Item Description
PINK FLOYD - THE PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWNAn increasingly rare and sought after especially in condition as good as this very 1st UK MONO pressing of this 1967 prog rock classic on the black blue Columbia label, SX 6157The dead wax matrix numbers are :Side 1 XAX 3419 - 2 with stampers 1 and M at 8.30 o clock and 2.30 o clock respectively Side 2 XAX 3420 - 1 with stampers 1 and G at 9.30 o clock and 2.30 o clock respectively The appearance of the thick, heavy duty vinyl is excellent.
Completely flat and when viewed in normal daylight still retaining it s original jet black glossy sheen with no obvious marks at all.
Under a bright light, however, a reasonable number of wispy hairlines and mostly paper scuffs come into view, but nothing feelable and I could detect nothing below the surface.
Very impressive considering this record s 51 year antiquity Overall I would grade the condition as a solid very good.The original 1st pressing labels are excellent.
These are the 1st pressing back Columbia labels with silver text, and a blue Columbia Records Magic Notes Trademark at the top, and a blue Columbia in the center - each hallmarks of a very first pressing, as is Track 1 on Side 2, including all writing credits , which reads across one line only - if the artist credits extend to a second line, it is a repress.
The labels are unmarked apart from just a couple of very faint spindle trails adjacent to the centre hole on each side.The iconic front side laminated Ernest J.
DAY outer sleeve is excellent-.
All edges remain impressively firm with no scuffing apart from a noticeable 2cm scuff mark at the centre of the bottom edge.
Similarly the spine is rigid with no creasing and all writing perfectly legible.
No fraying on the opening edges, no scuffs or rubbing, and the corners remain well defined right angles with minimal rubbing.
The reverse side is excellent with no doodles or unwanted writing and the flip backs remain excellent and fully functional.
There is a single surface crease on the right side flip back and a 5cm score mark at the top and in the centre of the bottom flip back - these really are minor blemishes.
The top right part of the flip back is blank.
It does NOT read File under POPULAR : Pop Groups the absence of which is a further characteristic of very first pressings.Finally, the quality of the audio is very good .
To be more precise the audio quality ranges from at least very good to truly excellent, with excellent clarity and tone even on the higher frequencies and at higher volume.
There is some occasional, very light background crackle most noticeable at the very beginning of each side but even when it does occur is non-intrusive and about three quarters of the way through track 1, side 2 I noticed twelve light clicks, and a further two very light clicks about half way through the second track on side 2.
So, not quite perfect audio quality but certainly a solid very good overall.
The tracks are :Side 1 :1.
ASTRONOMY DOMINE2.
LUCIFER SAM3.
MATILDA MOTHER4.
FLAMING5.
POW R.
TOC H6.
TAKE UP THY STETHOSCOPE AND WALKSide 2 :1.
INTERSTELLAR OVERDRIVE2.
THE GNOME3.
CHAPTER 244.
THE SCARECROW5.
BIKEComes with original E.M.I.
RECORDS inner with no splits or tears and just some very light, sporadic age discolouration - excellent condition Note that I always post the record in a new plain white inner sleeve in order to protect the original.In summary a solid very good copy of this rare and highly sought after 1967 UK 1st press prog rock classic, worthy of gracing any serious record collection and only continuing to gain in value.
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 60 s 70 s classic vinyl listings.A bit about myself : I have been collecting vinyl for more than 48 years and have amassed a huge collection covering a varied genre, but mostly of 1960 s and 70 s origin.
Most of my records were originally bought by myself for my own collection, but during the past 30 years I have embellished my collection by buying records from a variety of sources : friends/acquaintances, car boot sales, auctions, and even through putting up a vinyl wanted notice in my wife s shop I never intended selling any of my records but I am now retired and a combination of space requirements caused partly by duplication and a need to help fund my retirement has prompted me to rationalise my record collection and sell many of my much loved gems.
My only wish is that they go to good homes.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 quibble refund policy.
On the subject of postage, I take great care in the packaging of all items, using a proper vinyl cardboard mailer along with at least two cardboard stiffeners.
I take great care in separating the record from the outer sleeve in order to help prevent sleeve damage in transit and I always insert the vinyl, outer sleeve and inner into a clear plastic sleeve, thus adding further protection.
For this item postage packaging will be Royal Mail 1st class, tracked and signed for : UK 5.00, continental Europe 10.00, and Rest of the World 14.00.
I do discount post packaging costs for multiple purchases.
I do NOT profit from postage.Good luck with your bidding Richard NOTE : My vinyl descriptions comply with the official Record Collector vinyl grading guidelines : Mint The records 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, 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 are torn, stained and/or defaced Poor The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc.
The cover and contents are badly damaged or partly missing.
Bad The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler
