Sold Date: June 22, 2020
Start Date: June 17, 2020
Final Price: £42.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 5
Seller Feedback: 1017
Buyer Feedback: 211

LED ZEPPELIN 2  LP   Red / Plum Atlantic label Original 1969 PYE CONTRACT PRESSING ........... a rare copy ............................ How often do these contract pressings get offered for sale - hardly ever!
This is from my private collection - I am not a dealer. Other good quality items will be added during the next few weeks.
UK ADDRESSES - Sent by Tracked HERMES courier.    NON UK PUCHASERS - please contact me before bidding as there are a few countries i will not dispatch to, based on previous bad experiences.

A first pressing LP on the Red and Plum Atlantic label is collectable enough, but to find one of a very few PYE CONTRACT PRESSINGS from 1969 is quite rare. This rare pressing can be identified by the indented groove on the inner label (see pic) and please compare it to other red/plum label copies being offered for sale. 
Also, the misprinted Side 1 label has track 4 as 'THANKYOU' with no gap between the words. Plus, on side two all title tracks are in bold type but track 4, MOBY DICK is not in bold type. Also. the matrix numbers on the run outs are hand etched with just A and B and with no other numeric identity (A1 for example).  Furthermore, there is an error in the hand etched matrix on side B whereby the 3rd digit (erroniously etched as a 9) is crossed out and has a hand etched 8 above it. My research shows :
There is broad conjecture as to whether these contract pressings were made from the same masters as the Atlantic A2 B2 matrix first pressings but I played this then a  first pressing and to my ears the sound quality was the same, certainly not inferior. And the narrower width of the dead wax in this copy indicates that perhaps Pye did use different plates to press these. It is also argued widely that the 'Living Loving Wreck' typo errors on the first Atlantic pressings never featured on the contracted Pye pressings even though these were probably made in late 1969, the era of the first pressings, due to high initial demand rather than later in 1970. OK the above is not conclusive but it's the most promising evidence I could find .... So much for these details ....... 
The Condition: The VINYL is rated VG +  with just light surface marks.  But there is a name written in pen on both labels, but very lightly.  Light spindle marks and unworn spindle holes indicate perhaps a few plays only. The audio is excellent, with hardly any noise at all on the run-in groove and just light noise between tracks.  All tracks play superbly.  It's 50 years old but still a lovely quality copy!  The SLEEVE is intact and complete with no rips or side splits .  But these covers were unlaminated and all were prone to surface wear and this one is no different. There is edge wear on all sides, corner wear and storage 'ring wear'. There is also a name and address written in pen on the inside of the sleeve. I would grade the sleeve as VG. The INNER SLEEVE, I suspect, is not original. But it is near mint with a diecut centre hole and polylined - its crispness adds to the overall package. But this item is all about the rarity of the PYE contract pressing and I cannot recall seeing one offered for sale, certainly not recently.
I try to describe items as precisely as possible and believe this listing to be truly reflective of the items condition. Thanks for looking! All of my records are securely dispatched in purpose made packaging, with a corrugated card stiffener and vinyls are take out of sleeves. This will be sent by My Hermes tracked courier and the carriage costs are £3.62.   UK DELIVERY  IF YOU ARE A NON UK PURCHASER - PLEASE ASK FOR POSTAGE COST BEFORE PAYMENT IS MADE - Thanks
Please trust my feedback as I do not sell inferior goods glossed up as better.   Thanks