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 generally collect at point of sale.  No shipping to Russia currently.

Black Sabbath : Sabbath Bloody Sabbath 1Y1 / 2Y1 1st Press 1973

This genuine first press plays with stunning quality on both sides with barely any background.  The sonic quality is so impressive and there is no distortion.  In my opinion this LP has hardly been played such is the clarity and the stunning visual 'look' it still has and has not been removed from the sleeve that often because it's difficult to find any hairlines!  The only real intrusion is one light click on S2 but this is clearly an album that has been very carefully looked after over the last 51 years.  I cannot emphasise enough just how fantastic the audio is!

The cover is in excellent shape and for once the front cover is very clean with only minimal fading around the edges.  The back cover does have a little more but certainly no 'bad' marking.  The lyric inner is superb with only a little creasing.

Only the first pressing has a 1Y1 / 2Y1 matrix, the gatefold is matte textured and the lyric inner has only two cut corners at the top.

WWA 005 1 Y ▽ 1  1 1 7   25

WWA 005 2 Y * 1  1 1  8

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T3 Near Mint)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T1 Near Mint- / T4 intro Near Mint-) 

The gatefold is Ex-

The lyric inner is Ex

The labels are Near Mint

Visual description

The vinyl is in superb condition and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  All I can find under a bright light are a small number of ultra faint hairlines and just a small section of very faint mottling on the first track of S2.  Not easy to see and I only mention it to be 100% complete with my grading.  The run out grooves are pristine and the WWA labels are unmarked with barely any spindle wear.  A stunning first press!

Play grading

The intro on 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' has no intrusion and Osbourne's opening vocal section then plays perfectly.  The first 'acoustic' section plays with sublime clarity and it continues in the same precise way.  Loud and powerful when it needs to be with no distortion and quiet and delicate during the more low key moments.  The power and depth of the audio is superb, look no further than the mid instrumental and to the very end it plays with a sonic quality that is 10/10 in every way.  As good a start that you could wish for, even the fade out has no background.  Mint

Once again the intro on 'A National Acrobat' plays with genuine quality and the first vocal is just as impressive.  From then on every vocal and instrumental section plays so clearly and with that typical deep rich Sabbath sound.  No ticks, clicks, pops or static and only a small number of barely audible statics that are so much in the background I don't know why I am mentioning them!  It's what I do!  The instrumental towards the end is breath-taking - so powerful and deep, what incredible sound!  I think Mint- is fair here although I'm not sure the minus is necessary.

'Fluff' plays beautifully from the off.  The clarity of sound here is superb and there is nothing that detracts from the playback.  A small number of very minor statics that is all and it is easily of the cleanest versions I have ever heard.  Near Mint is very much deserved.

'Sabbra Cadabra' has no interference on the intro and it then plays with great power and definition and with no distortion on the top end.  I like a good strong bass sound and wow is it strong here!  There is just a hint of very light static for a couple of seconds just before the first instrumental and thereafter plays with stunning precision.  A lot of Rick Wakeman on this track and indeed every instrumental passage plays with incredible clarity.  Mint-

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Killing Yourself To Live' is near perfect with the only intrusion being one light click after the first vocal.  Apart from that the clarity and power of the undiminished so I will say this classic is Near Mint- because Ex+ just seems too harsh for half a second of interference!  Such powerful work from Iommi and co as per usual.

'Who Are You?' plays to the highest standard possible with no background which is impressive when you consider it is a relatively quiet track by Sabbath standards.  The mid instrumental is a case in point.  The clarity is superb from start to finish, a small number of barely audible statics as I often say.  Mint-

The intro on 'Looking For Today' is flawless and the opening vocal is just as good.  The following 'acoustic' vocal has not so much as a dust tick and this level does not drop as it progresses.  Once again the sonic quality is as strong as ever and Ward's percussion at the end shows this in abundance.  Mint

The acoustic intro on 'Spiral Architect' plays so clearly with only the lightest of background static every now and then and obviously it isn't intrusive. As Iommi's familiar down-tuned sound comes back in the playback is 'as new' and Osbourne's opening vocal is equal to that.  It continues to play with high end audio and the strings add so much to this track.  Each section plays with exceptional quality - I will grade the intro as Near Mint- and the remainder as Mint the audio is stunning.

