Item Description
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I try to provide comprehensive details and information in every listing so the answers to most questions should be found below.
During more than eight years of trading on ebay, I have received around 2,600 positive feedbacks from over 2,000 individual customers, almost all from the sale of vinyl records.
I take great pride in ensuring that my items are always described accurately and fairly.
All my items come with a full money-back guarantee - if it s not as described, you can return it for a full refund.
Bidders outside the UK please note: I send all items tracked and insured.
Depending on the value of your order, the cost is an extra 5.30 or 7.90 on top of the standard airmail rate.
I do not make a profit on this service - I only charge what Royal Mail charges me.
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THERE ARE 12 PHOTOS IN THIS LISTING.
USE THE SCROLL BAR BESIDE THE THUMBNAILS TO SEE THEM ALL.
PLEASE USE THE ZOOM FACILITY BY CLICKING ON THE PHOTOS AND MOVING YOUR MOUSE OVER THE PICTURES TO GET A REALLY GOOD LOOK.
THERE IS NO RESERVE PRICE ON THIS AUCTION - THE HIGHEST BIDDER WINS Released in the UK in April 1971, here is one of the most-famous rock music collectables ever, and this is an outstanding example which looks and sounds fantastic.
The fragile, textured cover shows very little sign of use or wear and the record play-grades Near Mint NM .
42 years ago, when this cover was made, it was simply a record cover for a not-particularly-famous singer.
Nobody knew that Bowie would become a megastar or that this would become the first of many iconic and enduring images used by the singer.
Consequently, little if any thought would have been given to how this fragile, textured cover would last over the years and so, sadly, almost all the copies that survive today look worn and faded, frequently with extreme wear to the edges and corners and often with edge and/or spine-splits.
But this one has been stored in a protective sleeve with the record removed from the cover.
It has very rarely been handled and as a result, it is in extraordinarily well-preserved condition.
This record is the genuine, original, earliest first pressing which has Tony Visconti s name mis-spelt on the labels this was corrected on later copies , and the following 1st press matrix numbers:Side 1: 6338041 1Y//1 Side 2: 6338041 2Y//1Finding an original, earliest first pressing of this famous album is hard enough, but finding one in this condition is very rare indeed.
Detailed description Cover: The cover is really nice and clean with no damage, writing, splits, tears or stickers etc and minimal signs of use.
It has been kept in plastic sleeve with the record removed from the cover and so has no ring-wear or shaping around the disk and minimal signs that it has ever been handled.
The only issue worthy of mention is what looks like a scratch along the top edge see photos, especially the last photo .
I have seen this before on other copies of this cover and it is my belief that this was probably caused by the machines used to finish the cover folding, gluing, trimming etc as part of the manufacturing process, rather than any signs of use - the mark is perfectly straight and the other edges have a similar, although much feinter, mark see photos .
The only other issue is a small, fine area of marking near the bottle on the shelf above Bowie s boot, but it is so slight that I only noticed it when I took the photos for this listing.
I have shown it close-up in the penultimate photo.
Even with the issues mentioned here, I think that this must be one of the best-preserved copies of this cover that you will find.
Edge wear: top/spine/bottom/opening: light/minimal/light/minimal.
There is light storage wear to the top and bottom edges, mainly at the corners, particularly the top-corner near the opening, but there are no splits anywhere and there is much less wear than almost every other copy I have ever seen.
The spine is solid and firm with just some minimal wear and the text is all 100 readable.
Corner wear: top-spine/top-opening/bottom-spine/bottom-opening: minimal/moderate/light/light.
There are no splits to any corners.
Labels: Both labels look superb with no damage, writing, stickers etc.
Judging by the spindle marking, I would estimate that the record has probably been played about a dozen times slightly more on side one and slightly less on side two .Vinyl: The vinyl is perfectly flat and has retained its original high sheen.
It has clearly been well looked-after.
Under normal, ambient lighting it looks excellent with just a handful of feint hairlines visible on side one and nothing on side two.
Very bright illumination from a halogen spotlight or direct sunlight, shows-up more hairlines, sleeve-removal lines and fine marks less on side two than side one but there is nothing significant anywhere and ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WITH ANY AUDIBLE IMPACT.
