Sold Date: August 13, 2014
Start Date: August 3, 2014
Final Price: £68.90 (GBP)
Bid Count: 20
Seller Feedback: 916
Buyer Feedback: 65

It's my pleasure to offer for auction a superb copy of the iconic fourth studio album by Led Zeppelin simply titled "Led Zeppelin IV", Catalogue Number 2401 012. It's a 1971 UK stereo first pressing on the plum & orange Atlantic Record Label, with a matt-finish gatefold sleeve. It comes complete with the correct grey lyric/credits inner sleeve. [The stamped matrix numbers are the earliest 2401012 A//3 and 2401012 B//4. "PECKO DUCK" and "PORKY" is etched in the run-outs of Sides One and Two respectively, indicating the work of the master cutting engineer George "Porky" Peckham. Some sellers will have you believe that A//3, B//3 pressings are the earliest, but this is not correct. B//3 and B//4 pressings were both available on the day of release. This is proven by the fact that some of the very earliest labelled pressings, with the "LED ZEPPELIN" text at the bottom of the labels, have B//4 matrix numbers. The lyric/credits inner sleeve is also the earliest issue, made from soft grey card and with flipbacks along the side edges].

The sleeve is in between VG and EX condition with just light storage wear and a few small scuffs to the spine. It's a very well-preserved example of this notoriously wear-prone sleeve. I've taken plenty of photos from all angles which hopefully do it justice.

The top quality mid-weight record is in EX condition. The plum & orange Atlantic labels show only a modest number of spindle traces near the centres. There is minimal wear to the spindle hole. Both sides play EX+ throughout with no deterioration in sound quality and barely any unwanted noise at all. The sound quality is simply massive - very powerful and dynamic with great bass (as you would expect from a record cut by George Peckham). There are no loud pops, repeat ticks, distortion, hiss or anything else. It really is a superb-playing copy!

The grey lyric/credits inner sleeve has splits to the bottom and one side edge, and a couple of creases. It is otherwise a very presentable example.

Overall this is a wonderful opportunity to add a very nice copy of Zeppelin's iconic fourth album to your collection. 

GRADINGS

The records that I offer for sale have been critically play-graded, at loud volume, on a Pioneer PL-L1000 linear-tracking turntable fitted with a Nagaoka MP-30 cartridge. I will only sell records that play to a high standard. My grading is strict and in accordance with the following descriptions:

·         MINT- Record is superb, almost like new, with just a few sleeve removal type surface marks and no deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve is near perfect in all respects.

·         EX Record is a top quality example with just a few very light surface marks and virtually no discernible deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve has slight wear and/or creasing.

·         VG Record has some visual surface marks, but still plays to a high standard without any major deterioration in sound quality – just a few clicks or light surface sound in places. Sleeve has normal wear and tear without any major defects but is still very presentable.

     All records can be expected to rotate sufficiently evenly on the turntable for there to be no effect whatsoever on the audio playback. Minor warps or dishing will not be mentioned as virtually all records display these features to some degree and no record is perfectly flat.

    Vinyl is not a perfect medium and even the finest quality pressings will play with a degree of residual surface sound, however minimal. Where, in my opinion, unwanted noise interferes with the listening enjoyment of the record, it will be mentioned in the item description. It is unrealistic to expect a 40+ year old record to play with a background of complete silence. Please bear this in mind when bidding.

PACKAGING         

LPs are packaged with care and well protected to ensure that they arrive safely in the same condition as they leave me. Records are removed from both inner and outer sleeves in order to prevent seam-splits in transit.

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE

LPs posted outside of the UK will only be sent International Signed-For with insurance at the following cost:   

Europe - £14.60

Worldwide - £18.50