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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INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING.
Please note that under ebay's new 'managed payments' system, UK sellers now get charged an extra final value fee for international sales.

In addition, for countries where ebay automatically deducts sales tax (such as USA, the EU, Australia etc) ebay is also charging the seller a final value fee on the tax!!!! (unbelievable but true).

These new rules penalise sellers who continue to offer their items worldwide and make it unviable to sell high-value items to some countries. So rather than close my sales to those countries I intend to offset some of the excessive fees through the postage charge for those countries.

So, I apologise if the postage to your country seems high but it is the only way I can continue to offer my items worldwide.
Please note that I send ALL international items tracked, which costs more than the standard airmail rate.
 
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This is a true first pressing. Although there are lots of later copies with yellow and black Parlophone labels (from 1967-69) being sold as '1st pressings' on ebay, a true first pressing from 1966 is easy to identify. Please read on for details.

A Collection of Oldies but Goldies was first released in December 1966.  At this time, mono was still the predominant choice, and so the vast majority of first pressings are mono. Only a small percentage of the first pressing were pressed in stereo and they are incredibly hard to find, but because of the countless repressings which followed, the scarcity of the true first press stereo copies is often overlooked.

The album was repressed numerous times between 1967 and 1969 on the original yellow and black Parlophone labels, with the stereo pressings becoming increasingly more common during this period, until the mono pressings were stopped completely in 1970, by which time the labels had changed to the silver and black versions used throughout the 1970s.

So, although there are lots and lots of stereo pressings of A Collection of Oldies but Goldies, true first pressings in stereo are very scarce. But, although they are hard to find, they are easy to identify because only the first stereo pressings* have an E.J. Day cover. All subsequent releases have Garrod and Lofthouse covers.

(*First, stereo pressing on yellow and black Parlophone labels. E.J. Day did briefly make covers for this album again in the early seventies, but those copies have silver and black labels, and the sleeves are manufactured on thinner card and have different-shaped flipbacks).

A true first press stereo will have the following attributes:

An original 1966 E.J. Day cover (all subsequent Y&B stereo copies have G&L covers). Times New Roman font and large STEREO on the labels (by 1968 this had changed to a sans serif font and narrow STEREO on the labels).

Side two: YEX 620-1G                

Description
Disc: The vinyl has retained its original sheen with hardly a mark to be seen. In normal light the playing surfaces look virtually flawless and even under bright, direct light just a handful of very fine hairlines and sleeve-removal marks were visible, but there is absolutely nothing significant anywhere. I think it would be very hard to find another one this good. I would grade both sides as Excellent Plus (Ex+) to Near Mint (NM).

Labels: No writing, stickers, tears etc, just spindle marking.

Sleeve: The E. J. Day sleeve is a very nice example - easily one of the best I've seen, with only minor signs of age or use. The only noteworthy issue is a small sticker-removal-tear on the unlaminated rear, but this is entirely within the white background so has no affect on any text etc.

Inner sleeve: Has the original 'Patents Applied For' inner sleeve, which is wrinkled/creased with small nicks and signs of use at the opening and splits to the seams. But it is clean and looks presentable.

Detracting features not covered above:  None.

All photographs are of the actual item for sale. Please ask any questions before you bid or buy.

Where gradings are given these are based on the UK Record Collector Grading System (see below for details).

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.

Mint: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

Excellent: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packag­ing might have slight wear and/or creasing.

Very Good: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable sur­face marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

Good: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration, etc.

Fair: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for prop­erly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.

Poor: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

Bad: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler.

Visually-graded vinyl vs play-graded vinyl: Many people collect vinyl and never play it, whereas other people collect records because they want to play them. A visual grading will identify physical flaws (such as scratches) and can help determine whether a record has been cared-for properly, but it will not identify noise or crackle caused by non-visible sources. Most vintage records are likely to have some background noise even if they look perfect. 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 brief 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. Most vintage records are not 100% perfectly flat and so I will only mention this aspect if it is very significant or has an impact on the way the record sounds. 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.

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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 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 DO NOT offer 'click and collect', 'collection in person' or FREE postage, so please do not select these options.

UK Standard service - Royal Mail Second class. Usually delivered within 3-5 days of despatch. The cost is £4.95.

UK First class recorded post. The cost is £6.50 Usually delivered within one day of despatch.

UK Special Delivery - Any order valued over £80 will be sent fully insured using Royal Mail Special Delivery (next day delivery guarantee) and the total cost of this will be £11.00. 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 1 (Most EU countries)

First LP or 12" = £15.45, each additional LP or 12" add £2.20.

Europe 2 (including Russian Federation and others)

First LP or 12" = £17.95, each additional LP or 12" add £2.20.

Rest of the world (excluding USA and Australia)

First LP or 12" = £24.50, each additional LP or 12" add £3.80.

USA and Australia

First LP or 12" = £28.00, each additional LP or 12" add £3.80.

 

Overseas orders valued over £80 may be liable for an additional £3.90 to cover extra insurance.

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 need a customs declaration with the value of the package.

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 If you have any queries please email BEFORE you bid.