Sold Date: December 1, 2021
Start Date: November 24, 2021
Final Price: £222.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 18
Seller Feedback: 1958
Buyer Feedback: 434

JAN DUKES DE GREY - SORCERERS

Very rare and highly sought after 1969 UK 1st press 12" LP on the highly collectable DECCA Nova label, STEREO, SDN 8

Matrix Numbers : Side 1  ZAL - 9272.P - 1W with stampers "1" and "U" at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock;  

                             Side 2   ZAL - 9273.P - 1W with stampers "1" and "C" at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock

Both sides of the flat and nicely weighted vinyl gleam with the original jet black lacquered sheen and appear to be in virtually unmarked condition. It is only with close inspection under a bright light that it is just possible to detect a couple of very wispy hairlines and the occasional very light paper scuff...each very trivial and not impinging upon the brilliant stereo audio quality at all. Clearly this record has been very sparingly played.. Truly EXCELLENT PLUS (EX+)!

If it wasn't for just a couple of small and very, very faint rogue spindle trails adjacent to the centre hole on each label I would grade the condition of the labels as being near mint, so certainly an excellent plus (EX+) is again in order!

The gorgeous front side only laminated gatefold sleeve is superb. All of the edges and corners are firm and perfectly defined (including the spine) and the opening edges are similarly rigid with no fraying or feathering; all of the colours and art work have retained their rich vibrancy and brilliant definition, and the spine remains in perfect condition with all spine text fully intact. There are just a few 1-2cm very light laminate creases adjacent and perpendicular to the sides and on the front side the hint of some very mild ring wear is in evidence when the sleeve is held at the right angle in a good light. There is no cardboard creasing and no areas of laminate lifting. The reverse side has just a couple of very faint age marks (one towards the top edge and one towards the bottom edge) but I am now being really picky. Certainly a strong EXCELLENT, probably meriting an EXCELLENT PLUS!

The audio quality is stunning. No background crackle or other interference. No skips, repeats, pops, clicks, or jumps. Just perfect, with great tone and clarity throughout even at higher volume and frequency, with no clicks, skips, jumps, repeats or background crackle/interference. Hard to believe that a 53 year old piece of vinyl such as this remains in such superb condition and plays so beautifully, devoid of any sound defects at all...but it does and it's true! EXCELLENT PLUS (EX+), probably "near mint" on the audio quality front.

The track listing is :

Side 1:

1. Dragons

2. Rags, Old Iron

3. 28th June, Village Song

4. High Priced Room

5. Sorcerers

6. Ode to a Schoolgirl

7. The Cheering Crowd

8. Out of the Eastern Hills

9. M.S.S.

10. Texas

11. Yorkshire Indian Sitting in the Sun

Side 2 :

1. Wonder Child

2. Dominique

3. Trust me Now

4. Forms

5. City After 3.00am

6. Butterfly

7. Turkish Time

Comes complete with the excellent condition original blue and white poly-lined DECCA inner sleeve no splits or tears - just some mild creasing in two of the corners and a little age discolouration adjacent to the reverse side vertical edges, and of course remaining fully functional. 

A truly excellent plus condition copy of this rare and highly sought after prog/folk gem, which would grace any serious vinyl collection.

Note that I always insert the vinyl(s) into a new plain white poly-lined inner sleeve in order to protect the original during postage, and separate this from the sleeve itself  to prevent seam splits. I use thick cardboard stiffeners and take great care in my packaging to ensure as far as possible that these precious records reach their destination in exactly the same condition as when they leave me.

POSTAGE COSTS :  

For the UK £5 using Royal Mail 1st class signed for (Royal Mail Special Delivery for items selling for more than £200 for which I pay the extra cost); 

for continental Europe £14 using Royal Mail 1st class tracked and signed for, 

and for the rest of the world £19 using Royal Mail 1st class tracked and signed for. 

I do provide posting and packaging discounts for multiple purchases. I make no profit from postage.

 If you require any further information, including photos, then let me know and I'll do my best to oblige. 

If this record interests you then take a look at my other listings for more 60's and 70's classic vinyl.

A bit about myself : I have been collecting UK vinyl for over 50 years from a variety of sources : my own collection, friends and family, car boot and garage sales, door-to-door leaflets, and even through placing an advert in my wife's costume hire shop window! My ebay feedback speaks for itself so rest assured that you are buying from a trusted seller and in the very unlikely event that you are unhappy with your purchase just e-mail me and I'll sort out the problem. I offer a "no questions asked" refund policy. If you require any further information, including photos, then let me know and I'll do my best to oblige. There is NO RESERVE on this item. Richard

Descriptions of any records I sell comply with the Rare Record Price Guide grading guidelines :

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.