The Gatefold & Lyric Inner

This cover is notoriously difficult to find in decent condition, how often do the edges have surface 'rub' / fading?  A lot of the time is the answer!  This one has been preserved very well and is very clean indeed.  The edges have barely any rubbing and the wide spine is still perfectly in shape with only a couple of tiny marks.  All corners are very clean also with very little wear and the opening edge has only very minimal handling wear.  As stated the front cover is in excellent condition with only minimal fading / marking around the edges and has just two minor white 'specks' next to the right edge.  The back cover does have a little more marking around the edges but then it is a white background and shows up more.  It's definitely not in poor condition, just not as clean as the front.  The inside of the gatefold is stunning with only a handful of minor white specks.  A very strong example and better than so many you see today.

The lyric inner has no side splits, tears or marking and has only some creasing mainly in the bottom two corners.  One of the best I have seen.

Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT-VM95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

WWA 005 1 Y ▽ 1  1 1 7   25

WWA 005 2 Y * 1  1 1  8

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

Recent Feedback

THIS IS WHAT A SELLER SHOULD BE LIKE ON HIGH END VINYL! Exactly as described if not better ! I could not be a happier customer .. well packed for international flight .. and shipped and received very fast .. No worries here this guy is the tops

GREAT AS DESCRIBED BEST SELLR OF ALL THE UK PEOPLE AND I HAVE BOUGHT FROM ALL OF THEM

Beautiful record as described, fast safe delivery, top seller. Cheers Steve.

Another fantastic LP from this seller - condition exactly as shown and the audio as described! Fast delivery, vinyl properly and carefully packed. Very highly recommended A++++

Another stunning LP from this very reliable and helpful seller.

Very quick delivery. Album exactly as described. Excellent packaging. Once again all perfect. Thanks!!!

Great item and seller (no.1), many thanks from ITALY !!!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic! Record as Described! Excellent Packaging and Fast Overseas Shipping!

One of the best on Ebay!

Another amazing record from this exceptional seller. Absolutely delighted!

Great seller and great vinyl record, professionally packaged. I’m very satisfied with my purchase and will certainly buy again!

Postage & Packaging

I will only send items items worldwide via tracked shipping.  This provides 'peace of mind' in case of loss or damage.  The shipping costs are shown below and combined shipping is always offered.  Any over-payment will always be refunded.

The Royal Mail only insure up to a value of £250 so if an item sells for more it may be wise to use a courier service (e.g. Parcelforce or DPD).  An extra insurance premium will be required but I will not know the exact amount until the final sale price is known.  Because of this I will sometimes have to estimate the cost and this will be shown in the listing.  Please wait for the invoice before making payment and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.  Many thanks.

All vinyls are packaged in strong over-sized custom made mailers with plenty of extra cardboard protection.  They are placed inside separate poly-lined inners outside the cover so as to avoid seam splits in transit and then placed inside a PVC sleeve to provide even more protection.  I pride myself on my high quality packaging as my feed confirms and if any customer has any specific requirements I am more than happy to help.

The mailers I use cost £1.00 each and I will use anything between 3-5 cardboard stiffeners which cost approx £0.18 each.  There is also the cost of the poly-lined inner and PVC sleeve to consider, it all adds up!  Not forgetting that eBay take 10% of the shipping fee also!!

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

LPs/12" singles : £6.50 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £13.95 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

If you are not entirely happy with your purchase please contact me before leaving feedback and I will always resolve any issue, 100% guaranteed.  If you would prefer to send the item back I will also pay the return shipping cost if I am at fault, I am only human after all!!