PINK FLOYD DARK SIDE OF THE MOON A2/B2 1st PRESS + POSTERS/STICKERS EX/NMINT

Sold Date: September 23, 2018
Start Date: September 13, 2018
Final Price: £531.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 46
Seller Feedback: 3351
Buyer Feedback: 897


The Dark Side of the Moon A2 / B2 (1st Pressing - Solid Blue Triangle)
This highly collectable first pressing is in lovely condition and it plays to a very high standard for the vast majority.  Many sections play as Near Mint if not better the audio is stunning.  There is just one obvious section of interference on S1.  The 'midnight blue' gatefold is in great condition with only minor wear and I have not seen many cleaner.
Also included are the posters and stickers that all remain in superb condition.
SHVL 804 // A-2 / B-2 // GRT 5 / GGG 4
The audio on Side One is Ex (Near Mint in many sections / first 35 seconds on track 1 is G+)
The audio on Side Two is Ex+ (Mint- in many sections / track 1 & 2 intros Ex-)
The gatefold cover is Ex
The labels are Near Mint
The original poly-lined inner is VG+
The posters and stickers are Near Mint
Visual grading
This 'solid blue' vinyl is one of the visually most impressive I have seen in a long time and has been very carefully preserved down the years.  There are a few faint hairlines on each side and a couple that are a little more obvious but there are certainly no scratches.  The vinyl still has a lovely glossy sheen and the run out grooves are also extremely clean.  There is some spindle wear although not an excessive amount so it has not been over-played in my opinion.  A lovely example of this rare and very collectable album.
Play grading
Firstly I will say that the vast majority of this classic album plays with wonderful audio.  However, the first 35 seconds on 'Speak To Me' does have some interference.  There is what I can only describe as a scraping whoosh type sound per revolution of the record.  It is off putting but once you hear the spoken 'I've always been mad...' line the audio is very clear.  If you can accept this then, like I say, the remainder of the album is very impressive.
'Breathe' then plays with superb sonic quality and no obvious clicks or pops at all.  Every now and then there is some very faint background static but I only mention this to be complete in my grading and it is totally non-intrusive.  I'm probably only hearing it because my ears are so close to the speakers!  Towards the end there are a couple of very quiet 'ticks'.
'On The Run' is quite simply outstanding!  The depth and overall range of the audio is among the best I have ever heard and to think this is an A2/B2 press!  Even when turned up loud there is no distortion and on the quiet 'running man' ending there is only a minimal amount of light static.  This grades as Near Mint without doubt.
The clocks chime loud and true and without distortion on the 'Time' intro and the following section then plays with great clarity but with some light static in the background.  There are no clicks or pops or loud crackle for that matter.  Once the vocal begins the audio is absolutely stunning and the separation is of the highest quality.  There are two light clicks during the second verse but this is the only interference and from then on the audio is stunning.  The guitar solo in particular is incredible and you can turn up the volume without fear of distortion as the sonic quality is 'high end' to say the least.  The remainder of the track plays with Near Mint quality if not better.
'Breathe Reprise' is absolutely faultless and I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint- the clarity is exceptional and plays 'as new'.
'The Great Gig In The Sky' intro has hardly any 'background' and plays with amazing clarity.  There is some light static on the spoken section but once the 'vocal' begins the power and depth of this classic is astounding.  Again there is no distortion and it sounds as good as the day when it was first released.  It plays so well and it knocks spots off the later pressings/recent reissues.  I have played it twice and I cannot believe how good it sounds, 100% stunning!  Even the quiet vocal section that follows plays in impeccable style with barely any static which is rare for this track let alone on a first A2/B2 pressing.  The final end section has only the faintest of light static here and there which is in no way intrusive.  This piano section plays so clearly and overall this is a simply stunning version of this track.
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'Money' on S2 has a very faint hiss and a couple of light 'ticks' on the intro but it is quiet and doesn't intrude on the quality of the listen in my opinion.  The first couple of verses play very clearly with only light static but again this is very much in the background and non-intrusive.  It still plays incredibly well and the clarity is very impressive.  From the saxophone section onwards the audio is as near to perfect as is possible.  The depth of the bass really comes through on the A2/B2 pressings and this is no exception here.  The strength and power is tangible and this instrumental section plays with immaculate sound!  The guitar solos in particular are stunning - this whole section grades as Mint- for certain.  No interference and no distortion whatsoever.  Wow!  The remainder of the track plays to the same standard.  Superb!  The long fade out has barely any 'background'.  Many of these first pressings had a skip pressed into the grooves but fortunately that is not the case here.  The long fade out has barely any 'background'.
