Pink Floyd : Animals A2/B2 1st Press
This first pressing plays with a sonic quality that is rarely found today.  The previous owner soon committed them to tape and so this A2/B2 pressing has hardly been played and that is reflected in the audio as detailed below.  He preserved his records so well and also kept the record in pvc sleeve inside the lyric inner.
S1 plays to an incredible standard and I can confidently say is 'as new'.  S2 is very similar but as always with this side there is a little 'background' but it is kept to a minimum, there is just a little static in a couple of sections and there are no clicks or pops on either side.  This is a stunning album and visually it could not be any more impressive, it is immaculate!
The cover also shows just how carefully it has been looked after over the last 44 years.  It has no obvious wear and even Near Mint may be a little harsh!  The lyric inner is also in fantastic condition with no bottom edge split!
With international shipping (including Europe now) I will declare a lower amount so as to decrease/avoid any Customs' fees.
SHVL 815 // A - 2U / B - 2U // OO 1 / MH 1
The audio on S1 is Mint(-)
The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / T2 intro & 'Lord's Prayer' section Ex to Ex+)
The gatefold is Near Mint
The labels are Mint-
The original lyric inner is Mint-
Visual grading
To say this vinyl is visually stunning is an understatement!  It looks 'shop fresh' with that immaculate jet-black glossy sheen that you only see on un-played vinyls.  There are no marks or scratches and I can only detect a couple of ultra faint hairlines.  The run out grooves are pristine and the labels have only a couple of very small faint spindle traces.  This is the finest A2/B2 first pressing that I have seen for sure.  Stunning!
Play grading
As you would expect on a beautifully preserved vinyl the opening acoustic track 'Pigs On The Wing (Part One)' plays with a precision that could not be bettered.  There is no underlying static and obviously no clicks or pops.  There are a couple of barely audible dust ticks but in essence it is 'as new' and provides a Mint- start to the album.
With complete silence in the dead wax the acoustic intro on 'Dogs' plays with perfect clarity i.e. not even a single dust tick.  The first verse is the same and on the second I detected just one very light tick.  The third verse is flawless and Gilmour's solo that follows has the kind of definition you only get with an un-played vinyl, it is as good as that!  The clarity here is second to none and the quieter section after the fourth verse is another example of that, the audio is just phenomenal!  It is Mint and of course lasts for about three minutes - again not one dust tick.  Needless to say it continues to play with STUNNING sonic quality and throughout this entire epic I heard only a couple of minor ticks that are very much in the background and could easily be missed.  Any Floyd collector will know that the end section is always affected by inner groove distortion and I do mean always!  I am delighted to say there is barely any here and is easily the 'cleanest' finale to this classic that I have ever heard.  I have no hesitation in grading this track as Mint- the clarity is just on another level from start to finish.
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The long intro on 'Pigs (Three Different Ones)' carries on where S1 left off and is 'as new' with no sign of any interference.  The first verse has no ticks, clicks etc and has only a hint of minor static that lasts for all of two seconds, it really is very quiet!  The second verse is faultless and the instrumental section then plays with near perfect precision - I am sure many would say Mint but I did hear a couple of mega light static ticks and one second of barely audible static!  I am always 100% 'complete' with my grading as my regular customers appreciate and I will mention any 'background' even if minor and totally non-intrusive.  Towards the end of this section there are a small number of light ticks which are perhaps a little more obvious - at this point I think it is worth saying that S2 of this album never plays as well as S1 and again I am sure the Floyd audiophiles will be aware of that.  In saying that this is very probably the finest version of this track that I have heard and any 'background' I have described is so minimal.  The final is close to perfect and Gilmour's closing solo is so strong and clear with no distortion for once.  The quiet end section has only minimal static and overall I would say Near Mint is an honest appraisal of the audio.
The quiet intro on 'Sheep' is so often affected by static and there is a little here but it does soon disappear.  The majority of this intro plays with stunning clarity and once more there are no clicks or pops.  The first verse is 'as new' and it continues to play with impeccable precision and power and the following instrumental section is equally as impressive - no 'background' at all.  The 'Lord's Prayer' section has only minimal static and the final vocal 'plays' to a superb standard with no interference as does Gilmour's closing section.  The quiet end section also plays with great clarity and barely any static.  I would grade the intro and the 'Prayer' section as Ex to Ex+ but the remainder is Mint- in my opinion.
'Pigs On The Wing (Part 2)' closes the album with near perfect audio.  There is just a momentary static sound for half a second but otherwise it plays with wonderful precision which is quite rare for the final grooves on any album let alone on a track as quiet as this.  It is still worthy of a Mint- grade.
In summary this first press plays to standard that is becoming increasingly difficult to find.  S1 especially is absolutely stunning and you cannot fault the sonic quality.  S2 is still so impressive but does have a little 'background' in a couple of sections.  However, I'm sure my detailed grading shows that it is only minor and largely non-intrusive.  As stated for some unknown reason you cannot escape it on S2!  The vast majority is still Mint- in my honest opinion and I would go so far to say this is the 'cleanest' first A2/B2 press that I have listened to in years.  The clarity and depth of the audio is sublime and this is without doubt a stunning album.
The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve
This cover is in beautiful condition with no real sign of any wear, it is stunning!  The edges have only a couple of minor 'rubs' and the wide spine is totally unmarked.  There is barely any corner wear and the opening edge is 100% pristine.  The front cover is as near to perfect as is possible with only one tiny mark that is not easy to find anyway!  There are a couple of tiny 'rubs' next to the opening edge top right but again I'm being picky!  The back cover is also in lovely condition with just one tiny white 'rub' next to the opening edge.  The inside of the gatefold is immaculate with no marking etc.  The cover is also very strong and robust which can only be because it has been hardly handled down the years.  A fantastic example.
The original lyric inner for once has no bottom edge split and how rare is that?!  The record has always been contained within a pvc sleeve inside the inner which has really helped maintain its original quality.  There are no marks and only a small number of 'specks' on the edges but you won't find a better one in my opinion.
Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable // B & W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

SHVL 815 // A - 2U / B - 2U // OO 1 / MH 1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

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