I 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. No shipping to Russia currently.

Queen : Queen 3U/3U 1st Press 1973

This first pressing plays to a a very high standard with no clicks or pops and only a very small number of very light ticks.  The clarity, depth, power and warmth of the audio is stunning and it is easily one of the finest examples of this iconic debut album that I have ever listened to.  The more powerful sections play with supreme power and the quieter sections are equally as impressive with barely any background.  The vinyl is great condition also and has no spindle wear.  It is 50 years old now of course and it would be difficult to find one that plays better!

The G & L cover for the large part is in excellent condition but the edges do have some wear here and there so have graded it as VG+ accordingly.  The front and back cover are very clean.  The original inner sleeve is excellent condition with only very minimal wear.

EMC 3061 // YAX 4623 - 3U / YAX 4624 - 3U // TT 3 / HH 2

KIP - HUGGYPOO KISSY etched on S1 & AGAIN! etched on S2

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T2 Near Mint)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T2 Near Mint)

The cover is VG+

The inner sleeve is Ex
The labels are Mint-

Visual description

The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has an impressive glossy sheen with no scratches.  Only when you look under a bright light can you see some of the usual faint hairlines but not that many.  There are a few minor 'specks' also but they have zero affect on the audio.  The run out grooves are very clean and the EMI labels have no marking and no spindle wear either!

Play grading

The classic intro on 'Keep Yourself Alive' has no background at all, the playback is perfect and the opening vocal is of the same high end standard.  Because the vinyl is so clean the original sonic quality is still there and it continues to play with exceptional clarity, power and depth - the vocals are so clean and the instrumental sections are just stunning including Roger's solo.  The fade out again has no intrusion and this is without doubt a Mint start to the album.

The quiet piano intro on 'Doing All Right' is sublime with only one barely audible dust tick and Freddie's first vocal is equally as good.  There is one light static tick as Roger sings his first Doing All Right but that is the only intrusion across the entire track.  The very quiet 'Should be waiting for the sun...' verse plays beautifully with only a handful of mega quiet dust ticks and the double bass section that follows is flawless.  The first high octane section is STUNNING and the next vocal has no interference either.  The final 'heavy' section is as strong and clear as the first one and the remainder of the track again has no intrusion on the audio.  A superb version that easily grades as Near Mint but it's no exaggeration to say the vast majority is even better than that!

'Great King Rat' plays with real quality from the get go.  The intro is 'as new' as is the opening vocal section.  It continues to play with breath-taking quality and this is clearly an album that has no been played very much!  Brian's first solo section is incredible and the 'Now listen all you people...' vocal has to be heard to be believed!  The audio is so rich and deep and then the quiet acoustic passage has not so much as a dust tick.  Another sublime solo from Brian follows that and the rest of this classic plays with impeccable quality including the end percussive piece.  This is Mint in every way no need for a minus here!

'My Fairy King' plays with phenomenal audio from the first note to the last with... no interference.  Once again the sonic quality could not be improved upon, there are no negatives.  I heard just one very faint tick near the beginning of the final instrumental and this section then builds with stunning power and definition.  The 'sound' envelops the room and the quiet finale has no background.  This is easily Mint- and these final two tracks show just how good Freddie was at writing prog in the early days!

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The entire intro on 'Liar' plays with perfect clarity and again the depth and resonance of the audio is high end indeed.  The opening vocal has no intrusion and this standard is more than kept up as it progresses.  For once there is no distortion and I cannot overstate just how well it plays.  The mid instrumental is faultless and the Mama I'm gonna be your slave... vocal section could not play any better.  The following work from Brian is so strong and powerful and the classic 'choral' section is STUNNING as is the remainder.  This may well be the most 'complete' version I have ever heard and Mint is very much deserved.  Wow!

The intro on 'The Night Comes Down' plays with wonderful clarity and depth with that superb 'heavy' bass sound and the opening vocal is crystal clear.  The first chorus has no intrusion and it continues to play with great quality.  There are a handful of minor static ticks during the the next verse but they are quiet and then the final chorus has no interference whatsoever.  The proggy ending just has has one mega light tick and overall Near Mint is correct.

'Modern Times Rock 'N' Roll' plays with tremendous power and depth with no interference.  No background at all here and Mint is richly deserved.

The 'heavy' and deep 'Son And Daughter' plays with outstanding audio from start to finish and with no interference.  No ticks, clicks, pops or static.  Is there a touch of inner groove distortion?  If so it is so minimal and totally non-intrusive.  Let's say Mint-

'Jesus' has just one very quiet tick on the intro (not interference!) and the opening vocal section could not play any better.  It progresses in the same way and the high octane mid instrumental is superb!  It is so powerful and dynamic and there is no distortion at all.  The final vocal is very clean and the echo 'effect' finale is just as strong.  This underrated track so often plays with a fair amount of distortion but there is no obvious deterioration in sound here.  Mint-

The 'Seven Seas Of Rhye...' taster ends the album with very clear audio and no interference.  The long fade out has no intrusion either and Mint- is fair.

In summary this first pressing plays with superb audio with no real interference and as you can see only two tracks grade as Near Mint all the others grade higher!  As my feedback confirms I do no over-grade, there would be no point, and the clarity and power of the audio here is exceptional.  No clicks or pops and only a minimal amount of very light ticks.  A super clean vinyl that plays as good as it looks!

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The G & L cover has some wear but only on the edges.  The top edge is actually very clean with only a small rub next to the left corner - the bottom edge has a little more wear mainly by the corners and minor rubbing centrally.  The spine still has its shape but does have a few rubs and a little wear on the corners.  The opening edge is in lovely condition with no handling wear and the front cover is also very clean with only a couple of small faint marks.  The back cover if anything is even better with barely any marking.  Like I say it's only really the edges that are affected and even then not in a major way.

The original EMI die-cut inner is in excellent condition with just one tiny bottom edge split and some light fading.  There is no other marking and barely any creasing.
Play tested on my Rega P2 with Rega Carbon Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

EMC 3061 // YAX 4623 - 3U / YAX 4624 - 3U // TT 3 / HH 2

KIP - HUGGYPOO KISSY etched on S1 & AGAIN! etched on S2

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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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 MAY 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 : £15.95 then £2.00 per extra

USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £21.95 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!