Black Sabbath Master of Reality Vinyl Record Vertigo Swirl UK
£
102
$
135
Favourite Auctions
To save auctions to your favourites, please login
If you don't have an account, please register
Description
Having heard there is popular interest in the early pressings of this album I have had a closer look at the one from my collection. I have owned this album from new, and therefore know it is entirely authentic, including the poster. I’m not a record dealer, therefore not going to attempt to grade the album, but instead describe it as honestly as I can.
There are a number of webpages and sites offering information about this album. ‘VertigoSwirl.com’ in particular is very good and provides most of the detailing content included below. I cannot of course vouch for the validity of that web content.
Poster: This is the original one that came with this album. It has never been put on a wall, and has always been kept in the album sleeve. The following apparently identifies it as an early and less common original UK poster, as opposed to the larger and shinier copies often included with others.
It measures 68cm by 46cm (27” by 18”), is matt and is very dark on quite heavyweight paper. Six fold, folding face inwards each time. Folded dimension is 9” square.
Sleeve: Includes the swirl pattern (missing on non UK and later UK pressings). The two date stamps (see photo) are ‘week 27’ and ‘month/ year 0671’. Apparently the 0671 indicates that the sleeve was printed June 1971, and was presumably used week 27 (early July); ready for release on 21st July1971.
The sleeve is not torn, nor has it any marks, and still has its polythene lining in place.
Vinyl: Vertigo Swirl pressing. It has the usual Y//1 code, but as far as I am aware all the Vertigo Swirl pressings of this album are very likely to have this code. I think it simply means that the 1st acetate that was made was considered good enough to be used as the mould for the subsequent father and mothers from which came the child/stampers.
The pedigree of Side A is 1.1.7, and Side B is 1.1.3. The 1.1 indicates that it is from the original ‘father and mother mould’. The 3 and the 7 refer to it being from the 3rd and 7th child/stamper. Mothers and stampers had very limited lives, suggesting that this is a very early pressing. Country code in the matrix is 420, identifying it as a UK pressing.
There are no obvious deep scratches visible or that can be heard through playing. However, if the vinyl is held up to the light, it does have numerous fine scratches, presumably from being put in and out of the sleeve. On playing it, I could hear ‘crackles and pops’ in some of the quiet patches, and occasional ‘pops’ elsewhere. Having not listened to vinyls for about 25 years I cannot recall whether the extent of the crackle and pops were any different than what used to be expected. The album is clean to look at. It has never been deep cleaned specifically and, considering its possible value, I shall resist the temptation to do so - leaving that to a professional.
Cover: Face, back and two spines are clean and free of tears. The top and bottom opening flaps are scuffed and the covering film has worn away in places to reveal the card underneath (photo shows the worst flap).
price rating
