BLACK SABBATH Master of Reality RARE UK 73 VERTIGO EX+ LP + AWESOME MINT POSTER

	£		231
	$		306

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World in Quality, Safe Packing.

Postage: UK £4.95. Europe (including Russia) £12.95 (£1 per extra record). Rest of World £19.95 (£2 per extra record). All my records are sent in boxes and the price of them has increased over time and these are my first price increases for nearly 10 years. Royal Mail prices have also gone up again. I will never compromise on quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes that offer virtually no protection at all, and records WILL arrive damaged in them at some time as most record buyers will already know. Here, you get what you pay for – SAFE PACKING in BOXES using 7mm DOUBLE-WALL STIFFENERS including full side protection and bubble wrap, the records removed from the covers of course. All this very safe packing means I lose money on every box I post, but safe delivery is, and will always be paramount. You WILL see the difference when my packet arrives. Also, I will pay for insurance on any record that sells for over £100 at NO extra cost – that is UK and abroad. Also I aim to post the very same day after payment is received if possible. PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT send any item, no matter what its value without a Royal Mail or courier tracking number. ALL my items must be signed and trackable to comply with Ebay delivery rules. Please do NOT ask me to make any exceptions to this rule as no country offers 100% reliable service without it.

Posting to Russia: Yes, I do post to Russia. But delivery can take longer 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 ‘2-day’ rule for non-payment to keep things moving – cash-flow is important for any small business.

ANY ITEM or ITEMS TO BE PAID WITHIN A MAXIMUM OF 6 DAYS or they will be cancelled – NO EXCEPTIONS.

FINALLY: Late payers, non-payers and ‘0’ bidders will now be blocked or cancelled at my discretion, as will any bidder who cancels a bid. Please only bid on my items if you want them.

Artist or Band: BLACK SABBATH

Album Title: Master of Reality

Producer(s): Rodger 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: Vertigo, second press on the new Spaceship label that have matt, smooth surfaces.

Label Conditions: Both very clean, fresh and attractive with any of the tiny few spindle marks very fine and faint. All evidence suggests this record has hardly been played.

Catalogue Number: 6360050 (in very large digits on the labels reitterating this is a first press on this new format label)

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps or Lateral Movement: Assume all records I offer have no significant warping or lateral movement to cause sound or tracking issues. All should play fine even on budget turntables.

Weight of this Record: 126 grams.

Country of Manufacture: England

Rarity: Rare, and arguably much rarer than the first issue Spiral copies that truly are not that hard to find. When the Spiral label was phased out in 1972, this album was very briefly repressed on the brand new Spaceship label. It still included the embossed, laminated box (top and bottom) opening cover, and a few also had the original black swirl inner sleeve (until they ran out). But – and a huge but – is, a tiny few included the original poster (this fact is catalogued in the Record Collector Price Guide), again until they ran out. The album was then repressed on the new WWA label without the spiral packaging. The final two Spiral Vertigo Black Sabbath albums are rare and elusive on the Spaceship label, including a Mint poster very rare indeed and the poster with this copy is exactly that – it’s immaculate and unmounted, also perfectly folded as seen in my pictures. This poster is one of the most sort-after in the rock genre and rarely, if ever will a better one be found. And this is 100% guaranteed genuine. All that, and this copy appears hardly played and sounds great. Also the ultra fragile and damage-prone box cover is hugely impressive, lacking the usual large laminate lifting around the embossed character some have, any here is gentle and light, also it retains fine shape. The original reversed, blacker Swirl inner sleeve also impressive and only lightly aged and fully intact. Although this album sold well, most were sold on the Spiral format with few on this new label. Only a small percentage of Swirls or Spaceships now includes the poster, and those that do, few are in true practically mint condition. So have no doubts about the rarity of this album in this condition with all the Spiral packaging. Also, this is arguably the band’s best ever album, it was a pleasure to play-grade and remains possibly my favourite heavy rock album.

Original Year of Release: 1971, this copy form 1973.

