Sold Date: April 27, 2014
Start Date: April 20, 2014
Final Price: £37.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 6
Seller Feedback: 256
Buyer Feedback: 20

Original U.K. 1995 Gatefold Sleeve WARP Records pressing of Nightmares on Wax ‘Smokers Delight’ DBL L.P. (Catalogue Reference: WARP Records LP 36).  This consists of two records stored within card inner sleeves which are then stored inside a gatefold sleeve.  Needless to say the artwork is excellent throughout.  This is a respectable copy which has seen a relative amount of play but it certainly isn’t trashed or close to being trashed.  I’ll grade the gatefold sleeve, inner sleeves and vinyl separately starting with the vinyl.  This first thing I think it worth noting is that Record One has received more play than Record Two.  You always see this with double or triple sets.  People play the first record but can’t be bothered to play the remainder.  Across both records the most substantial mark is what I believe to be a spindle ‘drag’ at the start of the first track on Side One (‘Nights Interlude’).  You can make this out in normal daylight but it is non-sounding (I’ve checked).  On both records there are a reasonable volume of hairline markings which are largely a product of withdrawal of the vinyl from the heavy card inner sleeves.  Again, Record Two is superior to Record One which has clearly seen more handling/play.  Both records are relatively dusty and clearly haven’t seen play in years and I’d recommend a quick brush with a make-up brush before play.  As noted above I’ve played sections of Record One and the playback was full and there clearly hasn’t been much groove-wear as the sound wasn’t distorted.  Record One is graded as being in VERY GOOD+ condition and Record Two is graded as being in EXCELLENT condition.  The inner sleeves are still flat and although the records have left a light impression in them they haven’t really bent or creased around the records.  Again the inner sleeve for Record Two is superior to the inner sleeve for Record One.  The latter displays a number of small bends and creases near the opening edge of the inner where the soft cardboard has bent around the fingertips whilst the vinyl is removed.  There is one such bend/crease on the inner for Record Two.  Bother inners still look very ‘fresh’ and clearly haven’t seen heavy handling.  Crucially the vinyl hasn’t broken through anywhere which is rare.  The inner sleeves are graded as being in EXCELLENT condition.  The gatefold sleeve like the inners is also in very respectable condition.  Most importantly the sleeve hasn’t been bent or creased around the vinyl.  I’d say the biggest flaw isn’t a particularly noticeable one.  If you angle the sleeve under an intense light it appears that the bottom left-hand corner has got damp at some point.  This isn’t obvious when looking at the front of the sleeve but on the rear (bottom right-hand corner) you can just about make-out a watermark in the extreme corner.  It should also be noted that there is no discernible impact on the inside of the gatefold either which is basically immaculate (do people actually open gatefold sleeves?).  You’d say the sleeve still retains a certain ‘fresh’ appearance.  It is covered in some kind of thin plastic laminate/veneer and this does not display excessive wear however, if you angle the front cover under an intense light I can see a tiny amount of laminate has been lost presumably as a result of a pricing sticker having been removed at some point.  Each of the corners displays a little fraying with the bottom left-hand corner having received a knock.  Around the extreme edges of the sleeve there are isolated patches of print loss.  This is unsurprisingly most pronounced along the base of the sleeve and in the bottom right-hand corner.  Following on from this point there is wear to the spine however, all the text is still clearly visible (the wear is largely in the corners).  Aside from two smalls ‘knocks’ to the opening edge of the sleeve on the front in the bottom right-hand corner the opening edges are still quite crisp.  There are very limited impressions in the soft cardboard on the rear (not really the case on the front of the sleeve).  This is still a great-looking copy and is graded as being in EXCELLENT condition.

Condition

VINYL Record One – VERY GOOD+

VINYL Record Two – EXCELLENT

INNER SLEEVES - EXCELLENT

Gatefold SLEEVE – EXCELLENT

Final Remarks

A solid copy of a relatively hard-to-find item which sold far more readily on CD than on vinyl.  I believe all these early WARP Records are only going to appreciate in value and they’re becoming scarcer by the day.  Please check my other auctions for a large run of Funk, R&B and Soul collectables in similarly tidy condition.  Save me as a favourite seller as there is plenty more where this came from!

General Conditions & Information

I have been a collector for in excess of 15 years now and regard myself as a conservative grader.  I know from experience that there is nothing worse than buying an item which is described with superlatives only for it to arrive and look like it has been scrapped along the floor (!).  As a rule I don’t submit anything to auction which I wouldn’t be happy receiving myself.  I endeavour to be accurate with my grading and all items are graded under an intense light.  Please take a look through my feedback as I’d like to think it speaks for itself. 

Returns Policy

If you are not entirely happy with your purchase then please contact me within 7 days of receipt.  The buyer is expected to meet the return postage costs.

Payment Methods

Domestic buyers can pay via Cheque, PayPal or Postal Order.  Overseas buyers are always welcome and are required to pay via PayPal.  Payment is expected within 7 days of auction end unless otherwise agreed.

Postage Costs

I have had to bring my service in-line with changes to Royal Mail Terms and Conditions effective of April 2013.  Previously items sent via standard post were automatically covered up to the value of £46.00 however, standard postage now only covers items up to the value of £20.00.  Items with an opening value >£20.00 will include domestic Signed For postage costs automatically.  Items with an opening value <=£20.00 and which complete with a value <=£20.00 will continue to be dispatched via standard post unless otherwise agreed (i.e. the buyer indicates a preference otherwise).  Items which have an opening value <=£20.00 but whose final value is >£20.00 will be subject to enhanced postage costs in order to cover the extra insurance which is required.  I hope this is as straightforward as I can make it?  Ultimately, please don’t make payment until you’ve received an invoice from me and if you aren’t happy with the invoice you receive then I’m always open to discussion.  Buyers should be aware that both Ebay and PayPal take a % of postage charges (i.e. they are higher than I’d ideally want them to be).

Multiple purchases will be subject to consolidated postage costs.  I will contact you at the end of the auction to confirm these costs.

Proof of postage is always obtained and retained.

Overseas Buyers

As noted above Overseas buyers are welcome.  If you want me to investigate potential postage costs in advance of the auction’s end then please feel free to contact me.