Sold Date: August 14, 2016
Start Date: August 4, 2016
Final Price: £21.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 5
Seller Feedback: 1521
Buyer Feedback: 43

Station To Station by David Bowie
RCA Victor APLI-1327

This is a 1976 UK first issue of Station To Station by David Bowie, with original printed insert and inner sleeve, in Very Good Plus (VG+) condition.
https://www.discogs.com/David-Bowie-Station-To-Station/release/4425540

Matrix numbers in the run-out groves:
Side 1: APLI–1327–A–1E AIJ (hand etched)
Side 2: APLI–1327–B–2E AIK (hand etched)

Condition:
Sleeve: Flat with some small creases towards the edges, ring wear, and some minor marks. The spine is solid.
Inner sleeve/insert: The original printed insert has a small fold and crease on the top right corner, some minor foxing, and a small mark. The original inner sleeve has ringwear, but otherwise is in excellent condition.
Vinyl: Only a few light surface marks, except on side 2 where there are a couple of scratches that look worse than what they really are.
Label: Excellent condition with some minor spindle wear.
Playback: Some very light crackles only audible between tracks and in quiet parts on both sides, and a light click on each revolution at the end of track 2 and throughout track 3 on side 2.

Cleaning & Testing
All records have been cleaned with a Keith Monks type record cleaning machine, using a 3 stage process:
1 - Alcohol based cleaner (1 part laboratory grade Isopropyl Alcohol + 4 parts laboratory grade purified water + surfactant (Ilford Ilfotol)
2 - L'Art du Son cleaner
3 - Rinse (laboratory grade purified water + surfactant (Ilford Ilfotol)

After cleaning the record is test played on my Thorens TD145, fitted with a Nagaoka MP30 cartridge and stylus. The turntable is mounted on a plinth that is bolted to a wall. A weight stabiliser is used on the record to help reduce any vibrations, so to give a better and true analysis of the condition of the vinyl.

Grading
Information about the record, using the catalogue and matrix numbers, has been obtained from Discogs, the largest music database in the world:
All records are graded using the systems found at the Record Collectors Magazine and the Record Collectors Guild:

Record Collectors Magazine:
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.
Excellent: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening of 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, discolouration 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 badly damaged or partly missing.
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.

Record Collectors Guild
Mint (M): Absolutely perfect in every way. Certainly never been played, possibly even still sealed.(More on still sealed under "Other Considerations"). Should be used sparingly as a grade, If at all.
Near Mint (NM): A nearly perfect record. Many dealers won't give a grade higher than this implying (perhaps correctly) that no record is ever truly perfect. The record should show no obvious signs of wear. A 45 RPM or EP sleeve should have no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling. An LP cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits or other noticeable similar defects. No cut-out holes, either. And of course, the same should be true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves and the like. Basically, an LP in near mint condition looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap. Near Mint is the highest price listed in all Goldmine price guides. Anything that exceeds this grade, in the opinion of both buyer and seller, is worth significantly more than the highest Goldmine book value.
Very Good Plus (VG+): Generally worth 50 percent of the Near Mint value. A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experiences. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are "OK". The label may have some ring wear or discolouration, but it should be barely noticeable. The centre hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play. Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP cover may have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount. In general, if not for a couple things wrong with it, this would be Near Mint. All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a Very Good Plus record highly acceptable.
Very Good (VG): Generally worth 25 percent of Near Mint value. Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound. Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them. Goldmine price guides with more than one price will list Very Good as the lowest price. This, not the Near Mint price, should be your guide when determining how much a record is worth, as that is the price a dealer will normally pay you for a Near Mint record.
Good (G), Good Plus (G+): Generally worth 10-15 percent of the Near Mint value. Good does not mean Bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear (on a styrene record, the groove will be starting to turn white). A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object. It is a common item, you'll probably find another copy in better shape eventually. Pass it up. But, if it's something you have been seeking for years, and the price is right, get it...but keep looking to upgrade.
Poor (P), Fair (F): Generally worth 0-5 percent of the Near Mint price. The record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and writing. The LP cover barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split, crinkled, and written upon. Except for impossibly rare records otherwise unattainable, records in this condition should be bought or sold for no more than a few cents each.

Postage & Packing
Records will be packed in a standard cardboard record envelope with cardboard stiffener. The record will be packed with the vinyl in a new inner sleeve, outside of the cover sleeve, in order to prevent the record from damaging the spine and edges of the cover and the original inner sleeve whilst in transit.

I can combine multiple records to help reduce postage costs. Those who win bids on 2 or more records, will receive an invoice for combined postage.

All records will be sent by the Jersey equivalent of Royal Mail Signed For.
Jersey Post uses a slightly different system to Royal Mail (there is no 1st or 2nd Class)

Weights of records and packaging:
Average weight of 1 single sleeve record = 270g
Average weight of 1 gatefold sleeve record = 420g
Average weight of packaging = 190g

Jersey Post rates for UK and IOM:
Standard Packet
251g - 500g = £3.36
501g – 750g = £4.49
751g – 1000g = £5.35
1001g – 1250g = £6.62
1251g – 1500g = £7.36
1501g – 1750g = £8.11
1751g – 2000g = £8.92

Signed For = £1.03 extra per packet P&P

Examples:
1 single sleeve record (270g + 190g = 460g) £3.36 + £1.03 = £4.39
1 gatefold sleeve record (420g + 190g = 610g) £4.49 + £1.03 = £5.52
2 single sleeve records (540g + 190g = 730g) £4.49 + £1.03 = £5.52
2 gatefold sleeve records (840g + 190g = 1030g) £6.62 + £1.03 = £7.65
1 gatefold + 1 single sleeve record (270g + 420g + 190g = 880g) £5.35 + £1.03 = £6.38

Jersey Post standard postal rates:
Jersey Post Signed For rates:

Europe and International bidders, please get in touch for a quote.

New inner sleeve and cardboard envelope/stiffener £0.50

I have spent a lot of time cleaning, testing, inspecting and grading the records so that the descriptions given here are as accurate as possible. The photographs taken of the records have been lit with a strong low level light source so to show any defects (creases, tears, scratches etc). This can exaggerate the condition of the surface and can make it look worse than what it really is. I have done this so as to not hide anything. I have tried to be as honest as possible. If you are not sure you will be content with what you might purchase do not bid, as there will be no refunds or returns.