Matrix Nos: 6360050 1Y//1 ? 420 1 3 0 & 6360050 2Y//1 ? 420 1 2 3 0

Musicians: Ozzy Osbourne – lead vocals; Tony Iommi – guitar, synthesiser, flute, piano, acoustic guitar; Geezer Butler – bass guitar; Bill Ward – drums, percussion, sleigh bells.

Brief Info: The third Black Sabbath album, like the previous two, it was scorned by many critics of the time. But rock fans took no notice and this sold well. Like many albums on Vertigo in the Spiral era, this had yet another gimmick style cover. This time a flimsy box style format that opened top and bottom. It rarely survives time and usage well, often flattened and damaged with huge laminate lifting and splits. Initially it came with a poster and reversed style, blacker inner sleeve. But so many posters over time were used as wall decoration, torn down and discarded. Hence so many copies fail to include it now, and rarely in anything like true Mint condition. Musically most songs are very dark and heavy in the classic Black Sabbath style, but this includes some quieter songs as well which are all superb. Played full on, this sounds great and includes their eerie classic ‘Children of the Grave’ that concludes side one. As outlined above, this is a first issue on the new Spaceship label format, made when the Swirl run came to an end. But only briefly so, and a tiny few still included the original inner sleeve and that prized poster to use existing stock. It was not reprinted for subsequent issues and over time has become rare and highly sort-after. This copy, purchased from new by one owner, appears little used and was carefully stored. The poster appears barely even handled and never displayed or mounted. I have probably never seen a better example since I bought a copy back in the early 1970s. Nothing beats the sound of heavy rock than on early clean vinyl, the format offers the power and dynamics other format lack and this was a pleasure to play-grade with even the quieter songs playing impressively. This issue will seldom surface, and rarely much better than this in complete condition.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(++): this the same format and design as the 1971 pressing with fully laminated outer surfaces. The band name and title are embossed, hence laminate adhesion often becomes a major issue. Both top and bottom edges are open with small hinged flaps to keep the record inside. Printed and made in England by Howards Printers (Slough) Ltd. Includes the original reversed style Swirl polylined inner sleeve and the prized full size poster.

Lamination – Front & Back: One of the very best fronts I have seen on this fragile and quite flimsy ‘box’ style cover. It has the least lifting around the embossed details I have seen in years. Obviously, being embossed means the laminate cannot be entirely flat around the lettering, but this has avoided the usual large blistering, cracking and loss of laminate many acquire. It has very few edge creases and this is a real great looking front to hold and admire as I hope my picture shows. The laminate retains superb shine, freshness and clarity and the detail of the embossing really comes to the forefront. There is minimal trace of the flaps showing as they are neat, often this box flattens and goes badly out-of-shape, but this has been avoided. In fact the edge folds are still still quite strong and erect, not broken or mishapen. If this cover does flatten, breaks or distorts, there really is no comeback. Any attempts to ram it back into shape will usually prove disasterous with laminate cracks and causing huge edge lifting of the laminate. Most collectors will have seen ones that have been forced back into shape, only to fall flat again. No such issue on this one, the one owner from new stored it in a plastic protective sleeve and kept the record separate, hence its very fine all-round condition.

The back is flat with no embossing, and is in the same impressive all-round condition as the front. The lack of dulling and clarity of the laminate is very rarely seen like this on a cover like this.

Top Edge: This edge opens for record access, this is one most owners use to do so. Thus it often is seen very tatty, out-of-shape and even damaged. The flap on this is still strong and very neat, it even closes still near flush to the back card, and that is rarely the case now. The top of the rear card is also neat with minimal hint of any thickening with any chipping tiny and hardly any of note.

Bottom Edge: This in the same style as the top edge and is almost the same in all regards.

Right Edge(s), and Type: This is closed, still quite solid and not flattened or even crushed. Any tilt gentle and mild.

Spine and Text: This in the same style as above, but including the album text which is pristine under the clear and unpeeled laminate. Over its again very similar to the right edge.

