Sold Date: December 18, 2017
Start Date: December 2, 2017
Final Price: £475.00 (GBP)
Seller Feedback: 567
Buyer Feedback: 82

 This is from my own collection, I am not a dealer, in the next few months I am selling off part of my collection, some rarities and collectable, no filler! Thanks for looking!


"Vault Vinyl" copy
1st UK pressing 1st labels "upside down feather" version!


Great Ex Red Plum Vinyl A3 B3  1971 1st UK press to buy and keep

Has the inverted or "upside down feather" on side 2
as there was no "superhype" credit Atlantic had stickers made to show this which this copy has!
1st press Oct 1971 1st Label Version  


Please note that this album is complete and original 1971 UK pressing and is sold for its rarity rather than for its condition

To be clear this is an A3 B3 1971 1st UK 1971 pressing,  the very earliest MATRIX possible.

There are 4 varieties of labels on the very first UK presses,

this is no 1


Excellent Condition The Vinyl

This is the label 1 version with the correct "Mountain Hop" with the "no band name" on the top half of label, so this is the version 1 label on UK red plum press 1971 label.
(the stickers added by Atlantic show the band name)

the side 1 label has had an ancient sticker or tag removed (see photos) its not too much of a detraction and the "Excellent vinyl" balances this nicely in our view. 

Superb audio on this copy, there is some light static on intro to "Battle for Evermore" also evident in some quieter passages but not many. Its a real treat to listen. super flat on the table no issues or worrying faults!

Anyone are looking for "mint" or " near Mint" or "Archive unplayed" copies please see other listings and note this is not one of those. A professional clean can help (we don't do this as its a personal thing)

Photos are of actual item for sale, what you see is what you get here. 


also credits go to "Kinney Music Ltd"  and "Superhype Music Inc" on the super rare "stickers" which also cover the "Executive Producers" credit to Peter Grant which is underneath! the rport is Jimmy Page (once again as in Led Zep 3) wanted these removed!

The was "no band name" on the upper half of the label so "Led Zeppelin" was added by the record company who were upset by the groups "Unititled" approach, this is a piece of rock history on this classic album.


this has on side 1 "Peco Duck" and side 2 "Porky" hand etched on the runout groove....

(this was a reference by the famous "Beatles Engineer" George Peckham)

whose stamp was "a porkys prime cut" Page was so impressed with what heard on the Beatles records he asked for George , employed then at Apple then 3 Saville Row, London who obliged on this occasion.


the sound quality of these rare first presses wipes the floor in our view with the new reissues but over to the listener....

This cut plays loud and its been reported as some are recorded louder than later versions...

like the Turquoise 1st Album the song credits help identify a true 1st press which this is and its a reluctant sale...

We hear that there were only around 2000 Led Zeppelin 1 turquoise 1st albums made now they are sky high in value and deservedly so how many remain--

This the earliest A3 B3 Matrix vinyl (close to master tapes) versions of the 4th album are getting rarer as collectors snap them up....there is no earlier matrix (only label variations)

The Audio on the Early Red Plums knocks the socks off the new reissues in our view but over to the listener...

look now on ebay and once you sift through to the "real thing" only 1or 2 normally show up , all priced 400 gbp + in various conditions , this vinyl is a keeper look no further!

  

This is rare and getting hard to find in good order

Led zeppelin IV recorded between their "mayhem tours" in USA in 1970 at Headley Grange England , this is very much the sound of a band settled and for many their best work.
The classic tracks are here by the bucketful, Black Dog , Rock n Roll, Stairway to Heaven, Levee Breaks all jump off the grooves with incredible clarity on this copy, the audio is awesome on our Rega 3.

Page got what he wanted here and the mixing done at various locations dictated by tour schedule are a credit to the producer, despite delays by mastering artwork and "no title" wrangles with Atlantic the album was released in UK end October Early November 71. This is one of those early early copies!

This recording really put Zeppelin back on top following the cooler reception of the 3rd record (at the time) we have heard 1st hand some aging critics waxing on about how much they love the 3rd (hmm but at the time guys you panned it!) no names as we know you know.

