Led Zeppelin III A7/B5 Red/Plum pressing
This album is pressed on what is known as the second generation red/plum design with 2401-002 at 2 o'clock on the labels.  It plays to a fantastic standard as detailed below and is without doubt one of the finest red/plum pressings I have ever listened to.  There are no clicks or pops and no static either.  All tracks play with amazing clarity and whilst there are many highlights 'Out On The Tiles' really stands out as it has no distortion at all which is so rare.
The vinyl is visually stunning with no marks or scratches.
The E.J. Day cover, with a fully working 'wheel', is in superb condition with no obvious wear and the original inner just has some creasing.
With international shipping (including Europe now) I will declare a lower amount so as to decrease/avoid any Customs' fees.
2401002 // A 7  OPK  1 1 1 1 // Do what thou wilt
2401002 // B - 5  GHC  1 1 1 5 // So mote it be
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T4 Near Mint)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T1 intro Near Mint)  
The gatefold is Near Mint-
The 'plastic bags' inner is Ex
The labels are Near Mint
Visual grading
The vinyl is in superb condition and still has a very strong glossy sheen.  There are no marks or scratches and only a small number of very faint hairlines on each side, they are not easy to find!  The run out grooves are very clean and all the matrix info can easily be read and the red/plum labels are also in lovely condition with no marking or writing and only a little spindle wear.  They have retained their original deep colour extremely well.  The record does have a small 'lift' on one edge but is not an obvious warp as such and has no affect on the stylus or the audio quality.  It is really only noticeable when you play S1.
Play grading
The classic 'Immigrant Song' plays with great power and clarity from the very groove.  The sound is so clear you can even hear the 3,4 count in on the intro!  There is then just one light static tick near the start but from then on there is nothing to fault.  There is no distortion on the top end, no interference and it provides a superb Mint- start to the album.
The 'spoken intro' on 'Friends' has no 'background' and the acoustic beginning then has only a couple of barely audible dust ticks.  The first vocal is perfect and this standard is maintained as you progress.  This track often has a distorted 'tinny' type sound but there is none of that in evidence here and the sonic quality is very impressive indeed.  I detected one faint tick towards the end but there are no clicks or pops and no underlying static either.  The 'high octane' end section provides an immaculate 'as new' finish - a stunning Mint- version for sure.
The moog intro on 'Celebration Day' is nigh on perfect with only a couple of mega light dust ticks and then just one minor tick prior to Plant's vocal coming in.  Once Bonham and Jones enter the scene the playback is outstanding!  And from that point on there is no interference of any kind.  There is no distortion and that is a rarity for this track.  This can be played at full volume no problem!  Another Mint- track.  The long fade out plays with impeccable precision.
There is one click in the dead wax between songs and the quiet intro on 'Since I've Been Loving You' then impresses on every level.  I'm not sure I've heard clarity like it on a red/plum pressing!  So quiet and yet there is not even a single dust tick to be heard!  The first vocal is so 'clean' and I only detected a couple of very minor ticks.  It continues to play with a clarity and definition that you rarely find on this relatively quiet track.  Plant's higher register has no distortion and Page's long solo is among the strongest I have ever heard.  No clicks or pops and only a couple of insignificant static ticks.  The quiet section that follows has no 'background' and the final section also plays to a sublime standard with just one static tick right at the end.  Near Mint is a fair assessment of the audio but the majority is certainly better than that!
'Out On The Tiles' plays with stunning quality from the get go - this is rare because this track so often plays with distortion.  This is such a 'clean' version which can only be because it has hardly been played.  In fact the more I listen to it the more I am impressed!  I honestly cannot remember when I heard it play with such sharp definition and clarity.  No word of a lie I did not detect any distortion at all!  The 'heavier' section towards the end where the bass is very much to the fore is absolutely stunning and even fade out has no interference.  I'm not sure if I've ever heard a Mint version but we have one here!
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The acoustic intro on 'Gallows Pole' is close to perfect with only 4/5 very light ticks which are not intrusive in any way, barely audible truth be told!  The first vocal is flawless and as the tempo increases the audio is 'as new' - the clarity and depth of the audio is breathtaking.  It continues to play with imperious quality and there are just no negatives, what a version!  The intro is Near Mint but the remainder is Mint guaranteed.
The very quiet intro on 'Tangerine' has no 'background' and the 7 second 'silent' section that follows is...silent!  The following acoustic section also plays with sublime clarity and the first vocal has no interference either.  As Bonham and Jones join in this same standard is kept up and the remainder of the track plays with a depth and warmth that cannot be faulted.  No ticks, clicks or pops - a stunning Mint version in every sense of the word.
'That's The Way' plays to the same 'high end' standard with no interference of any kind.  It may not be a first pressing but it's not often you find a red/plum playing with such incredible clarity and depth.  'As new' is the best way to describe this track so you will know the grade - Mint
The acoustic intro on 'Bron-Y-Aur Stomp' has only a couple of very faint ticks and thereafter plays with immaculate precision.  Again the clarity is exceptional and it would be difficult to find a better version.  I cannot overstate just how 'clean' the audio is - it has that CD aesthetic quality but without the warmth and depth that only vinyl can bring.  Mint-
'Hat's Off To (Roy) Harper' ends this fine album with no interference you will not be surprised to hear.  This time there is not even a single dust tick let alone anything more and Mint is very much deserved.
In summary this early red/plum pressing plays to a standard that you rarely find today.  There are of course so many acoustic sections and yet they all play with unbelievable clarity.  I have to say in some ways 'Out On The Tiles' impressed me the most as it plays with a clarity and depth you just never hear and that is no exaggeration!  As always I have played every track in full and the sonic quality on both sides cannot be faulted, this is certainly one of the finest red/plums I have had the pleasure in listening to.  Together with a superb cover this will not disappoint!
The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve
The laminated E.J. Day cover is in great condition and has maintained its original shape so well and has clearly not been handled very much.  There is hardly any shelf wear and as stated the 'wheel' still works perfectly.  The edges have barely any rubbing and as always with the first/early pressings the top and bottom edge of the front cover are 'open' so as to allow free movement of the wheel.  The wide spine is in superb order and remains 100% legible and the corners are incredibly clean with no noticeable wear.  The opening edge has only very minimal handling wear.  The front cover has no marking, just a handful of minor specks and there is no laminate damage either.  The back cover is just as impressive and has none of the yellowing/fading around the edges that you so often see, a genuine rarity.  It has only a small number of very faint scratch lines and a small crease top left but you can only see these minor imperfections when you hold the cover at a certain angle.  The inside of the gatefold is in lovely condition with no marking etc and for once the inner spine area has no damage at all.  This is a stunning example of this iconic cover.
The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bags...' inner has no side splits or tears but there is some creasing and the catalogue number of the album is also in written in one side.  It date coded 1070 which of course refers to the original release date.
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 7  OPK  1 1 1 1 // Do what thou wilt
2401002 // B - 5  GHC  1 1 1 5 // So mote it be

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

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