PINK FLOYD DARK SIDE OF THE MOON NM AUDIO 1st UK PRESS SOLID BLUE A2/B2 COMPLETE
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Here is something you don’t find every day: a really outstanding example of this 1st pressing which is complete and 100% original throughout.
Most so-called 'complete' first pressings of DSOTM seem to contain a mix 'n' match of posters and stickers from later copies. But this one is complete and 100% original throughout: with the original black poly-lined inner sleeve; earliest, original fully matt posters; earliest, original ‘PERMANENT’ stickers and the correct, earliest 'midnight blue' cover with a sealed left edge. It is very, very hard to find an all-original example like this.
The disk has the following 1st press matrix numbers, 2nd mothers and early stampers:
Side 1: SHVL 804 A-2 2 L
Side 2: SHVL 804 B-2 2 OL
Detailed description
Vinyl: The vinyl looks superb and has retained its original high sheen with very little to see. In normal light there are just a handful of small or light marks and under bright, direct light there are some additional fine, wispy sleeve-removal marks, but there is nothing significant anywhere. It’s really hard to find original copies of DSOTM that look as good as this. I have played the entire record and it sounds fantastic with very little to report, and this is easily one of the best 1st pressings of DSOTM that I have heard. Please note that this copy does NOT have the pressed skip in 'Money' often found on first pressings - there are no jumps or skips anywhere on this record and the whole record was a pleasure to listen to. For the sake of completeness I would mention some minor background noise in the run-ins/outs, fades, segues and silent parts, and the occasional isolated click, but nothing significant. Like most Pink Floyd albums Dark side of the Moon has lots of quiet and sparsely arranged passages and because of this it is very hard to find an original copy which genuinely plays Mint all the way through, and there are some sections which are always 'difficult' on original vinyl copies of this album (e.g. the long-fade explosion noise at the end of 'On the Run', the heart-beat fade-in at the beginning and fade-out at the end of the album, the quiet end section of ‘The Great Gig in the Sky’, the intro to ‘Us and Them’ etc), but this copy is one of the best I’ve heard with only one issue* in these parts, with the rest of them playing superbly. For side two there is nothing else to add, so I would play-grade side two as a SAFE Near Mint (NM). On side one I heard three or four small clicks in ‘Breathe’, and maybe one or two others on side one, but the only significant thing* was a soft tic in the quiet ending to ‘The Great Gig in the Sky’ which continues into the run-out at the end of the side. But that’s it! The rest of the side is superb. But these soft clicks at the very end of the side, and a handful elsewhere, mean that I’m going to play-grade side one as Excellent (Ex). Aside from these minor issues, this is one of the best I’ve heard, even in those other ‘difficult’ bits mentioned above. This is an outstanding example and I think it would be very hard to find one which sounds better.
Labels: Both labels look great with no damage, writing, stickers etc. They have relatively light, neat spindle marking, suggesting that this record was looked-after and wasn’t over-played.
Sleeve: This is the original 'midnight blue' cover with factory-sealed (but not folded under) left edge. It is nice and clean with no writing, splits, tears or stickers etc and just minor signs of use. There is some ring wear on the rear, some corner wear and mild edge-wear, but it’s very hard to find these original covers as good as this.
Inner sleeve: This is the original black, poly-lined inner sleeve. There are no seam splits or major issues just some slight corner creasing and minor signs of handling and use.
Posters: These are the original posters. They are the absolute earliest examples printed on fully matt paper and they are nearly impossible to find as a matching pair (the fully matt pyramid poster seems to be particularly hard to find). These original posters have never been on display and so have no pin-holes, sellotape, blu-tac etc. They have no tears, splits or damage, and minimal signs of handling, just some age-related discoloration on the two rear panels which are on the outside when the poster is folded. I think it would be almost impossible to find a better pair of original posters.
Stickers: These are the original, earliest PERMANENT stickers with the wavy-lines on the backing paper. They are both unused with no major issues, just some age-related discolouration.
Detracting features not covered above: None. This is a superb example which looks and sounds amazing and is 100% complete and original throughout. I think it would be very hard to find a better one.
All photographs are of the actual item for sale. Please ask any questions before you bid or buy.
Where gradings are given these are based on the UK Record Collector grading system (see below) and are visual gradings only, unless the listing specifically states that it is a play-grading.
I use the UK RECORD COLLECTOR GRADING SYSTEM. This grading system differs from some other grading systems, in particular the Goldmine grading system. Please make sure that you are familiar with the UK record collector grading system before you bid.
Mint: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.
Excellent: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear and/or creasing.
Very Good: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.
Good: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration, etc.
Fair: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.
Poor: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.
Bad: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler.
Plus (+) or Minus (-) are added where items fall between gradings. I only ever use one plus or minus.
P&P costs as follows:
UK:
First LP or 12" record = £4.95, each additional item no extra P&P charge.
First 7" record = £3.95, each additional item no extra P&P charge.
