Led Zeppelin III A5 / B5 1st Press w/Peter Grant credit
This first pressing with the Peter Grant credit plays to a superb standard with only minimal 'background'.  There is no interference as such, just some light intermittent static on S1 that is non-intrusive.  These red/plum pressings rarely play as well as this and also the 'look' of the vinyl is just amazing!  It has been beautifully preserved over the last 50 years.
The cover is also in fantastic condition no obvious wear, just one small laminate crease on the back - that is it!  It has none of the marking/yellowing that you so often see and is without doubt one of the finest versions I have ever seen.
Shipping costs have massively increased recently and this item will have to be sent with extra insurance so as to correctly cover the sale price.
2401002 // A - 5   1 2 // Do what thou wilt
2401002 // B - 5   1 2 5 // So mote it be
The audio on S1 is Mint- (Track 2 & 3 intro Ex+ / T4 Ex+ / T5 Near Mint-) 
The audio on S2 is Mint- (T2 Near Mint- / T3 Near Mint)
The gatefold is Near Mint-
The S1 label is Mint- and S2 is Ex+
The 'plastic bags...' inner is Ex+
Play grading
The classic 'Immigrant Song' is stunning from the very first note and plays with a real sense of depth and power.  There is no interference and I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint the audio cannot be faulted.
The 'spoken' intro on 'Friends' has only minimal static and once the acoustic section begins there is no 'background' at all and that also applies to the first verse.  From that point on it plays with great precision with not even a dust tick to be heard.  The actual 'song' is Mint but I would say the intro is Ex+
'Celebration Day' again has only minimal static at the start but once Plant joins in the audio is immense!  You can turn this up to max without fear of distortion which is a rarity as there is so much 'going on' with this track and can suffer because of it.  This is a 'high end' version that kicks the recent reissues into touch!  The clarity and definition is so strong and there is nothing that gets in the way of the audio experience!  The long fade out plays with superb precision also.  This grades the same as the previous track.
'Since I've Been Loving You' has a very 'clean' intro with only the bare minimum of static that is non-intrusive and there are no clicks or pops.  As the vocal begins there is a little intermittent 'background' but it is only minor and lasts for only 3/4 seconds, non-intrusive in my opinion.  If you're sitting a few feet away you would probably not notice it! Thereafter it plays so well with amazing clarity and Page's solo is so powerful with barely any distortion.  The following quiet section is again so 'clean' with no intrusive static and to the end it plays with very strong audio.  This is difficult to grade as there are no clicks or pops but I think Ex+ is a fair reflection overall.
'Out On The Tiles' is well known for playing with inner groove distortion and it is just a matter of how much.  I've often thought the first press had a late A5/B5 matrix because of this track, they just couldn't get the 'levels' right!  In saying that this is a superb version with only minimal distortion and you can certainly turn it up to loud without having having to turn it down immediately.  The section towards the end where Jones' thundering bass comes in is so powerful and is the mainstay of the rhythm section here.  This 'high octane' track plays without interference to the very end and Near Mint- is about right.
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The acoustic intro on 'Gallows Pole' plays superbly with no obvious 'background' just a very gentle 'whoosh' of the stylus on the vinyl and this soon dissipates.  There is no static and no clicks or pops etc.  As the volume increases the audio is stunning and it continues to play in the same sublime way.  There is no interference and this really is a fantastic version of this foot stomping classic!  Mint-
'Tangerine' again has a very clean intro.  There is one light click just after the first line but aside from that it plays to perfection with no other interference, the clarity is exceptional with no underlying static.  I will grade as Near Mint- although the vast majority is better than that!
'That's The Way' has only a couple of mega light ticks on the intro but they are easily missed as they are so quiet!  This intro is nigh on perfect and progresses in exactly the same way.  There is perhaps just a very minimal amount of distortion on the top end of the vocal every now and then but yes so minimal and totally non-intrusive.  From start to finish there is no 'background' and Near Mint but again I think many would grade higher. 
'Bron-Y-Aur Stomp' is so impressive from the first groove to the last.  There is no interference of any kind and again the clarity is of the highest standard.  This is Mint in every way.
'Hat's Off...' ends the album with Mint quality audio once more.  Stunning definition and clarity the playback could not be any stronger.
In summary this genuine first pressing plays to a superb standard with very little intrusion on the audio.  Not only is the vinyl visually stunning but it has clearly not been overplayed and the audio definition for the vast majority is so impressive.  With only a minimal amount of light static on S1, just on the one track really, and one minor click on S2, the playback is so strong throughout with a clarity you don't often find on these first pressings.
Visual grading
This has retained its original quality so well and still has an immaculate glossy sheen.  There are no marks or scratches and any hairlines are extremely difficult to find!  S1 is stunning and I can only find a couple of faint hairlines on S2.  There is only minimal spindle wear and the run out grooves are also in superb condition.
The Gatefold
This iconic laminated cover is in lovely condition with no obvious shelf wear and the rotating 'wheel' works perfectly.  The top edge of the front cover has barely any rubbing and the bottom one has only a little.  These edges are open as per all the first/early pressings allowing the wheel to move freely, only on the later editions are they closed.  The wide spine is unmarked and in superb order and there is hardly any corner wear either.  The opening edge is close to perfect with no real handling wear which is a rarity.  The front cover is beautifully clean with no marking or foxing and the back cover is almost as good with only one minor laminate crease and a couple of faint scratch lines that you can only see at a certain angle.  For once it has none of the yellowing around the edges that you so often see and shows just how well it has been preserved over the years.  The inside of the gatefold is 'as new' and overall this is a stunning example of this unique cover.
The Inner Sleeve
The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bags...' inner has no side splits and only a little age related fading/spotting around the edges and minimal creasing.  This variation is not date coded and has the British patent Nos and 'Made in England 100' printed on one side
The Labels
The red/plum labels are in excellent order with no marking or writing and only minimal spindle wear as stated.  The S1 label is perfect and the S2 one just has a little fading/smudging of the colour in the bottom half, this is only minor.
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

2401002 // A - 5   1 2 // Do what thou wilt
2401002 // B - 5   1 2 5 // So mote it be

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

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Postage & Packaging

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SENDING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA/UKRAINE AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM VIA TRACKED SHIPPING AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00.

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