Sold Date: June 6, 2024
Start Date: May 18, 2024
Final Price: £99.00 (GBP)
Seller Feedback: 4920
Buyer Feedback: 98

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This is an original pressing bought around the time of first release in 1989. It is not a reissue. It is in superb condition with vinyl that is believed to have been hardly ever played and is possibly unplayed on side two.

This has the following stamped matrix numbers:

Side one: 839 353 - 1  S1 - 3

Side two: 839 353 - 1  S2 - 3

Note the 'PRS Hanover' embossing on the rear denoting an original 1989 pressing (pressed in Germany for Europe).

Description
Disc: The vinyl has retained its original sheen and looks virtually flawless in normal light, although a few hairlines and sleeve-removal marks are visible when viewed under bright, direct light, but I think that it has had very few plays at all. I have played the whole album in full from start to finish and it sounds amazing with only two small points to note. The first is a little bit of background noise and a few tics right at the beginning of side one in the run-in and very, very quiet intro to 'Plainsong' and the second is on side two where I heard a few small clicks in the fade to 'Prayers for Rain' and the intro to 'The Same Deep Water as You'. But both of these are mainly audible because the music is so quiet at these points, neither of them is particularly intrusive and they are gone within a few seconds. Aside from these two points, all the silent grooves play really quietly and there was nothing else to note. I think it would be hard to find an original copy that sounds much better than this and the album was a total pleasure to listen to. Almost all of this would grade as a VERY SAFE Near Mint (NM), but to account for the two minor issues mentioned above I would play-grade this overall as Excellent Plus (Ex+).

Labels: No tears, stickers, writing etc, and no obvious signs of use. I think there may be one spindle mark on side two, but I could not see any spindle marking on the side one label, suggesting that side two may have never been played (before my careful play-grade).

Sleeve: The sleeve has no seam splits, tears, writing, stickers etc, and minimal signs of age or use. Hard to find like this.

Inner sleeve: No splits, tears of major issues, and minimal signs of handling or use. I spotted one tiny corner crease, but this is pretty much perfect.

Detracting features not covered above:  None.

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.

Europe:

First LP or 12" record = £14.95, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £11.95, each additional item = an extra £1.00 P&P charge.

Rest of the world:

First LP or 12" record = £24.95, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £14.95, each additional item = an extra £1.00 P&P charge.