BLACK SABBATH - Master of Reality EARLY US COPY with MINT UNMOUNTED POSTER.

	£		53
	$		71

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Postage: UK £4.75 (£1 per extra record). Europe (including Russia) £12.50 (£2 per extra record). Rest of World £16.50 (£3 per extra record). All boxes signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes that offer virtually no protection at all. More details on this nearer the end of the listing.

Posting to Russia: Yes, I do post to Russia. But delivery can take up to 4 to 6 weeks from the UK. So please be patient. I will submit a tracking number to the winning bidder, and when the packet arrives there it can be followed online using the Russian post website.

ALSO: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment. I try to keep my P&P prices as low as possible even yet another Royal Mail price hike, I will never compromise on solid, safe packing that is invariably a little heavier.

Artist or Band: BLACK SABBATH

Album Title: Master of Reality.

Producer(s): Rodger (Roger) Bain.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Sweet Leaf; After Forever; Embryo; Children of the Grave.

Side 2: Orchid; Lord of This World; Solitude; Into the Void.

Label/Format: Warner Bros. – this very early American issue was released on the deep green Warner Label which have matt, smooth surfaces (Please see label scans).

Label Conditions: Both in supreme conditions: ultra clean, fresh and attractive. Any spindle traces hardly even register, and I know for a fact, this record has hardly even been played.

Cat Number: BS 2562.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 106 grams. US album from the early 1970s were invariably pressed thin, and this is not untypical.

Country of Manufacture: US (all parts).

Rarity and Contents: Rare: this was no major seller in the United States where heavy rock was not unduly popular, especially at this time. Finding a barely played example that actually did still have the shinkwrap on the cover (now removed), so I could see the cover better, is never easy. AND this copy includes a MINT POSTER, this is practically the same as the UK poster except this one is BETTER. It is unmounted and like brand new, it is printed on very matt, slightly thicker paper that has a lovely delicate textured surface. The UK poster is thinner and smoother, so these cannot be mixed-up, it the US number and USA credits anyway. The cover is more standard, e.g. not a boxy type and is also embossed on the front. Now most collectors will know how prices have soared for the UK Vertigo original – the poster worth considerably more than the record in fact – So this can hardly be considered a compromise, this one is very rare in it’s own right. A Mint original poster is massively desirable and it looks fantastic. Like so many Vertigos I have heard, this has a little surface noise in places on the very quiet songs, this seems a trait of this album and is far from unusual. The heavy songs plays superbly and overall, a fine record, but NOT for the perfectionist. Still a great opportunity to own this Sabbath classic in barely played condition along with a very clean cover, and the prized poster looking like new – these do get offered or seen often.

Original Year of Release: June 1971.

Matrix/Stamper Nos: BS-2562-A [39928-1B] / BS-2562-B [39929-1A]

Brief Artist & Album Info: ‘ALRIGHT NOW, WONT YOU LISTEN!!’ Ozzy bellows out after the repeated heavy cough at the start of this metal classic. A smoked drug reference on the classic ‘Sweet Leaf’ and then the band kick in – HARD with a massive floorshaking heavy riff – the classic Black Sabbath trademark. Ozzy is in blistering form on this their third album. Heavy power chords and riffs dominate with very dark lyrics. Side one’s unnerving ‘Children of the Grave’, warning of the horrors of nuclear conflict and destruction – Bill Ward’s drums dominating in the mix, culminating with the very eerie whispered Children of the Grave line that shimmers from speaker to speaker with spooky guitar effects – the Sabbs at their most chilling. My personal favourite Black Sabbath album, very dark and menacing with very sinister, eerie overtones. Real heavy rock, no-one did it better than the early Black Sabbath originals. Eight songs of the very best – but not all is heavy. This album includes a trio of more untypical quieter numbers proving this band were more versatile than many suggest. Side two opens with ‘Orchid’, a very short but beautiful instrumental with Iommi playing Spanish guitar, a little crackle on this song. The delicate and haunting ‘Solitude’, one of the band’s most difficult tracks on vinyl, often has groove-wear and with loud crackle and even distortion. Here it has no distortion at all but again, some fairly gentle surface sound. Total silence is near impossible, even on a hardly played record, it really depends on the pressing quality and if it has been played many times – well I know this record has not been. It even has flute and that lovely delicate bell in the background can be heard with distinct clarity, I can imagine this subtle detail could even be lost on a worn copy or missed on a less revealing system altogether – it’s the fine details that sets the quality albums apart. This is a powerful sounding copy of this classic album, and this one plays generally well, especially the heavy tracks, best played as loud as possible as the production is a little muted that most will known. This is one of the few copies I have had that plays ‘Orchid’, with its deep bass strings without any distortion, but a little crackle again. With original UK Vertigo Spirals that include it now going interseller on prices, this is a great opportunity to own a top example with a pristine unmounted poster. As stated further up, this one is like new and printed on better quality, thicker and gently textured paper, for me anyway, someway superior and it looks fantastic, as seen on my picture.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(+): and arguably better still. Only marked down a little for a small crease on the bottom left. This American cover is unlaminated with a semi-gloss sheen. The back is smooth, the front embossed like the UK version. But unlike the UK version, this is a standard sleeve, not that somewhat poorly designed box type that flattens, tears and makes storage of the record difficult. This includes the original plain inner sleeve and the now getting very rare and SUPERB poster. Who would truly want a copy of this metal classic without it?

