Sold Date: August 7, 2020
Start Date: August 1, 2020
Final Price: £385.00 (GBP)
Seller Feedback: 943
Buyer Feedback: 0

 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 Stored`
A SUPER RARE UK A3 B3  1971 UK 1st press to buy and keep
THIS IS THE SUPER  RARE JIMMY PAGE AND LED ZEPPELIN credits `NO BAND NAME` LED ZEPPELIN sticker added ON UPPER HALF OF LABEL by Atantic Records  with the Legendary `PETER GRANT` Production Credit covered by Jimmy Page stickers RARE

The original grey blotting paper inner with "Stairway to Heaven" lyrics is present IN Nr EX shape wow! soo difficult to get in decent shape. so hard to find intact has some tape see pic

ATLANTIC WERE APPARENTLY SO Angry with this non commerical behaviour `THEY APPLIED` stickers with the `BAND NAME` and `Superhype` soon after release so this is A very rare version 2 label copy on A3 B3 is possibly the rarest...label version...
the PG credit situ had rolled over from LED ZEP III and once again `Peter Grant` was credited as exec producer only on the very early presses
then Atlantic added these Jimmy Page `STICKERS`

they are rare this one is an Nr EX vinyl and Nr EX sleeve copy , not `a perfect` or `nr mint` but quality copy, please read all the listing fully and ask any question....     



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 UK pressing, the very earliest MATRIX possible.

There are 4 varieties of labels on the very first UK presses, this is version no 2,
this  version 2 has `LED ZEPPELIN` stickers on the label due to Atlantic Records displeasure with the `NO BAND NAME` style of the Version 1 label.

 Near EX Vinyl and inner sleeve

This is the label 2nd version with NO BAND NAME in the upper half of the label,  the correct "Mountain Hop" with  `STICKER  band name` on the top half of label, so this is the label version 2 red plum press 1971 label with the correct "hop " credit.with
STICKERS OVER THE PETER GRANT CREDITS AND BAND NAME ADDED TO TOP LABEL HALF.
Photos are of actual item for sale, what you see is what you get here. 


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....

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--

the  A3 B3 versions of the 4th album are getting rarer as collectors snap them up....there is no earlier matrix (only label variations)

look now on ebay and once you sift through to the "real thing" only 1or 2 normally show up , many priced 500 gbp + in various conditions , this vinyl is a keeper look no further NEAR EX!

  

This is rare and getting hard to find in anything like 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! HERE IS A MUST BUY AND KEEP OFTEN THESE SELL FOR 500 GBP THESE ARE RARE AND SEEN AT 700 GBP PLUS....SO UNDER 400 IS A DEAL.

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

Near Ex
A3 B3 The very  1st matrixes!

In Nr 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 bady, no jumps or sticks on our Rega 3 bear in mind this is a 48 year old vinyl record! we also tested on a fussy "light tracking" Kenwood deck with no issues. There is some slight static on the intro to `Going To California` and `Battle of Evermore` and `Stairway` intros, all is good.with punchy Audio no skips

The original grey blotting paper inner with "Stairway to Heaven" lyrics is present in Nr EX shape wow! soo difficult to get in decent shape. has some tape see picture
good clear audio quality in the acoustic tracks with no skips or jumps to disrupt. There are some clicks on also in some quieter passages but not many.

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


some static in the very quiet, the acoustic parts, the odd click and static no skips or jumps

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

Plays very good with bright punchy 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 are free of writing doodles or stickers and retain great bold colours with no fade we can notice under light., the pictures do not do justice! Side 1 has slight discolouration at top see picture,they are very very clean with few spindle lines.
SUPER RARE WITH stickers over  THE PETER GRANT CREDIT ON THE LABEL AND the sticker over the `NO BAND NAME` IN THE UPPER HALF OF THE LABELS



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 48 years old


The sleeve     

with the original "Grey Blotting paper" inner lyric insert

Near Excellent inner  sleeve

Having done it's job over 48 years the sleeve has very little ring wear on the rear! (see photos) stored in upright PVC sleeve for 30+ years. spine has somne wear see  photo. front cover has a scuff tear top right see photo, due to cover design this is not obvious but its there so....

 It is one of the better "original matt sleeves" it does have a little wear at corners, its a really excellent sleeve (see photos in listing) collectable.

(see photo in listing) really great order no other issues, stickers or writing, see pics but a decent spine and cover for 48 year old. its really hard to find a pristine example like this of this sleeve.

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



inner sleeve is in great order only small fraying at the opening side see pictures, many of these are old and fragile now (see photos in listing) has tape on the inner sleeve
These are often tatty beyond help, this one is Nr Excellent 

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

Its a Near EX vinyl , only a tick here and there, zero skips or jumps and beatifull audio Excellent and Near Mint copies are almost impossible now sometimes £500+!
This is a great affordable copy to own and play!  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