Pink Floyd Dark Side Of The Moon First Press Solid Blue Triangle Ex

I am selling a number of Pink Floyd first pressings and on offer here is a very rare first pressing of The Dark Side Of The Moon with the solid blue triangle in the centre of the label.
This is one of the later first pressings with matrix numbers A3/B2 although in some ways could be described as even rarer as these were pressed in far fewer numbers.
I have play tested the entire LP and overall the audio is excellent.
It does play with some crackle but the depth of sound and the clarity is excellent as is synonymous with the thick heavyweight vinyl that the A2/B2 and A3/B2 copies were pressed on.
The first pressings were pressed direct from the original masterplate.
Speak To Me/Breathe does begin with some crackle and a few light clicks but this does lessen as the track continues.
This is repeated during On The Run also.
I would say however that this does not interfere with the overall listening and is more in the background than anything else.
Time begins with less background crackle and the audio here is superb.
There is very little crackle during the entire song and has to be one of the best I have heard on a first pressing.
Great Gig again with its quiet intro has very light crackle but once the singing starts the depth of sound is wonderful and the ending is relatively free of background noise and again sounds great.
On Side Two Money starts with some crackle and a few light clicks but soon disappears and the remainder plays in a stunning way with a rich, deep sound.
Many of the first pressings had a skip pressed into the grooves but this one does not have that.
Us And Them again starts with some crackle and a few light pops but as with the other tracks settles down and plays with great clarity.
About halfway through there is barely any crackle and this continues to the end of the song.
Any Colour You Like plays superbly with barely any background interference and the same can be said with Brain Damage and Eclipse .
So often there is more background noise towards the end of any vinyl where the grooves are often pressed closer together but not on this first press.
The audio is very clear and sounds superb.
Rich and deep with great clarity it is a great finish to this classic LP.
Visually the record is in great condition so in a way it is surprising it plays with the crackle it does.
There are a few faint hairlines and just a few little scratch type marks at the beginning of Side One.
Other than that there are no scratches at all.
SHVL 804 A-3 GOM 3 / SHVL 804 B-2 GGD 1 Play tested on my Technics SL-J110R turntable system.
The midnight blue Garrod Lofthouse gatefold cover is definitely one of the best I have seen.
It has very little wear and what there is, is mainly restricted to the corners.
Considering the first pressings were handled and played considerably in the early 70s this gatefold has stood the test of time extremely well.
There are a couple of light markings and some light fading on the front and slight ringwear on the reverse but other than that it is extremely clean.
The spine is in wonderful condition with just slight shelf wear at the top and bottom and the inside of the gatefold is really in excellent condition with no marks at all.
There are various first press covers but this one has the front cover sides glued together.
To summarise this first press whilst not in Mint condition is certainly one of the better ones I have heard.
Yes it does have some background noise here and there, although it is mainly at the beginning of the tracks and I would honestly say it is not particularly obtrusive.
It plays with a deep rich quality and there are no skips or jumps at all.
As I have also stated this is one of the best midnight blue gatefolds I have seen with only minor wear.
The original posters are in excellent condition with no rips or tears, just some spotting on the reverse of band poster.
The stickers are also in wonderful condition with no creases.
The backing paper is white with 45 degree angled diagonal stripes of dark brown from the top to bottom and FasPrint Permanent and Crack-Back on the paper.
It also has the original die-cut black polylined inner sleeve with patent numbers and Made in Great Britain in silver at the bottom.
I would grade the vinyl as Ex Ex at the beginning of some tracks The gatefold cover is Ex The labels are Ex The original inner sleeve is Ex some creasing but no serious tears - one minor nick at the top The posters are Ex The stickers are Near Mint- Any questions please feel free to ask.
Please pay within 4 days of auction end.
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PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THIS.
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ALL RECORDS ARE PROFESSIONALLY PACKED IN STRONG MAILERS WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS.
THE RECORDS ARE ALSO REMOVED FROM THEIR SLEEVES TO AVOID CUTTING THROUGH THE COVER AND PUT INTO A SEPARATE SLEEVE, AND THEN PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE.
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