Guaranteed delivery before Christmas for UK buyers if you select the express delivery option.


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All my items have a full money-back guarantee - if it's not as described you can return it for a full refund.


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THERE ARE 12 PHOTOS IN THIS LISTING. USE THE SCROLL BAR BESIDE THE THUMBNAILS TO SEE THEM ALL.

This is a 100% genuine 1st UK press, including the rare original 1st UK press poster. Please note that this is the true, original, genuine 1st press poster. It is NOT from a modern re-issue or a non-UK release, neither is it a reproduction or copy. It is a genuine UK Vertigo poster. Please also note that the Vertigo swirl inner sleeve is the original white design (as opposed to the reversed design often found with this album) but it has the correct 0671 (June 1971) date code.

The vinyl has the following 1st press matrix numbers:

Side 1: 6360050 1Y//1

Side 2: 6360050 2Y//1

The stampers are 1  1 4 and 1 2 2 1.

Detailed description

Box cover: This is the original 1st press box with embossed writing on the front and the band name in dark purple writing (the writing looks paler in the photos, but that's just my camera). The lamination has retained its sheen with some flaking along the folds. There are small creases near the edges and corners, but almost no laminate lift/bubbling (unusual for these covers).

Edge/corner wear: The edges and spines have some small laminate creases. There is noticeable wear to the corners, in particular the top-right corner, which is more worn than the other three. The right-hand spine and the bottom edge have very little wear, apart from at the corners. The left-hand (title) spine has some slight wear near the top front fold, and the top edge has quite a lot of of wear/scuffing, especially towards the right-hand side. I've shown all of the edges in the pictures, so please look at the photos.

Poster: The original 1st press Vertigo poster has six panels and measures 18" by 27" (inches). It has never been displayed, so has no pin-holes, sellotape, blu-tac marks etc. It doesn't show many obvious signs of handling and has probably rarely been out of the cover.  However, it has noticeable wear to two of the exposed corners (when folded) presumably from where it has moved around inside the cover and become worn. When unfolded these two exposed corners are the two central intersections between the folds and the central fold on the bottom edge. Two of these show light-to-moderate wear, but the wear on the third point (the uppermost intersection of the folds) is much more-noticeable and has actually worn through the paper to form a small hole.  I have shown this close-up in the final photo.

Inner sleeve: Original poly-lined Vertigo swirl inner sleeve with 0671 date-code has discoloured around the edges and has normal signs of age and use. It has two central seam splits (approx 5cm and 7cm) and the central hole on one side has a couple of tears (approx 2cm). It doesn't have any major creases and is intact and perfectly useable.

Vinyl: The vinyl has clearly been well-played and has a handful of visible surface marks when viewed in normal light. Additionally, there are numerous, very fine, whispy hairlines and sleeve removal marks which are visible under bright light, but there is nothing deep or feelable anywhere and, the record plays to a high standard.  A visual grading would probably be slightly lower than the play-grading, but I have played the entire record and it generally sounds great. There is some background noise and crackle in the quiet parts and the run-ins/outs, fades, silent grooves and intros and the occasional random click and a bit of fuzziness in a couple of tracks. There are several quiet parts on Master of Reality that are hard to find with perfect audio (the two instrumentals, the soft 'spooky' end-section of 'Children of the Grave' and 'Solitude') but on this copy these were no particular cause for concern. There are a few places where you get a short-lived tic or click but these aren't loud or intrusive, and generally none of them lasts longer than a few revolutions, with the exception of some clicks in the fade to 'Embryo'/intro to 'Children of the Grave' (but which quickly disappear), and 'Solitude' which has a crackly click that lasted for about ten revolutions and one or two louder clicks or hisses. Many of the loud parts of this album sound superb, but to cover the issues mentioned above I would play-grade the whole album around Excellent minus (Ex-), with side one maybe slightly above this (near Ex) and side two maybe just under (but better than VG+). So, not flawless audio, but this is a decent, playable example that is still very enjoyable to listen to.

Labels: No writing, stickers, tears etc, although both have spindle marking and normal signs of use, suggesting that the record was regularly played.

Detracting features not covered above:  None.

Please check out my other items and take advantage of reduced postage costs for multiple buys.

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Information about descriptions and gradings.
My items are always described accurately and fairly. I always do my best to point out any blemishes which might detract from the item and all photographs are of the actual item you will get. I am aware that different grading systems have different definitions and so I try as much as possible to describe items in plain English, rather than simply using gradings. Where gradings are given these are based on the UK RECORD COLLECTOR GRADING SYSTEM. This grading system differs from some other grading systems, in particular the Goldmine grading system. Please make sure that you are familiar with the UK record collector grading system before you bid.

Play-graded vinyl: Although I don't have time to play them all, I believe that records are for playing and so I try to play-grade records whenever possible. I always state in the listing if I have played a record prior to listing it. If I have play-graded the record I will usually only give a description of how the record looks (i.e. not a visual grading). The grading in the listing will be a play-grading and may be slightly different from the grading that the record would receive from a purely visual inspection. If I haven't play-graded the record, it will be given a visual grading.

