BLACK SABBATH MASTER OF REALITY 1st UK PRESS VERTIGO SWIRL, MINT VINYL UNPLAYED?

	£		316
	$		419

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

(see below for details)

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Please read the description carefully and look at all of the photos before bidding or buying. Thank you.

Here is a remarkable, outstanding example of the original 1st UK press of Black Sabbath's classic third album. The whole item is in stunning condition and I’ve never seen a better one. The vinyl appears to have hardly ever, or never, been played and the audio is magnificent. I don’t think it would be possible to find a better one.

This has the following 1st press matrix numbers:

Side 1: 6360050 1Y//1

Side 2: 6360050 2Y//1

This copy does not have a poster, but the disk, the embossed box cover and the Vertigo swirl inner sleeve are all genuine 1st press originals, and all in incredible condition.

Detailed description

Labels: No damage, writing, stickers etc, and no obvious spindle marking. I've examined the labels carefully and can see no spindle marks on side two and maybe just one or two on side one. Although it is not an exact science this would suggest that (before my very careful play-grade) side one was unplayed and side two was played only once or twice.

Vinyl: The vinyl has retained its original high sheen with barely a mark to be seen. In normal light the playing surfaces look immaculate and even under bright, direct light I could just see a handful of the lightest, superficial, wispy sleeve-removal marks, but there is nothing significant anywhere. I can’t recall ever seeing another one as clean as this! I have played the entire record and it sounds amazing with nothing to report. Even the usually problematic parts which are almost impossible to find with perfect audio (the end-section of 'Children of the Grave', 'Solitude' and the two instrumentals) sounded perfect.  This is a truly remarkable audio performance and I’m sure most people would say that this is Mint, but to be on the side of caution I would have no hesitation to play-grade the whole album as a VERY SAFE Near Mint (NM).  This was a total pleasure to listen to and I think you would be unlikely to find a better one.

Box cover: The embossed box cover is in stunning condition and the lamination is still beautifully shiny, with just a few minor creases, minimal corner wear and minor laminate lift (mainly on the left edge).  I've included lots of pictures, including close-ups of the spines and edges, and showing the corners, so please take a good look at these. These covers are almost impossible to find like this!

Inner sleeve: Original poly-lined Vertigo swirl inner sleeve, date-coded 0671 is in superb condition. It has no tears or splits and minimal signs of age or use. This is an outstanding example.

Detracting features not covered above:  None. I would say that this is a final upgrade of a very desirable, classic album. It is in stunning condition with vinyl that has rarely or never been played. I think it would be very unlikely that you could find a better one.

Please check out my other items and take advantage of reduced postage costs for multiple buys.

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Information about descriptions and gradings.
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. I am aware that different grading systems have different definitions and so I try as much as possible to describe items in plain English, rather than simply using gradings. Where gradings are given these are based on 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.

Visually-graded vinyl vs play-graded vinyl: Many people collect vinyl and never play it, whereas other people collect records because they want to play them. A visual grading will identify physical flaws (such as scratches) and can help determine whether a record has been cared-for properly, but it will not identify noise or crackle caused by non-visible sources. Most vintage records are likely to have some background noise even if they look perfect. I believe that records are for playing and so I try to play-grade records whenever possible. I always state in the listing if I have played a record prior to listing it. If I have play-graded the record I will usually only give a brief description of how the record looks (i.e. not a visual grading). The grading in the listing will be a play-grading and may be slightly different from the grading that the record would receive from a purely visual inspection. Most vintage records are not 100% perfectly flat and so I will only mention this aspect if it is very significant or has an impact on the way the record sounds. If I haven't play-graded the record, it will be given a visual grading.

Play-grading MONO records: Mono records and stereo records have different grooves. A stereo record produces a stereo sound via both lateral and vertical groove modulation whereas a mono record is not intended to produce any sound from vertical modulation. Playing a mono record with a stereo cartridge will create distortion because it is trying to pick-up the vertical (stereo) part of the signal, whereas this is not intended to be heard on a mono record and so is just noise.  Using a pre-amp with a mono switch will eliminate the noise caused by vertical modulation leaving just the lateral groove signal which is how the record was intended to be heard. Based on the assumption that most people choosing to listen to a mono record will have the right equipment to listen to it, I play all mono records via a pre-amp with a mono switch.  My play-grading is based on how the record sounds when played through a mono switch. If you do not have a mono switch on your amp or pre-amp you will be reproducing the noise from the vertical part of the signal and so the record will not sound as good. This is not any fault of the record, it is inherent to playing any mono record through a system that it was not designed for.

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RETURNS

• Please do not use ebay's automated returns system (which over-complicates a simple process). Please simply contact me through ebay messages. All my items are fully guaranteed - if it is not as described you can return the item for a full refund, including postage.  Refunds for visually graded records which are returned based upon the buyer's assessment of the record's play-grade, will not include postage costs in either direction.

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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. 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.

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P&P charges

My P&P charges are 'totally transparent'. Please read below and if you have any questions about P&P costs please contact me BEFORE you bid. Thank you.

Sending items costs more than just the stamps on the package, but I try not to charge more for packing and posting your item than it actually costs me to do so. I need to cover the cost of packing materials, plastic sleeves, new inner sleeves (where applicable), transportation, fees and charges associated with sending the item (including fees incurred to receive the cost of postage and, where applicable, currency exchange) etc. To cover some of these expenses I add a nominal figure to the basic cost charged at the post office athough the actual cost to me is always higher than this. I do not view P&P costs as a means of making money.

To quote an exact cost for every LP is difficult because of the wide variance in weight (e.g. Abbey Road weighs around 230 grams whereas Led Zeppelin III weighs around 390 grams). But the majority of single LPs, when packed, will weigh around 550 grams and I have based my P&P rates on this.

Double LPs will be charged as two LPs, triple LPs will be charged as three LPs. Box sets etc will be charged according to weight.

If, when you receive your item, there is a significant discrepancy in your favour, please contact me and I will refund the difference.

UK P&P costs

I offer three UK services. I DO NOT offer 'click and collect', 'collection in person' or FREE postage, so please do not select these options if they appear in the invoice.

UK Standard service - sent using either Hermes courier or Royal Mail 2nd class. One to three LPs = £3.45. Usually delivered within 3-5 days of despatch.

For more than three LPs please enquire before bidding.

UK First class recorded post. The cost for one to three LPs is £5.20. Usually delivered within one day of despatch.

For more than three LPs please enquire before bidding.

UK Special Delivery - Any order valued over £80 will be sent fully insured using Royal Mail Special Delivery (next day delivery guarantee) and the total cost of this will be £9.35 for one to four LPs and £12.00 for five or more LPs . Please wait for my invoice before paying.

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Airmail (tracked and/or signed) to any country OUTSIDE the UK

Overseas orders will ONLY be sent tracked and/or signed.

Europe

First LP or 12" = £13.60, each additional LP or 12" add £2.20.

Rest of the world (anywhere outside Europe)

First LP or 12" = £17.50, each additional LP or 12" add £3.80.

Overseas orders valued over £80 will be insured for an additional £2.90.

Overseas orders weighing more than 2kg or high-value orders may be split into two or more packages as appropriate so they can be sent using Royal Mail's Small Packet Rate, so please wait for my invoice on larger multiple purchases.

Please note that overseas orders outside the EU need a customs declaration with the value of the package.

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 If you have any queries please email BEFORE you bid.

Thanks for your interest in this listing and for taking the time to read these details.