I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale.  No shipping to Russia currently.

Black Sabbath : Master Of Reality 1Y1 / 2Y1 1st Press Vertigo w/ original Poster

This genuine first pressing plays to a superb standard with hardly any intrusion.  With only a couple of static clicks on S1 (they are not loud) the clarity is so impressive and the power and depth of the audio equally so.  The original depth and resonance of the sonic 'landscape' is still there and that down-tuned Iommi sound is stunning here.  Even the quiet numbers 'Embryo' and 'Solitude' play with exceptional clarity.  'Solitude' for once plays beautifully and as described below is the finest example I have ever listened to.  In summary S1 plays with real quality but S2 is just incredible!  The vinyl itself is lovely condition and has barely any spindle wear.

The original poster (weighing 38g of course) is in great condition with no marking, pinholes and only minimal creasing and the embossed box cover is also in superb condition with only minimal wear.  It has kept its original shape so well and has clearly been very well preserved over the last 53 years.  The original Swirl inner (dated 0671) is in excellent condition.

6360050  1Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 1 0

6360050  2Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 2 1 1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 & T3 Near Mint / T2 intro Ex)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T1 Near Mint)

The embossed box cover is a very strong Ex

The original 38g poster is Ex+

The swirl inner is Ex

The labels are Mint-

Visual description

The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has a stunning glossy sheen with no obvious marks or scratches.  Under a bright light I can only see a small number of very faint hairlines and just one very small squiggle type hairline mark on S1, it's not easy to find.  There is no groove wear or bag 'rash' and the run grooves are also very clean.  The iconic Vertigo labels are unmarked - they are stunning with barely any spindle wear.

Play grading  

The run in on S1 has no static etc, a genuine rarity, and then the intro on 'Sweet Leaf' is perfect including the cough!  Osbourne's opening vocal section is so strong and clear with not so much as a dust tick let alone anything more.  It continues to play with that typical deep rich Sabbath sound.  Iommi's down-tuned guitar has never played with such depth and I only heard one very light click during the second verse.  The mid instrumental plays with stunning precision and for once there is no static distortion on the top end.  The final vocal / instrumental is faultless and the fade out has next to no static.  I think Near Mint is deserved here as 99% is perfect and the click is very much in the background.

The build up intro on 'After Forever' is very clean aside from one tick and a static click, nothing loud.  The first classic riff section plays with imperious quality and the first verse has no intrusion either.  From then on it plays with exceptional power and depth with just one minor tick on the second verse.  This is of course a classic with one of the finest riffs known to man (!) and the sonic quality does not disappoint!  The depth and resonance we have here is precisely why the first  pressings are so collectable.  The end instrumental is a case in point - incredible sound quality here.  I will grade the intro as Ex but the remainder has to be graded as Mint-

'Embryo' has just one static sound at the start and then plays so clearly from then on.  Near Mint

The entire intro on 'Children Of The Grave' can only be described 'as new' and the opening vocal is equally as strong.  Another classic and another stunning version!  The instrumental bridge is flawless and the second verse is just perfect.  The more I progress the more I am impressed!  I am playing it LOUD and the sonic quality is as it should be - deep and powerful with no distortion, it just could not play any better.  Iommi's solo / instrumental is just STUNNING and the depth on Ward's final percussive note is phenomenal.  The super quiet end section has no background at all and is so rarely found as clean as this.  This is Mint in every way not even a minus is necessary.

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Again the run in on S1 is so clean and then 'Orchid' plays beautifully with only 3/4 very quiet statics and a more obvious tick towards the end.  There is no underlying static and Near Mint is fair.

The intro on 'Lord Of This World' plays perfectly and the opening two verses have no intrusion either.  The mid instrumental plays with sublime quality and there is literally no background.  The familiar deep Sabbath sound is very much in evidence and there is no 'muddiness' to the sound and no distortion just stunning clarity and depth.  It goes without saying that the rhythm section of Ward and Butler add so much to the overall sound.  The high octane 'chorus' is so strong and again there is no distortion and the final verse / instrumental keeps up this fine standard.  The fade out is flawless and this classic is 100% Mint from start to finish.