Cover Front: Again, I think this actually looks more pleasing than the UK version. This does not have the laminate issues the UK one invariably has. That is to say, no problems with adhesion and blistering or dulling. This front, the small corner crease apart, looks as clean and fresh as when made. The reason? – it still had the shrinkwrap attached. With due consideration, I decided to removed it so the cover can be seen and enjoyed, and it did not disappoint.

Cover Back: Very similar to the front and again looking great, like the UK version, this is not embossed. The same corner crease is present, but lighter with any marks or blemishes tiny, few and faint. No dulling to either side, this has that lovely just-made sheen and the lack of rim impression is another considerable plus.

Edges: All closed edges are very neat, crisp and retain practically all ink as made. The right opening one is practically pristine. The spine straight, crisp and unrubbed, tiny evidence of the light corner crease with a very minor dink evident (being quite critical). All text fully present and immaculate, there are NO splits, trimming or repairs to any edge guaranteed.

Corners: All are very neat indeed and barely any rubbing with lovely crisp shape largely retained.

Cover Summary: A vintage cover that gives few clues to it’s great age. The odd blemish, sure, but how many of these US covers will survive better? Imported copies are rarely seen quite like this and it should please many, if not most collectors.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(++): a plain white unlined inner that is almost as made bar one corner crease. All edges unsplit with no repairs and very clean indeed.

The Poster: PRACTICALLY MINT: and guaranteed ORIGINAL. Posters cannot be played of course, but they sure can be looked at and enjoyed and no copy of this album is really COMPLETE without it. One of the most collectable and sort-after inserts for rock connoisseurs, would anyone really not want this album without it? This is a beauty and has never been mounted and all evidence suggests, barely even handled. If this can be found much better these days, well good luck. Matt finished on premium quality paper and folded nice and straight and square – not all were. Just look at the ultra neat folded picture I have included to reitterate this fact, there is no faking this, all the manufacturer’s folds are exactly in the right places and what a difference it makes – the finer details are so important. This has a genuine freshness and feel (even smell) of a brand new poster, it has no ageing signs at all with no fustiness or age toning (even the white back is incredibly clean, practically as made, please see my picture again). The fold lines are totally unstressed and strong, no weak parts and absolutely ZERO ink loss or whites on these folds which tells me this poster has not been unfolded too many times (if indeed at all). Unmounted, unfaded, this is real dark and murky, just as the day it was made, this has intentional bleakness and its impact has remained untarnished. Clean, crisp edges and corners with no thickening or feathering. Even the back is practically perfect with no marks to be seen. This has a lightly textured surface and printed on slightly thicker paper, it really is an outstanding example that for my money, betters the UK-made one. Probably one of the most mounted or used posters ever issued, I remember wall-mounting mine the day I bought it – and why not? This is now massively sort-after and rare. You will not find this famous dark poster better than this I feel certain – Oh Lord YEAH!

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT: I can only see a tiny few ultra fine and faint surface traces under bright angled light, even finer than hairlines which of course, have no sound. Super clean, shiny, intense black and fairly solidly pressed. US albums tend to be a little softer and mark more easily, so to find a copy of this in such condition, is near remarkable. Clearly hardly played or even handled, a really lovely example of this real metal masterpiece, it should please most-all collectors.

Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippets or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing B&W speakers that include the legendary tweeter from their awesome Nautilus range that reveals every blemish or miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This Sabbath third album plays up to, and certainly, the heavy songs even above the high visual grading. Massively powerful sound that is clear and devoid of distortion, but the quieter songs do have a little, mainly quite gentle surface sound purely within the pressing, that far from unusual, and actually almost the norm wherever pressed. All the other songs are sharp and clear - sound quality is high with a deep and bass-heavy production – volume is essential for maximum fidelity and pleasure. A dynamic and powerful rock classic with grinding basslines, classic power-riffs, awesome drumming and of course Ozzy sounding young and fresh – this guy in his early Sabbath years was fantastic. His charismatic doom-laden vocal style was never bettered as much as others tried. The trademark heavy tracks sound amazing, but I state again, there is some mainly fairly gentle surface noise on some of the quieter songs. When played on a quality system, the guitar and bass can be heard clearly apart instead of just a wall of sound. I feel very sure this record has been hardly even played and has been generally well stored and looked after – I doubt if the record has seen light-of-day for decades. So NOT for the perfectionist with some surface sound here and there, but many collectors will be happy. This US copy could prove difficult indeed to find significantly better – and how often will an unused or abused poster be included within a very neat cover? This stunning lesson in gloom was rarely bettered, even by them, In rock music terms, Ozzy was, and still is – Lord of this World.