Corners: The odd tiny laminate chip or fine surface laminate crease. But given the uncompromising build of this fragile cover, these are corners are hugely impressive and retain excellent (and arguably better) shape with no knocks.

Cover Summary: One of rock’s most challenging and fragile covers, and against the odds, it has survived in superb condition. One to hold and admire, and again, it’s the same as the 1971 release in format and fragility. A very strong all-round example, and one that will prove very difficult to find much better. This beautiful item should please many if not most collectors. NOTE: I will support this for shipping with a piece of card inside so it does not get crushed in transit. My advice is to keep this inside so this beautiful box cover retains this shape indefinitely, store the contents separately as the previous owner did.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(++): again in superb condition for a swirl inner this age. This the original black reversed style inner that came with 1971 copies. Clearly included briefly until they ran out with this Spaceship copy. This has only gently worn with a little darkening of the edge seam area adhesive to politely remind of age. Both window circles are neat and untorn, the paper hardly creased and the polylining still quite clear and intact. All edges unsplit with no repairs. This includes the dual ‘British Patent No 800153 & 973939’ and ‘MADE IN ENGLAND’ text. Also the plastic bag warning.

The Poster: NEAR MINT: with three manufactured folds and correct matt finish to the printed side, the back is white. This is in supreme condition, practically as-made and unmounted e.g. no pin-holes or tape marks. I doubt if it had left the cover since it was purchased. Clean, fresh, the paper crisp and virtually unblemished. It measures 18 x 27 inches (the standard size for the UK printed poster). German ones were larger. The lack of light exposure means the graphic is dark and unfaded and even the back has no toning or discolouration. All folds are strong and neat, it folds up close to perfect as seen in my pictures. There is minimal secondary creasing near these folds. I doubt many will come to close to bettering this one. This Spaceship issue is documented in ‘Record Collector’ as having this poster, but it would have been for the briefest possible time, and it was pretty much last change saloon to own it from a new copy back in the day.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(+): arguably better. A very fine visual copy that is very clean with equally fine shine and solidly pressed. A copy with minimal plays on all the evidence with any surface marks few, very light and faint as seen critically under bright light. No penetrating stylus scratches, viewed in average room light, hardly anything even registers. Visually a super record that should please many 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 equipment, all listed further down.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This classic heavy rock album plays mostly even above it’s high visual grading with little to fault. Offering strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear – sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any surface sounds are minimal indeed – as stated above, it does have some very quiet moments, so the odd contact sound is near impossible to avoid – but this is a very clean pressing with no tracking issues* or inherent pressing noises. Few available copies will outperform this first Spaceship pressing I feel sure. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has been played very lightly and has been very well stored and carefully handled within a non-smoking environment. Nothing of any real note spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this lovely record. It will prove very difficult to find significantly better and can be strongly recommended.

* As played-graded on a high-end Linn LP12 Sondek turntable with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge tracking at 2 grams. Records are a ‘contact’ format, and few will avoid the odd minor sound blemish.

I am one of the most established sellers on Ebay, trading since 2001 and offering the finest 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 all elements of the items I offer for sale. You may notice I only submit records quite sparingly on Ebay as I Play-Grade every record I offer in their entirety – also on higher-end equipment – not just bits to guess a grade – visuals alone do not always tell a true story. I will try to 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 it’s good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are the item being offered with no digital enhancements. Room light factors can make things vary sometimes, that is hard to control, especially in winter. I hope the item below is to your liking – any questions can be emailed and I will do my best to answer you. I am enthusiastic, and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps, sticks, major 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 Quintet Black moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Supernait 2 with Project USB phono stage and Tellerium Black interconnects. Speakers: B&W 805 Nautilus (bi-wired with Tellurium Black terminated cable) with REL subwoofer. All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Nessie 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 D7500 DSLR 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.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of TWO days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the bid, 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 as will any suspicious bids or bid bid retractions. Small businesses need prompt payment to trade and these strict rules WILL be applied.

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal from­ winning bidders. I only 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 2 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive – if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund if the item is returned in the same condition is was sent e.g. as per the listing pictures.

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, 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.