until the recent test plays. UNBELIEVABLE! I doubt you would find another copy like this as most were played to death and replaced with later copies.

Test played superbly with fantastic audio and low background noise.

The original matt Robert Stace sleeve is in excellent overall condition as it has been stored in a plastic cover - see large scale photos below. Again, almost impossible to find these flimsy original sleeves in this condition. Some evidence of residue from a piece of adhesive tape across the top but no tears and very little obvious wear. Likewise, the delicate inner is in amazing condition.

YOU WON'T FIND A BETTER ORIGINAL COPY - DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY. THESE RECORDS ARE BECOMING INCREDIBLY RARE AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND AS THEY ARE SO SOUGHT AFTER BY AUDIOPHILES AND BOWIE FANS.

I dispatch worldwide in reinforced heavy duty LP mailers with cardboard reinforcements either side.

I have many other auctions of classic rock albums with more to come so please save me as a favourite seller. Typical postage prices as follows and combined postage with other albums saves money (double album counts as 2 records):

UK: 1 record £3.50, 2 records £4.50, 3 records £6.

EU: 1 record £5.50, 2 records £7, 3 records £8.50.

International: 1 record £8.50, 2 records £10, 3 records £11.50.

Some countries may require International Signed For so please ask.

Please see my feedback, particularly on other records I have sold, and thanks for looking.