Play-grading MONO records: Mono records and stereo records have different grooves. A stereo record produces a stereo sound via both lateral and vertical groove modulation whereas a mono record is not intended to produce any sound from vertical modulation. Playing a mono record with a stereo cartridge will create distortion because it is trying to pick-up the vertical (stereo) part of the signal, whereas this is not intended to be heard on a mono record and so is just noise.  Using a pre-amp with a mono switch will eliminate the noise caused by vertical modulation leaving just the lateral groove signal which is how the record was intended to be heard. Based on the assumption that most people choosing to buy a mono record will have the right equipment to listen to it, I play all mono records via a pre-amp with a mono switch.  My play-grading is based on how the record sounds when played through a mono switch. If you do not have a mono switch on your amp or pre-amp you will be reproducing the noise from the vertical part of the signal and so the record will not sound as good. This is not any fault of the record, it is inherent to playing any mono record through a system that it was not designed for.

Visually-graded vinyl: A visual grading will identify physical flaws (such as scratches) and can help determine whether a record has been cared-for properly. I always do my best to give a fair assessment of any visible marks on the playing surface, but a visual grading will not identify noise or crackle caused by non-visible sources. Most of the records I sell are between thirty and fifty years old and so it is likely that there may be some background noise even if they look perfect. Please see Terms and Conditions below for my refunds policy for visually graded records.

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I have some very simple terms and conditions. Please read them and ensure that you understand them before bidding. Thank you.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

My items are fully guaranteed - if it is not as described you can return it for a full refund, including postage. Refunds for visually graded records which are returned based upon the buyer's assessment of the record's playgrade, will not include postage costs in either direction. Your bid is binding, so please make sure you have READ and UNDERSTOOD the WHOLE LISTING before you bid. I will not accept returns where the buyer has not read or not understood something which is stated/shown in the listing.
I accept Paypal and postal orders (in UK Sterling GBP) for all purchases.  I also accept cheques (in UK Sterling GBP) on orders OVER £50. Please pay for your item within three days of the auction closing. If you are intending to bid on other items and wish to pay when they have closed, please contact me to let me know. I reserve the right to cancel any transactions and offer the item to the second highest bidder if no contact or payment is made within three days.

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POSTAGE & PACKING

I care about the records I sell and believe that they need to be carefully and securely packaged to ensure that they survive their journey through the post. Vinyl is removed from the sleeve for posting and the contents will be protected with rigid cardboard stiffeners. All packages are labelled "Do not bend" and securely sealed with "FRAGILE" parcel tape.

I support the use of recycled materials and so I may sometimes use recycled packaging. If you wish your item to be sent in entirely new packaging please let me know before paying for it. Thanks.

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P&P charges

My P&P charges are 'totally transparent'. Please read below and if you have any questions about P&P costs please contact me BEFORE you bid. Thank you.

Sending items costs more than just the stamps on the package, but I try not to charge more for packing and posting your item than it actually costs me to do so. I need to cover the cost of packing materials, plastic sleeves, new inner sleeves (where applicable), transportation, fees and charges associated with sending the item (including fees incurred to receive the cost of postage and, where applicable, currency exchange) etc. To cover these expenses I add a nominal figure to the basic cost charged at the post office. For UK sales I add £1.10, for European sales I add £1.90 and for transactions outside Europe I add £2.30. These are nominal amounts and the actual cost to me is always higher than this. I do not view P&P costs as a means of making money.

To quote an exact cost for every LP is difficult because of the wide variance in weight (e.g. Abbey Road weighs around 230 grams whereas Led Zeppelin III weighs around 390 grams). But the majority of single LPs, when packed, will weigh around 550 grams and I have based my P&P rates on this.

Double LPs will be charged as two LPs, triple LPs will be charged as three LPs. Box sets etc will be charged according to weight.

Depending on the precise weight of your parcel, you may occasionally end up paying a few pence more or a few pence less than it actually costs me, but if there is a significant discrepancy in your favour I will refund the difference.

UK P&P costs

UK Standard service - items valued below £50 are sent using first class recorded post. The cost for this is as follows:

One to four LPs (with a combined total value below £50) = £5.20.

UK Special Delivery - Any order valued over £50 will be sent fully insured using Royal Mail Special Delivery and the total cost of this will be £9.35 for one to four LPs and £12.00 for five or more LPs . Please wait for my invoice before paying.

Any order valued below £10 can be sent using second class standard mail, free of charge.

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Airmail (with tracking and insurance) to any country OUTSIDE the UK

 

Overseas orders will ONLY be sent fully insured. I include insurance on all invoices. Basic insurance (for items valued up to £50) is included in the costs below. 

Europe

First LP or 12" = £13.60, each additional LP or 12" add £2.20.

Rest of the world (anywhere outside Europe)

First LP or 12" = £17.50, each additional LP or 12" add £3.80.

 

Overseas orders valued between £50 and £500 will be insured for an additional £2.90.

For overseas orders valued over £500, please contact me.

Overseas orders weighing more than 2kg or valued over £500 may be split into two or more packages as appropriate so they can be sent using Royal Mail's Small Packet Rate, so please wait for my invoice on larger multiple purchases.

Customs declaration for overseas orders: Please note that for overseas orders outside the EU I need to complete a customs declaration and must enter the value of the package on the declaration.

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 If you have any queries please email BEFORE you bid.

 

Thanks for your interest in this listing and for taking the time to read these details.