'Solitude' then plays with a clarity that you so rarely find on a genuine first press and may well be the best I have ever heard.  How often do you find a clean record only to be let down by this track?!  Not here!  The intro plays with crystal clear audio, not one dust tick, and Osbourne's first 'gentle' vocal plays with impeccable precision.  The brief instrumental is incredible - every note is so clean and precise and you can so easily here the 'percussion' in the background.  It continues to play with a clarity that is second to none and I cannot overstate just how STUNNING this version is.  A handful of super quiet statics at most and the closing instrumental is superb including the fade out.  The so quiet percussive tinkling right at the end has no background!  I have changed my opinion - this is the most 'complete' version of this track I have EVER heard!  I will say Mint- but the minus could be judged as a little harsh.

The entire on 'Into The Void' plays with genuine power and clarity, a perfect start.  The opening vocal section is just as impressive and the first high powered vocal plays so clearly with barely any of the distorted sound that you so often find.  The next instrumental passage is flawless and the final vocal / instrumental ends this classic album with no interference, just that strong deep and clear Sabbath audio.  A superb version and Mint- is again deserved.

The Box Cover, Poster & Swirl Inner

The embossed box cover is in lovely condition and has retained its original shape and structure so well.  It was in great 'shape' before but I have placed two pieces of cardboard inside and it has helped it even more!  All four spines are still so strong and wide and have no wear basically apart from a couple of small laminate creases going across on the main and top spines.  The 'main' spine is of course 100% legible and this one and the one opposite is only slightly angled as is common.  The corners are also very clean with no wear and the top spine is only 'upturned' in a minor way.  The front cover is superb with only a minimal amount of the usual laminate lift but there is nothing that stands out and back cover is even more stunning with only a small amount of laminate lift near the right edge on the bottom half.  This is a superb example of this iconic cover rarely found in this condition.

The original poster is in excellent condition with no edge splits or tears and no pin holes in the corners.  The front is unmarked and the reverse side has only 3/4 small spots.  It has some crease lines but this is actually more obvious when you look at it from the reverse side, from the front it looks superb!  The original ploy-lined Vertigo inner sleeve (dated 0671) has just one tiny tear on the central aperture, very minimal age related fading around the edges and only a little creasing.

Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT-VM95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on my Pro-Ject VC-S machine

6360050  1Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 1 0

6360050  2Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 2 1 1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

Recent Feedback

Postage & Packaging

I will only send items items worldwide via tracked shipping.  This provides 'peace of mind' in case of loss or damage.  The shipping costs are shown below and combined shipping is always offered.  Any over-payment will always be refunded.

The Royal Mail only insure up to a value of £250 so if an item sells for more it may be wise to use a courier service (e.g. Parcelforce or DPD).  An extra insurance premium will be required but I will not know the exact amount until the final sale price is known.  Because of this I will sometimes have to estimate the cost and this will be shown in the listing.  Please wait for the invoice before making payment and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.  Many thanks.

All vinyls are packaged in strong over-sized custom made mailers with plenty of extra cardboard protection.  They are placed inside separate poly-lined inners outside the cover so as to avoid seam splits in transit and then placed inside a PVC sleeve to provide even more protection.  I pride myself on my high quality packaging as my feed confirms and if any customer has any specific requirements I am more than happy to help.

The mailers I use cost £1.00 each and I will use anything between 3-5 cardboard stiffeners which cost approx £0.18 each.  There is also the cost of the poly-lined inner and PVC sleeve to consider, it all adds up!  Not forgetting that eBay take 10% of the shipping fee also!!

UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £6.50 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £13.95 then £2.00 per extra

USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra

If you are not entirely happy with your purchase please contact me before leaving feedback and I will always resolve any issue, 100% guaranteed.  If you would prefer to send the item back I will also pay the return shipping cost if I am at fault, I am only human after all!!