Led Zeppelin IV "Mountain Top" Error UK 1st press 1971 A3B4 Inverted Feather EX

Sold Date: November 18, 2023
Start Date: November 17, 2023
Final Price: £550.00 (GBP)
Seller Feedback: 1491
Buyer Feedback: 1713


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!


1st UK press A3B4  the early marixes from Oct 1971 to buy and keep!

with the legendary Inverted feather error  on side 2 + mountain top error!


Please note that this album is complete and original 52 year old 1st UK pressing from 1971 and is sold and priced for its rarity in this condition.


To be clear this is an A3 B4 October 1971 original First UK pressing,


EXCELLENT  Vinyl

NR EX Sleeve


THIS IS A VAULT STORED COPY nice AUDIO


The Famous Inverted Feather error +  "Misty Mountain Top" label error on side 2, this was spotted early and corrected to Hop for version 4 labels, making these "Top" copies now super collectable, both errors making this super rare.


There are 4 varieties of labels on the very first UK presses, this is no 3.


 EXCELLENT The Vinyl


This is the label 3 version with the uncorrected "Mountain Top" rare error! with the band name on the top half of label, so this is the label version 3 red plum 1st UK "error press" 1971 label with the "Misty MoutainTop"on side 2, version 4 shows the correct title "Misty Mountain Hop"

There is some static on intro to "Battle for Evermore" some light static evident in some quieter passages but not many.Anyone are looking for "mint" or " near Mint" archive copies please see our 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"


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 rare error 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 B4 Matrix with `Porky Pecko` on the run out vinyl, Among THE VERY FIRST AVAILABLE(close to master tapes) early versions of the 4th album are getting rarer as collectors snap them up....it's a loud recording !

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 normally priced £500 + for vgc  conditions , £490 in ex  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 condition

A3 B4

Close to the first available matrixes! from October 71

Ex VAULT STORED copy clean with light  removal scuffs, nothing serious and hairlines (see photos) which do not affect play, no jumps or sticks on our Rega 3 bear in mind this is a 52 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. slight static in quieter passages but not many. 

This press has the rare version 3 label error of Misty Mountain "Top" instead of "Hop" + Inverted feather error.

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

some slight static in the very quiet, the acoustic parts its not mint.


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 are free of writing doodles or stickers and retain great bold colours with no fade we can notice under light., the pictures show they are very very clean with few spindle lines,

Please note that this album is complete and original 1971 UK pressing and is priced for its nr mint  condition.

the record and sleeve are original and 52 years old

The sleeve


the sleeve is in excellent order

with the original "Grey Blotting paper" inner lyric insert , EX often these are tattered this one is clean sharp corners amazing shape for 52 "Nr Excellent Condition" The sleeve , has rare Keith Morris photography credit also, only slight splitting on the 52 year old inner see photos.


Having done it's job  over 52 years the sleeve has very ring wear and almost zero soiling  (see photos)recently stored in upright PVC sleeve and box for 30+ years. Has been stored.



Has ancient price tag London front from record store, we didn't remove.


It is one of the "original matt sleeves" it does have a light wear at corners, its a good sleeve (see photos in listing) its been used so has general wear but overall looking Nr Ex for 52! some wear on spine , overall nice clean cover with only light  aging some light  wear at corners and light wear on spine. front is clear, some bending evident from historic storage.

(see photos in listing) , no major issues, rips, names or writing or tape evident.


There are no major issues, colours are good and not a lot fading, the thick card has held up well, no holes all mounting etc. overall  Nr Ex sleeve.

The original grey blotting paper version inner with "Stairway to Heaven" lyrics is present wow! soo difficult to get.

This one is Ex the original inner.


inner sleeve is in good order only a little wear at the opening side see pictures, these are old and fragile now (see photos in listing) its best stored in "file" to preserve it, so the use as a record sleeve is not current a new quality white inner is supplied, .

These are often tatty beyond help but on this one is holding up well  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 (superb audio copy)


It is Ex only a light line and click here and there keps it away from nr mint, no skips or jumps and beatifull audio and Near Mint copies are almost impossible now sometimes £600+!


This is a great affordable copy to own and play! "Near mint overall " vinyl 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 only, Any import taxes applie are the buyers responsibility