Atlantic by this time had given a blank cheque but when they found out the 4th record was planned untitled no band names etc. Ahmet Ergun hit the roof! and summoned Page and Grant to USA to "discuss" ...backed by the very large Peter Grant Page stuck to his guns and replied "if they didn't like the last one this this will wake them up but no band names, this rests on the music and the fans" he was right and Peter Grants Boys had done it again, to this day many regard this as THE greatest rock album of all time... judged for yourself but for us the audio quality of these 1st presses are vastly superior to the recent "deluxe super deluxe releases!"  just DAMN HARD TO FIND AT A FAIR PRICE!

Atlantic did a great job in 1971 with these, word is Peter Grant got the pressing plants to clean the master discs more regular (using a process normally reserved for classical recordings) rock and pop were still considered "passing phases" so it was not felt necessary to clean the pressing plates as often due to the volume they were recorded at with few quieter passages
.
Once again Grant broke the mold when he visited the UK pressing plant and "insisted" who would refuse him?

The job was done this way for the early runs in the first year or so... after...

Only the first presses came out with no band name on top the label only the 4 symbols. The spacing is different v later presses so easy to spot once you know, see photos,
all photos are of actual item for sale, what you see is what you get here, see our 100% feedback!

Grab yourself a piece of rock history!

These are getting harder to find in anything like this condition.

The Record

Excellent

A3 B3 the very  1st matrixes!

In Ex condition with some surface lines,removal scuffs, and hairlines (see photos) some scuffs and surface lines from sleeve removal over the years also few hairlines which do not affect play, no jumps or sticks on our Rega 3 bear in mind this is a 45 year old vinyl record! we also tested on a fussy "light tracking" Kenwood deck with no issues.
very clear audio quality in the acoustic tracks with no skips or jumps to disrupt. There are some faint pops on also in some quieter passages but not many.

Anyone are looking for "mint" or " near Mint" or "Mint" or "archive unplayed" copies please see other listings and note this is not one of those.


some slight static in the very quiet, the acoustic parts,

Nice fat pre oil crisis 70s vinyl wow ! nice flat and fat.

Plays fantastic with bright crisp sound may benefit from a professional clean (we don't do this as it's an individual thing) some background static is noticeable in the quieter passages but not many of those!

The labels retain great bold colours with no fade we can notice under light., the stickers are clean and "unpicked" side 1 has the sticker removal mark (see photos)
side 2 is the Legendary "inverted feather" version impossible to find!

see picture,there are very few spindle lines.



Please note that this album is complete and original 1971 UK pressing and is priced for its rarety rather than for its condition
the record and sleeve are original and 46 years old


The sleeve     

with the original impossible to find "Grey Blotting paper" original "Keith Morris" photo  credit inner lyric insert

Nr Excellent sleeve

Having done it's job over 46 years the sleeve has a little ring wear on the rear! (see photos) stored in upright PVC sleeve for 30+ years.

 It is one of the better "original matt sleeves" it does have a little wear at corners, so not perfect  (see photos in listing)

(see photo in listing) really good order no issues, rips, stickers or writing.

There are no seam splits , colours are good and not a lot fading, the thick card has held up well,

The original grey blotting paper inner with "Stairway to Heaven" lyrics is present wow! soo difficult to get.(with Keith Morris photo credit)

This is one of best Keith Morris Photo credit inners we have seen! amazing for its 46 years life.

inner sleeve is in Nr Excellent order only small fraying small tear at the opening side see pictures, these are old and fragile now (see photos in listing)
no tape repairs ,no splitting, no writing on the inner sleeve

These are often tatty beyond help but on this one its in Nr Ex condition and an original from release date in 1971


This is a great buy for someone looking for a wholly original 1st press of this great album (its not an archive Mint copy)

It is a excellent only a tick here and there, no skips or jumps and beautiful audio Mint and Archive stored Near Mint copies are almost impossible now sometimes £800+!
this is great value under £500! 

This is a great affordable copy to own and play! "Excellent" our "fully audio tested" grading.

See photos.... Please note this item is advertised for sale elsewhere also

See my other Zeppelin albums for sale

Overseas yes we do! post cost is in GBP onl Any import taxes applied by your country are the buyers responsibility

Due to the value this record will be only be sent Royal Mail signed for and International tracked
 International post is £20 GBP due to item value and cost of the service.