BLACK SABBATH MASTER OF REALITY 1st UK PRESS VERTIGO SWIRL, ORIGINAL POSTER, EX+

	£		300
	$		398

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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P&P charges for bidders outside the UK: Please note that I send ALL international items tracked and insured, which costs more than the standard airmail rate.

For further information please see below for full P&P and insurance details.

 
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THERE ARE 12 PHOTOS IN THIS LISTING. USE THE SCROLL BAR BESIDE THE THUMBNAILS TO SEE THEM ALL.

Here is a superb, original 1st UK press of Black Sabbath's classic third album, complete with the original and genuine 1st press poster. Please note that, unlike the majority of copies being sold at the moment, this is an original UK Vertigo first press poster. It is NOT from a re-issue or non-UK release, and it is NOT a reproduction. It has six panels and measures approx 27" x 18" (inches) and weighs around 39 grams.

This has the following 1st press matrix numbers:

Side 1: 6360050 1Y//1

Side 2: 6360050 2Y//1

Detailed description

Labels: No damage, writing, stickers etc, just light spindle marking suggesting that the record wasn’t played very much.

Vinyl: The vinyl has retained its original sheen with just a few hairlines and fine surface marks visible, but there is nothing significant anywhere. I have played the entire record and it sounds great with very little to report. There are several quiet parts on Master of Reality that are hard to find with perfect audio (the two instrumentals, the soft 'spooky' end-section of 'Children of the Grave' and 'Solitude' on side two). Side one sounds superb with just three tiny tics in ‘After Forever’ but there was nothing else and even the 'spooky' end-section of 'Children of the Grave' sounded better than usual. I would play-grade side one as a SAFE Excellent plus (Ex+). Side two had about half-a-dozen soft clicks near the start of ‘Orchid’, three in ‘Lord of this World’ and a few in 'Solitude', but there's nothing intrusive or overpowering anywhere and ‘Solitude’ plays much better than most copies I’ve heard. Side two would play-grade as a SAFE Excellent (Ex). This is a superb example which was a pleasure to listen to.

Box cover: The embossed box cover has light signs of age and use but nothing major anywhere. There is some wear and laminate splits on the folds and some storage wear to the corners, most prominent on the right spine, but there’s nothing bad anywhere and this is a very presentable example. I have shown all the edges in the photos.

Inner sleeve: This is an original Vertigo swirl inner sleeve (with the black background rather than the white found with most Vertigo albums). Please note that there is no date-code. This is an original poly-lined Vertigo swirl inner sleeve: it is NOT a reproduction. There is a small (7cm) split on one side seam and some minor cosmetic signs of age and use, but no significant issues.

Poster: This is an original UK Vertigo first press poster. It is NOT from a re-issue or non-UK release, and it is NOT a reproduction. It is an original UK Vertigo first press poster. It has six panels and measures approx 27" x 18" (inches) and weighs around 39 grams. The poster looks fantastic with no issues, and although close scrutiny reveals some very minor signs of the poster having been displayed, it has no pin-holes, tears or bits missing. This is a fantastic example which grades as EASILY Excellent (Ex).

Detracting features not covered above:  None. This is a superb example.

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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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.

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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 Hermes courier. 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

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.

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.