Sold Date: September 21, 2024
Start Date: September 19, 2024
Final Price: £69.00 (GBP)
Seller Feedback: 5002
Buyer Feedback: 0

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This is a genuine, very hard-to-find 1st UK press of Transformer.

At the time of listing, there were over 200 vinyl copies of Transformer for sale on ebay and, although quite a lot of them are being called 1st pressings none of them are. This is the only genuine first UK pressing currently for sale on the site.

The very first pressing of Transformer had 1E/1E STAMPED matrixes, glossy labels and a laminated cover. The laminated cover was quickly replaced by a matt version. So, all the so-called '1st pressings' without laminated covers are not first pressings.

However, Transformer has been issued with a laminated cover at various times in its history, so simply having a laminated cover does not automatically indicate a 1st pressing.

The first press cover can be distinguished by the colour of the background at the top of the cover. This was changed from bronze/gold to tan in the mid seventies. The difference is easy to see and the early covers have a clearly-visible third band between the gold and black parts, mixing the two colours, whereas the tan covers do not have this middle band. Early press covers (and recent 180g and anniversary re-releases) have this distinctive 3-tone background, but only the first ones were laminated.

Some of the later, mid seventies covers with the tan colour at the top were also laminated, but they are easy to tell apart simply because the backgrounds look different. These later covers will typically be found with matt labels and with later (etched) 2E matrixes on at least one side. They are NOT 1st pressings.  (At the time of listing there was at least one of these for sale on ebay, wrongly described as a first pressing).

This listing is for a hard-to-find GENUINE first pressing with stamped 1E/1E matrixes and glossy labels and a laminated cover with gold 3-tone background colours.

This has the following stamped 1st press matrix numbers:

Side 1: BPRS 7038 1E

Side 2: BPRS 7039 1E

Detailed description
Vinyl: The vinyl looks great and has retained its original sheen with very little to see. Even under bright, direct light there are just a few very fine hairlines and sleeve removal marks, but there is nothing significant anywhere. I would grade it as a SAFE Excellent (Ex), probably better.

Labels: Original 1st press glossy labels. No writing, tears, stickers etc and minimal signs of use.

Sleeve: The rare 1st press laminated sleeve has no writing, tears, stickers etc, and just light signs of use. As is very common with these covers, the laminate has lifted near the spine, but it hasn't peeled or flaked. This is one of the best first press covers that I've seen for Transformer.

Detracting features not covered above:  None.

All photographs are of the actual item for sale. Please look carefully at all the photos and 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.