Now one of the most established sellers on Ebay and still offering the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any potential bidder and collector. You may notice I only submit records sparingly on Ebay - on average ONEADAY, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, not just bits to guess a grade - visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story. I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested collector – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean its good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in stunning near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are taken with a digital camera or scanned - they are NOT improved, cleaned-up or made better looking than they are with camera trickery or enhancing with digital programmes. What you see is what you get and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert and vice-versa. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. I am enthusiastic, and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items - bid with confidence - excellence comes as standard and so does Near Mint regularly. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps, sticks, warps or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Deck: Linn LP12/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Terrarium Black terminated cable). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional VPI-17 vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too. Pictures taken with a Nikon D5000 SLR Digital Camera.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.

What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is not a bad thing.

I now offer the fastest possible posting, often the very next day after payment is received or within two to three days maximum (unless on holiday). I only use FIRST-CLASS Mail. The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my new VPI-17 Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. You will NOT get tired, dull looking, dust infested records inside worn and foggy covers with tatty inners from this seller and that’s a promise and guarantee. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT Mailers, these do not offer any real protection). The record(s) are REMOVED from their main cover to avoid edge splits and placed within a brand new polylined inner. The record’s original inner will be included if available. The boxes are then reinforced with at least TWO, ULTRA THICK stiffeners for maximum extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffeners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed if deemed necessary and possible. When larger boxes are used, the thick record and stiffener ‘sandwich’ is then thickly embedded into bubble-wrap to bulk out the record inside the box to centre the item inside to reduce the risk of damage still further. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but ‘Signed-For’ posting is NOT an option anymore. I do not profit on posting and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners and bubble wrap make a near impregnable fortress for safe shipping and this is used inland and overseas for ALL my records, not just the rare and expensive. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than one in two thousand+ based on over 10,000+ items sold in over 12 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. The only damage rate acceptable for this seller is ZERO and I think my packets will offer just that. It would take a vicious postman or postal service to damage these for sure. Even one of these stiffeners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 2 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FIVE records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). All postage costs are below and at the top of the listing.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please ask me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of FOUR days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the, again after the mandatory FOUR days and then offer the item to the runner-up or relist. The non-payer will also be blocked from my Ebay site and they take the Ebay consequences (a strike or removal from the system). Small businesses need prompt payment to trade and these strict rules WILL be applied.

SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – THESE comply with EBAY’S RULES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent via Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.75

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £8. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £12.50 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £3 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); South America; New Zealand; Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £16.50 (£17.50 for double sets). Add £3 per extra LP. (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3)

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders or direct payment into my bank account.

Potential Bidders: I will cancel any bids I feel are time-wasters. A maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask and thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help. Thank You.

SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO WEAR AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

My Use of Description Terminology: Surface Marks = Superficial, usually light marks, hairlines or light scuffs that rarely sound. Scratch = a needle mark that goes below the record’s surface, some will sound, some will not, my play-grade will inform. Original = a record that has been pressed with the first label design which does NOT necessarily mean a very first pressed record. First Pressing = A record that I believe or know to be a genuine very first pressed record. I do not claim to always know for sure, and that’s why I state the stamper and matrix numbers if at all possible, for those who claim to know what they all mean, the information is there for the collector to decide. I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure. Surface Sound = Mild, light sound, usually light crackle or similar. Distortion = Break up of the actual sound caused by groove wear or damage from a chipped stylus – the most undesirable form of unwanted sound, vintage mono records were the most prone to this happening but not exclusively so. The symptoms of distortion are high frequency clipping, moderate constant crackle or an echo type sound quality. Violin, piano and vocals are most prone to groove-wear distortion. Feathering = Fraying or softening of the entry edge of a cover. Covers with feathered entrance edges are more likely to have had the actual record inserted and removed more than a non-feathered, sharp-edged cover which are always far more attractive. Set Off, actually a printer’s term for dark ink leaving mild residue on pale or white ink when rested upon. e.g. when a gatefold cover has black ink closed against white, this can leave some black residue on the pale area – this is mostly unavoidable or course.

The Argument for Vinyl Original sound and mix (mono mixes are rarely available on CD), high quality sound on clean copies (played on a hi-end dedicated analogue system – breathtaking sound!), beautiful, large format covers, artwork, inserts and even full size posters etc; huge investment potential, and the pleasure of owning ‘the real thing’.