URIAH HEEP FIREFLY A1/B1 1st PRESS SUPERB COVER & AUDIO, BEST EVER! EX+/MINT-

Sold Date: April 24, 2022
Start Date: April 14, 2022
Final Price: £43.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 10
Seller Feedback: 3974
Buyer Feedback: 0


Reduced shipping costs for March/April!  All items sent tracked.

will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale.

Uriah Heep : Firefly A1/B1

For this auction I am selling a number of progressive/heavy rock records that have been so well preserved down the years and many of them hardly played.  I am moving house soon so want to 'shift' a lot of my stock quickly so unfortunately do not have the time to describe each track in detail as I generally do.  However, I will still play every track in full (such a chore!) so as to provide a 'complete' grading.

This first pressing quite simply plays with audio that can accurately be described 'as new'.  There is no interference and the clarity and definition on another level.  It has clearly hardly ever been played and is visually stunning also.

The gatefold is in excellent condition with only very minimal wear and the original lyric inner is practically 'as new' also.

I-22   ILPS 9483 A-1 PN-A  EG // I-14   ILPS 9483 B-1   EG

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-)

The gatefold is Ex+

The labels are Mint-

The lyric inner is Mint-

Visual grading

The vinyl is visually stunning and still has that 'as new' jet-black glossy sheen.  There are no marks or scratches and I cannot locate any hairlines either.  There is obviously no groove wear and the Bronze labels are in superb condition also with only one faint spindle trace on S1 and a couple on S2 that are barely visible.

Play Grading

The intro on 'The Hanging Tree' plays perfectly and it continues in the same way with outstanding sonic quality.  A Mint start to the album.  This is another from the Uriah Heep collection that I am selling that has hardly ever been played.  'Been Away Too Long' and 'Who Needs Me' play to the same 'high end' standard with no 'background' of any kind and 'Wise Man' ends the side with impeccable quality once more.  The quiet intro plays beautifully and it then plays with stunning precision with no interference, no inner groove distortion either.

'Do You Know' on S2 is 'as new' and 'Rollin' On' also plays with breathtaking quality from start to finish.  A couple of dust ticks at most the clarity is so impressive and the instrumental section is sensational!  The clarity is on another level and there are just no negatives.  'Sympathyis equally as good and 'Firefly' ends the album with stunning audio...again.  There are no ticks, clicks or pops and the clarity really cannot be faulted.  Another barely played album and another Mint side.

The Gatefold & Lyric Inner

The cover is in excellent condition with very little wear.  The edges have only minimal rubbing and the wide spine is very clean with only a couple of minor scuffs.  The corners are also in great shape with just a little more wear top right.  The front cover is unmarked apart from one very small faint sticker removal mark top right and the back cover is as close to perfect as is possible.  The inside of the gatefold is stunning with only a couple of tiny faint spots and is so clean when you consider how white it is.  The die-cut lyric inner is near perfect with only some very minor rubbing on one edge.

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

At the moment eBay do not allow shipping to Russia due to the ongoing crisis.  Apologies to my Russian customers, you know who to blame


Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end


Recent Feedback

Very happy with this item, and special thanks for perfect packing!

Fabulous - like new. Fast dispatch, well packaged. 5* seller. Thank you

100% reliable seller. Fast shipping and great communication. A++++

Everything perfect as usual!! Item in pristine condition and quick delivery!

Top seller! Well packed record and great condition of item.

Fast, safe post, packing & comms. Ebay needs more sellers like this. Thank you.

Fantastic shipping, killer service, amazing seller, buy from him !!

Best seller! A++++ always great collectible items in perfect condition!

Postage & Packaging

I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE WILL BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD).  AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN.  HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING.  PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH.  MANY THANKS.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!

UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £12.95 then £2.00 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £20.95 then £2.50 per extra

I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS!  IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT.  I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!