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.

Bob Marley & The Wailers : Catch A Fire A-3U / B-4U Original Press Zippo Lighter Sleeve 1973 G1 Stampers!

This very collectable album plays to a superb standard with barely any interference.  There is just one light click on S1 and just a touch of very light static for a couple of brief moments.  Nothing stands out.  The clarity is stunning and the depth and warmth of the audio is so impressive also, the playback could hardly be any more deeper or rich!  The vinyl itself is in lovely condition and has not been played very much in my opinion.

The famous zippo lighter cover has only a little shelf wear and the 'pin' is still firmly in place so everything 'works' perfectly.  The original inner is in superb condition.

I guess this is a second press because it does not have the Tuff Gong or Copyright Control credit on the labels.  This one has published by Rondor Music on both sides and Tosh is credited for two of the tracks on S1.  However, every other aspect is as per the first pressings - it has the A-3U / B-4U matrix and the original matrices on both labels have been crossed out.  It has the Basing Street address under the Island logo on the back cover, Island Records moved to another address in 1973 so you can see how early a pressing this one is.  The zippo cover also only has The Wailers credited on the front and back.

As a matter of interest this version has the G1 stamper on both sides - it doesn't get a lot earlier than that!

ILPS 9241 A-3U / ILPS 9241 B-4U // G1 / G1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T4 Near Mint-)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (T1 intro Ex then Mint- / T2 Mint-)

The zippo lighter cover is VG++

The original inner sleeve is Ex+

The Island labels are Ex+

Visual description

This vinyl is in lovely condition and still has a very strong glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  Under a bright light I can only see a small number of very faint sleeve removal hairlines that clearly have no impact on the audio.  The pink rimmed Island labels are in excellent shape with only a few tiny 'spots' and hardly any spindle wear.

Play grading

The entire intro on 'Concrete Jungle' plays with stunning clarity, no intrusion at all.  The opening vocal section has no background and it continues to play with a clarity, depth and warmth that is so impressive.  That is in no small measure helped by Barrett's deep bass, the sonic quality is so strong.  The guitar solo towards the end is perfect and from start to finish there are no clicks, pops or underlying static and even the fade out plays perfectly.  A couple of mega quiet dust ticks at most and Mint- is deserved at the very least.

'Slave Driver' also plays with phenomenal quality with barely any intrusion.  Every verse and chorus play with such precision and I only heard one faint tick on the fade out, it is very very quiet!  Mint-

The intro on '400 Years' is close to perfect with only a couple of mega quiet statics and then the opening vocal has no background at all.  This level is kept up as it progresses and the warmth and depth is sensational.  Another perfect fade out also.  A great track that again has to be graded as Mint-

'Stop That Train' plays with sublime clarity with barely any intrusion.  There is one light click on the first chorus but it is not loud and you really only notice it if your head is right up against the speaker!  The first quiet verse is 'as new' as it the next chorus / verse.  The remainder has no interference either and overall this deserves a Near Mint- grade.

'Baby We've Got A Date (Rock It Baby)' plays with exceptional quality with no sign of any interference.  There's no inner groove distortion as such but the 'sound' is perhaps not quite as clear as the other tracks.  Probably over-critical and no doubt I am shooting myself in the foot by even putting it here!  It still plays with great clarity and there is certainly nothing that detracts from the audio.  I think Mint- is still a fair assessment.

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The intro on 'Stir It Up' plays very clearly with only small number of very light statics which in no way intrude on the quality of the audio, they are not clicks!  The opening chorus is faultless and the first verse is just as strong.  From then on it plays with real clarity and that by now familiar depth and warmth.  The long end instrumental is close to perfect with just one light tick and the final vocal has no interference.  The intro I will grade as Ex and the remainder as Mint-

'Kinky Reggae' plays with superb audio throughout and there is no interference.  A couple of barely audible statics no more and the clarity and definition is again first rate.  Mint-

'No More Trouble' has just a hint of static on the first vocal for 3/4 seconds but it is so quiet and totally non-intrusive.  As I often say I state any background even if barely audible.  It continues to play as per the rest of the album - with sublime clarity and depth and just one very light near the end.  Near Mint

The intro on the final track 'Midnight Ravers' plays perfectly and the opening vocal has just a minor amount of very light static.  From then on it plays so clearly with no intrusion on the audio.  A small number of very quiet statics but again this does not qualify as interference as they are so much in the background.  There are no clicks or pops and Near Mint is again about right.

In summary this very collectable album plays with impeccable quality across both sides with only one light click on S1 and hardly any static.  The clarity is so impressive and the depth, warmth and resonance of the audio is stunning.  So much of the album plays 'as new' and that is no exaggeration and together with a very strong 'zippo' cover this will impress any collector.

The Zippo Lighter Cover & Inner Sleeve

The iconic cover is in excellent shape overall with only a little wear.  In fact the only obvious wear is around the edges but it isn't excessive by any means, a little wear around the 'pin hole' also.  The rounded corners are by and large in great order with only a little more rubbing top right.  The zippo lighter section still works perfectly and the pin / hinge is still firmly in place.  The 'record' inside has no wear at all.  The front cover is very clean with no marking and has just a minor crease in the top left corner.  The back cover has some light rubbing in one small section by the top edge and as stated a little wear around the pin hold but is otherwise in great condition without any marking.  A very respectable version overall.

The die-cut black inner is in great condition with no side splits, tears or marking and only very minimal creasing.  It has the patent number and Made In Great Britain in silver on one bottom edge.

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

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

ILPS 9241 A-3U / ILPS 9241 B-4U // G1 / G1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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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!!

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

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