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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P&P charges for bidders outside the UK: Please note that I send ALL international items tracked and insured, which costs more than the standard airmail rate.

For further information please see below for full P&P and insurance details.

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

This is the 1st UK pressing of Hunky Dory which has a front-laminated cover. The labels have a sheen (i.e. they're not matt) and the publishing credits are for Chrysalis/Titanic with no mention of Mainman anywhere. This has the following 1st press matrix numbers and etchings:

Side 1:  APRS 5947 3T       A1M      Bobil

Side 2:  APRS 5948 3T       A1P       Rasputin

[NB: The above run-out information identifies this as a genuine 1st pressing. Watch out for copies of Hunky Dory where the vinyl from a later copy has been substituted. 3T/3T are the first matrix numbers. Any copies with lower final numbers but ending with 'E' rather than 'T' (eg 2E/3T) are repressings from mid 1972 onwards. All first pressings must also have 'Bobil' and 'Rasputin' (alias Trident Mastering Engineers Bob Hill and Ray Staff). The three etched characters (A1M and A1P on this copy) are very important identifiers of the earliest copies. Later copies with all the above attributes but from matt (unlaminated) covers do not generally have A1 with just one letter following (those copies will usually be A2, A3 and so on, or later A1 copies with multiple follow-on letter e.g A1AA etc).]

Detailed description
Laminated cover: The front-laminated cover has some typical signs of age and use but no writing, splits, tears or stickers etc. On the front there are small laminated creases around the opening, edges and corners, with a bigger one at the bottom opening corner, but this is a decent example. The unlaminated rear has some marks, ring wear etc and a small area of sellotape residue along the top edge, but there is no writing or other major issues.
Edge wear: There is not much wear to the laminated edges and spine apart from at the corners. The spine has laminate creases and some scuffs etc, but it is solid and firm and the text is all readable. There are normal signs of use at the opening.
Corner wear: Moderate
Vinyl: The genuine first-press vinyl shows obvious signs of play and use, but I have listened to the entire record and it plays through without problems. There is background noise and crackle which can be heard in the quiet parts and the run-ins/outs, fades, silent grooves and intros and a few places where you get a handful of small clicks, but there is nothing persistent or intrusive anywhere. This is not a copy for the audio-perfectionist, but it is a perfectly playable copy which is still enjoyable to listen to. I would play-grade side one as Very Good (VG) and side two as Very Good plus (VG+).
Labels: Both labels have normal signs of use. The side two label also has two small round stickers.
Lyric insert: Has wear and signs of age, handling and use etc, but no writing or graffiti etc.
Inner sleeve: Plain

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 listen to 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. 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 some of these expenses I add a nominal figure to the basic cost charged at the post office athough 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.

If, when you receive your item, there is a significant discrepancy in your favour, please contact me and I will refund the difference.

UK P&P costs

I offer three UK services. I DO NOT offer 'click and collect' or FREE postage, so please do not select these options if they appear in the invoice. However, any item can be 'collected in person' free of charge.

UK Standard service - items valued below £80 are usually sent using first class recorded post. The cost for this is as follows:

One to three LPs (with a combined total value below £80 and weighing less than 1Kg) = £5.20.

Four to six LPs (with a combined total value below £80 and weighing less than 2Kg) = £7.70.

UK Economy service - items valued below £80 can be sent using second class recorded post. The cost for this is as follows:

One to six LPs (with a combined total value below £80 and weighing less than 2Kg) = £4.70.

UK Special Delivery - Any order valued over £80 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.

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Airmail (tracked and/or signed) to any country OUTSIDE the UK

 

Overseas orders will ONLY be sent tracked and/or signed.

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 over £80 will be insured for an additional £2.90.

Overseas orders weighing more than 2kg or high-value orders 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.

Please note that overseas orders outside the EU need a customs declaration with the value of the package.

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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.