LED ZEPPELIN IV 4 - PLUM/RED PORKY PECKO DUCK 1st UK PRESS.EX+ 1971 museum

Sold Date: August 10, 2014
Start Date: August 3, 2014
Final Price: £106.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 19
Seller Feedback: 2083
Buyer Feedback: 41


LED ZEPPELIN - 

4   IV "Symbols"

ATLANTIC



 2401012

1st UK Press  1971

1st UK Press. Features "Misty Mountain Hop" correct spelling on the label.


First press matrices A//3 B//4 with the earliest stampers and "PORKY" and "PECKO DUCK" etched into the deadwax. This is the genuine FIRST PRESS with the correct A//3 B//4 matrices. The vinyl has barely been played and will be an upgrade for most Zep collectors. 


















George Peckham mastered this album with Jimmy Page and Phil Carsons from Atlantic Records. Page called back after the session to say how please he was with the results and that he wanted George to master all future Led Zeppelin Lps. his "Porky's" inscription would go on to also appear on later albums. 


'Following the staggering reunion triumph at the O2, which I was lucky enough to be at, with interest in Led Zeppelin greater than ever, with the site for the Ahmettribute.com tribute concert receiving an unbelievable 120 million hits, with 25 million people apparently registering for a Zeppelin ticket, its as good a time as any to invest in an original copy early press of this classic Zep album.'


"Four Symbols" spent an amazing 57 weeks in the UK charts. The green & orange label pressing's would far outsell the red and maroon colour early pressing's. The Plum label variants were only available for 12 of the 57 weeks, during which time Atlantic prepared to launch their new labels and the new catalogue numbers.

Label changes usually took place incrementally, with a necessary cross over period needed to bridge the change of the records and covers already in record shops, taking into account the most recent releases that were still selling.

The classic Plum label design was changed by Atlantic to a green & orange colour in March, 1972, when the second pressings of "4 Symbols" were made, with a new catalogue number, 'K 5008,' replacing the first issue's 'De Luxe 2401 012.' The sleeve has on oversticker to the back with the new "Kinney" catalogue number printed in red. The new "satin look" sleeves as opposed to this matt sleeve were not yet ready from the printers hence a few old batch were prepared for the next batch of vinyls. 




Vinyl: EX+ . Great heavy first UK press vinyl. Barely played as evidenced by the total lack of spindle traces and the vinyl debris still in the spindle hole!! A beautiful heavy glossy vinyl. Under a strong light some wispy retraction paper traces can be seen. Any LP will have this as soon as they are taken out of its sleeve. These are totally invisible in normal light.  The last track "Stairway to Heaven" is of course most wonderful with tremendous depth never heard again on cd reissues, the track plays mint like all the rest of the album!!! I subjected the record to a detailed listen on my high end system and it did not disappoint. This sounded better than any re-issue like only a first press can. Lovely channel separation without any distortion or crackle. There is still some vinyl debris in the spindle hole indicating minimal play (please see the close up picture) This vinyl will be an upgrade for most and this is close to NM even visually.
Gatefold sleeve:  VG+.  A great gatefold sleeve and the original matt one for this first UK press version. Light edge and spinal storage wear. There are NO creases.  This is a very hard sleeve to find in such great condition as it is matt and many owners did not look after their albums properly. This copy is well preserved and has been carefully stored as all other albums from this wonderful prog collection.  More from this wonderful collection will be listed in the near future. It has one small name (faded with time) discreetly written to the top left rear. It has the "Kinney" oversticker attached to the rear making it a very rare sleeve indeed.

 Labels: NM. Lovely beautiful unmarked labels!! Not even any spindle traces indicating that this has barely been played at all!!

 This also has the original inner sleeve which is made of a vulnerable paper much like the good old blotting paper. Most of these have gone missing. This is still present although it has two seam splits and some tiny tear (1 cm) near the top. It has the lyric to "Stairway" printed. A lovely item and quite rare in its own right with many replaced by later re-issue copies which have normal smooth paper and are far lighter in colour. I will send the vinyl in a separate plain inner.
 



This is a unique investment opportunity!!! The next prog album to go completely through the roof. Finding this album in any condition at all is nearly impossible so late in the day. Get this while you still can. This value of the album is only going to go one way ... up and up ... until it will be totally unavailable at all for a reasonable price.

 

Important : International postage will be registered and insured if over GBP 30.00.  Please wait for my invoice before paying. Postage will be according to Royal Mail rates. Postage is NOT a money spinning exercise for me.

 

Though there are rarely ever any problems with my items, I always try my very best to describe everything exactly!  PLEASE REMEMBER to contact me FIRST,  if you have any problems at all, before you leave feedback and star ratings, so I get a chance to turn any negative experience into a positive one!  I can always happily sort anything out for you, if you let me know you have a problem!  This way no one has to leave Negative/Neutral feedback - and we both walk away happy! Similarly with the amount of stars, anything less than a full 5 * rating is effectively detrimental to a seller's rating as lower ratings will incur higher Final Value Fees  and lower priority in the bidlists eventually making it unattractive to list items on Ebay at all. I know of at least one major previous Ebay seller who has decided not to list via Ebay again. Please do NOT bid if you cannot give me at least 1 chance to sort everything out to your FULL satisfaction in the unlikely event of a problem.  Thanks again!!

 

 

This an excellent investment opportunity!!! Any questions please ask me and I will try to answer soon.