I have played the entire record and it sounds fantastic with nothing to report.
This first pressing plays with a big, fat bass sound and crisp, precise high-notes, with no hint of distortion or fuzziness anywhere - it is very rare to find a first pressing of this album sounding as good as this.
For the sake of completeness I would mention that there is some very soft background noise in the quietest parts and some of the silent grooves and intros but there is absolutely nothing loud or intrusive anywhere and generally the run-ins/outs, fades, silent grooves and intros play really quietly.
I heard the occasional random, solitary click, but THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY NO REPETITIVE TICS OR CLICKS ANYWHERE ON THIS ALBUM.
This is an outstanding example and I think it would be very hard to find another original, earliest first pressing which sounds as good.
Personally, I don t think I have ever heard a better one - it was a total pleasure to listen to and I WOULD PLAY-GRADE BOTH SIDES AS NEAR MINT NM .
Inner sleeve: Plain poly-lined Plastic Bags can be dangerous inner sleeve has no splits or tears and just minor signs of age and use.
Detracting features not covered above: None.
This is a truly outstanding example and I think you would have to wait a long time to find another one like it.
Please check out my other items.
Information about descriptions.
My items are always described accurately and fairly.
I always do my best to point out any blemishes which might detract from the item and all photographs are of the actual item you will get.
Play-graded vinyl: I play grade records where possible but I don t have time to play them all.
I always state in the listing if I have played a record prior to describing it.
Visually-graded vinyl: Unless specifically stated in the listing, vinyl is visually graded.
A visual grading will identify physical flaws such as scratches and can help determine whether a record has been cared-for properly.
I always do my best to give a fair assessment of any visible marks on the playing surface, but a visual grading will not identify noise or crackle caused by non-visible sources.
Most of the records I sell are between thirty and fifty years old and so it is likely that there may be some background noise even if they look perfect.
Please see Terms and Conditions below for my refunds policy for visually graded records.
I have some very simple terms and conditions.
Please read them and ensure that you understand them before bidding.
Thank you.
TERMS CONDITIONS My items are fully guaranteed - if it is not as described you can return it for a full refund, including postage.
Refunds for visually graded records which are returned based upon the buyer s assessment of the record s playgrade, will not include postage costs in either direction.
Your bid is binding, so please make sure you have READ and UNDERSTOOD the WHOLE LISTING before you bid.
I will not accept returns where the buyer has not read or not understood something which is stated/shown in the listing.
I accept Paypal and postal orders in UK Sterling GBP for all purchases.
I also accept cheques in UK Sterling GBP on orders OVER 50.Please pay for your item within three days of the auction closing.
If you are intending to bid on other items and wish to pay when they have closed, please contact me to let me know.
I reserve the right to cancel any transactions and offer the item to the second highest bidder if no contact or payment is made within three days.
POSTAGE PACKING I care about the records I sell and believe that they need to be carefully and securely packaged to ensure that they survive their journey through the post.
Vinyl is removed from the sleeve for posting and the contents will be protected with rigid cardboard stiffeners.
All packages are labelled Do not bend and securely sealed with FRAGILE parcel tape.
I support the use of recycled materials and so I may sometimes use recycled packaging.
If you wish your item to be sent in entirely new packaging please let me know before paying for it.
Thanks.
P P charges for this item UK Standard service - items valued below 50 are sent using first class recorded post.
The cost for this is 5.20.
UK Special Delivery - Any item valued over 50 will be sent fully insured using Royal Mail Special Delivery and the total cost of this will be 9.90.
Please wait for my invoice before paying.
Airmail with tracking and insurance to any country OUTSIDE the UK Overseas orders will ONLY be sent fully insured.
I include insurance on all invoices.
Europe First LP or 12 13.80, each additional LP or 12 add 2.20.
Rest of the world anywhere outside Europe First LP or 12 17.80, each additional LP or 12 add 3.80.
Customs declaration for overseas orders: Please note that for overseas orders outside the EU I need to complete a customs declaration and must enter the value of the package on the declaration.
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Thanks for your interest in this listing and for taking the time to read these details.
