BAUHAUS BELA LUGOSI'S DEAD TRUE 1st UK PRESS WEA AUG 79 - NOT WHITE 1980 REPRESS

	£		110
	$		146

All my items have a full money-back guarantee - if it's not as described you can return it for a full refund.

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The FIRST pressing of Bela Lugosi's Dead for the initial release in August 1979 was 5,000 copies pressed at WEA in Hillingdon, London and had standard black vinyl.

There is a widely propagated (including on Wikipedia) untruth that the first pressing of Bela Lugosi's Dead was on white vinyl. This is NOT the case. Copies with white vinyl were among several 1980 repressings after the initial release had sold out. In fact, at the time, Bela Lugosi's Dead had been unavailable for several months. The white vinyl copies were pressed, alongside a black vinyl repress by Carlton Productions. Lyntone also pressed black vinyl copies during 1980 after the initial release had sold out. The record entered the UK Independent singles chart on 26th January 1980 and stayed there for 131 weeks, necessitating at least five further repressings over the next couple of years.

So, it would be reasonable to assume that the various 1980-82 repressings outnumber the true first pressing from WEA by at least ten-to-one, probably far more. The record was also repressed (in various colours, including black) throughout the remainder of the 1980s.

The WEA pressings can be identified by a ‘stamper code’ which will be either an ‘S’ or a ‘W’ followed by a number, such as S-1. S-2, W-1, W-2. These codes are lightly etched in the run-outs and can be used to unmistakably identify a true first pressing. If they’re not there, it’s not a first pressing! If your black vinyl copy says LYN or TOWNHOUSE or SNA anywhere in the run-outs, it's not a first pressing. And if your copy is any colour other than black, it's NOT a first pressing.

This is an original WEA 1st pressing. It has the following etched in the run-outs:

TEENY 2A   W-3                      EG

W-4  TEENY  2B                      EG

Description
Disc: The vinyl has retained its sheen with some light hairlines and fine surface marks, but there's nothing bad anywhere. I've played the whole record in full from start to finish and both sides sound great with nothing to report, just some slight background noise in the run-ins/outs and silent grooves. I would play-grade both sides as Excellent (Ex).

Labels: No writing, stickers, tears etc and just some light spindle marking suggesting the record wasn't played that much.

Sleeve: The thin, flimsy sleeve has normal signs of age or use and is starting to wear thin at the rear seam, but it is NOT split.

Detracting features not covered above:  None. 

All photographs are of the actual item for sale. Please look at the photos and ask any questions before you bid or buy.

Where gradings are given these are based on the UK Record Collector grading system (see below) and are visual gradings only, unless the listing specifically states that it is a play-grading.

I use the UK RECORD COLLECTOR GRADING SYSTEM. This grading system differs from some other grading systems, in particular the Goldmine grading system. Please make sure that you are familiar with the UK record collector grading system before you bid.

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.

Plus (+) or Minus (-) are added where items fall between gradings. I only ever use one plus or minus.

P&P costs as follows:

UK:

First LP or 12" record = £5.50, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

First 7" record = £3.95, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

Europe:

First LP or 12" record = £18.95, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £13.95, each additional item = an extra £1.40 P&P charge.

Rest of the world:

First LP or 12" record = £29.50, each additional item = an extra £3.10 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £18.95, each additional item = an extra £1.80 P&P charge.