'Us And Them' has some light crackle on the intro and a couple of light clicks but the music still plays very clearly.  Once you hear the saxophone it has decreased a lot.  The first two verses play with great clarity and only the odd light static sound.  The first chorus is stunning and reverberates with incredible power and depth.  Thereafter the audio is of fantastic quality and has no intrusive interference at all.  With only a small number of mega light dust ticks only the depth and clarity is 'high end' to say the least and much of it plays to a Mint- standard.  I realise I mention clarity a lot but that is how any album should be judged of course.  The clarity here is very impressive indeed!
'Any Colour You Like' plays with the same precision and there is no static or crackle to be heard and certainly no clicks or pops.  A superb version without doubt.
The quiet intro on 'Brain Damage' is Near Mint for sure, just the off barely audible dust tick.  This breathtaking quality continues to the end with barely any static and again the power of the bass is stunning.  The depth of the sound is all encompassing and really envelops the room when turned up loud.  A stunning version.
'Eclipse' end this classic LP with wonderful audio.  There is a hint of distortion on the top level as is always the case with this track and there is definitely less here than on many other A2/B2 pressings I have heard.  It still plays with great power and depth and no clicks, pops etc.  The 'heartbeat' ending is also very impressive when you consider how quiet it is.  There is no obvious 'background', just a couple of very gentle 'ticks' literally at the end.
In summary the audio plays to a very high standard and it is patently obvious that the previous owner looked after the record extremely well.  Yes it is a shame about the 30 seconds of interference at the start of S1 but in the main the audio plays with great clarity and there is not one single loud click or pop.  Indeed the quiet sections play to an impeccable standard overall which is a rarity on this iconic album.  A touch of light static here and there but nothing that detracts from the high quality on offer.  The fact that it is housed in a very clean 'midnight blue' gatefold makes it even more collectable.
The Gatefold
This original G & L 'midnight blue' gatefold is one of the cleanest I have ever seen, it is in beautiful condition and has been very carefully handled over the decades.  It has none of the fading that you so often see and has not doubt been safely stored inside a plastic sleeve for most of its life.  The front cover is remarkably clean with no obvious marking and only a handful of very small mega faint scratch lines that are only visible when held at a certain angle.  The back cover is also in excellent order with only minor ringwear and a couple of faint creases near the spine.  The top edge here has worn a little thin over about 3cms but it has not resulted in a split.  There are only a small number of rub marks on the edges with just a little more rubbing near the two bottom right hand corners.  The corners themselves are very clean with very little rubbing or creasing.  The spine is in superb condition with no marking and the opening edge has only light handling wear.  The inside of the gatefold is in great shape with only very faint spotting and again this is only visible when held under a certain light, it really is very clean.  Whilst it may sound that I have listed a lot of negatives I can assure you that the shelf wear is only very minor and this is without doubt one of the most impressive 'midnight blue' covers I have seen in a long time and hopefully the photos do it justice.  A lovely example of this iconic gatefold.
Original Black inner sleeve
The original die-cut black poly-lined inner sleeve has the patent numbers and 'Made in Great Britain' in silver text on one side.  It has one small side split and the top corners have small splits as well.  There are also a couple of very small tears and some creasing so whilst it is not in perfect condition it is still more than acceptable and is original of course!
The Labels
They are both in great condition with no writing or marking and only some spindle wear.  You won't find many better!
The Posters and Stickers
The posters are in stunning condition and have no rips or tears, they are so clean.  The 'CrackBack / FaspPrint' stickers are also in superb shape with no wear.
Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

SHVL 804 // A-2 / B-2 // GRT 5 / GGG 4


I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.


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Postage & Packaging

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SHIPPING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE. WHEN ITEMS EXCEED A SALE PRICE OF £50.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT INTERNATIONALLY TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY PLUS INSURANCE AND THIS COSTS AN EXTRA £7.50 IN TOTAL.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE, MANY THANKS.

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