Sold Date: July 28, 2024
Start Date: July 18, 2024
Final Price: £1,045.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 47
Seller Feedback: 1010
Buyer Feedback: 868

An incredibly rare opportunity to purchase and own a UK first pressing of this superb album, with many additional related items. The word "rare" is used far too often for no real reason. This album, with the solid blue labels, was pressed in large numbers before they changed to the blue outline triangle. This is different as I am adding a genuine copy of the show souvenir that was left on each chair at the concerts performed in early 1972 to promote the upcoming album. This is not the orange one from the later tour that turns up for sale now and again. This is the much rarer and more sought after pink one, from 1972. It was obtained at the gig at Portsmouth Guildhall on January 21st. I am also including a live album of that actual concert. Together this is actually an exceedingly rare collection, and is in quite fabulous condition, with outstanding audio.

Not only that, but it also has the earliest blue tinted cover, both posters on less glossy paper than later editions and both of the stickers with brown diagonal stripes to the rear.
Please read on for full details and play-grading.

For sale here is a super copy of Pink Floyds iconic "Dark side of the moon" album. Comes with all the attributes of an original first UK pressing. Blue tinted gatefold cover. Solid blue triangle on the labels. Matrices are A2 and B2. Black poly lined inner sleeve with silver patent number text. Both posters printed on lightly glossed paper. Both postcard/stickers with Fasprint crack back to the rear.

Suffice to say that these UK 1st presses appear quite regularly on eBay, and are not quite as "rare" as some people like to claim! What is very unusual to find, is a copy with the vinyl in exceptional condition like this copy. The only real signs of it being played are a couple of spindle marks to each label.

The cover:                  Original and genuine blue tint to the cover. Very different to the black covers of later issues. Has very little, if any, shelf wear to top and bottom edges or spine. Has some mild colour loss due to rubbing against other albums (this blue tinged cover was especially prone to this issue). This is a really strong example. Conservative grading is a healthy Ex.

Inner sleeve:                      Nice example of this delicate inner. Has the grey printed patent and made in Great Britain text. There is NO damage worthy of mention. No slits or damage, but has a small circle in blue ink on the polythene lining. Barely a ripple in the paper and the poly lining is fully intact. This example is about as good as it gets. I grade the inner sleeve as a strong Ex.
Posters:             Both posters are present. Both are in super condition with just the fold marks present. No pin holes. No blue tack. No splits, rips, tears or issues. Both are printed on a slightly glossed paper. Much less glossy than later examples. I grade both posters as Ex+.
Postcard/stickers:                              Both postcards are present. Both unused. No pin holes, sticky tape, blue tack. The print on the reverse is Fasprint crackback with brown diagonal lines. No creases or damage to either. Look brand new. I grade these at Ex+.
The labels:                  The iconic solid blue prism labels are in good shape. There are literally a couple of very hard to see spindle trails to both sides. No rips or stains. To be safe because of the spindle marks and a couple of fingerprints, I grade the labels as VG+.
The vinyl:                Really the vinyl is the cherry on the top of this copy.    As a visual grading I would have to give an excellent at least. The vinyl gleams like a mirror. A lovely rich, deep black lustre. No marks of any concern whatsoever.
The play grading makes excellent reading.  The vinyl sits completely flat to the platter.
Side one, with its quiet heartbeat start, begins really well and pretty quietly. There is a low background "rustle" for a handful of seconds. The whole side plays with great clarity through the first 3 tracks, no issues. As track 3 draws to a close, and runs into "Time", there are two light dust "pops". These should either clean out or play out in my experience. The rest of the side plays with unbelievable power and detail, but just as important, almost totally silently. Side two starts with (literally) 2 seconds of light surface noise. Please note! This copy does have the well documented skip at the start of "Money". This is gone in a heartbeat! This is a factory pressing fault, not due to anything else. A seriously superb sounding album from start to finish. The play grading reveals no issues. I grade as a solid Ex to both sides. i feel many would grade higher, but I am extremely "picky" with my gradings, so you know exactly what you are bidding on.
As a complete and original first UK pressing with the A2 and B2 matrix numbers, correct earliest blue tinged cover, both earliest posters and earliest stickers, I really have to grade overall as excellent plus. Somebody is going to be very happy!!
Also in this sale I am including a host of other related items, which I will list and describe in full below.
Firstly, the show souvenir. As previously stated, this is a genuine article from the Portsmouth Guildhall gig. This was the second gig of the tour in January 1972, following on from the opening night in Brighton. The Brighton gig was beset by many issues. Equipment failure, extended breaks, sound issues etc. The set was changed to play much of the bands earlier works, and parts of the new album still had different track names. As the concert did not play the full album set, the VERY FIRST live recording of the complete album actually took place the following night in Portsmouth. The pink souvenir (printed on the rear is "this book is designed for your further enjoyment of the show - it is not a programme") is in excellent condition, even more so when you think it is now over 52 years old. There is no damage. Possibly very light discolouration and the lightest of corner creasing. I am including a DVD of the making of this iconic album. Great condition. A brand new gel pen depicting the album artwork. A sticker depicting the solid blue triangle label. A coaster, also depicting the solid blue triangle label. A couple of additional pieces of artwork associated with the tour.
and finally! A live recording of the actual concert from Portsmouth Guildhall on January 21st 1972. The first full performance of the album which was finally released the following year. This album is in perfect condition. Please note!! The marking on the vinyl is in fact because there is a marbled effect to the vinyl. It is not jet black, it is a kind of muddy brown/maroon in colour.
I will post overseas, although I have had issues in the past and will not post to Russia, Belarus or Ukraine. If you have a feedback score of less than 20, please contact me before bidding. I have listed the price for UK postage only. As a rough guide, postage within the EU is about £16, tracked and signed for. Outside of the EU, postage is around £25, tracked and signed for. I will refund any excess paid immediately once I have weighed the packaged items. I DO NOT make anything on the postage. I charge the exact cost (often less) that I pay. I DO NOT charge for packing materials and I try to use recycled packing anyway.  I also dress all my albums in a brand new heavyweight plastic cover and a brand new anti-static inner sleeve. All vinyl is packed outside of the cover and 2 stiffeners are used in transit. I have sold many valuable vinyls over the years and am often credited with Fort Knox style packing. Please bid with peace of mind that what you see is what you get.
If you have any questions, or require extra photos, please just ask. Album will be posted same day I receive the funds if early enough, or at worst the next day.