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Coldplay : A Rush Of Blood To The Head 2A1 / 2B1 1st Press 2002

This genuine first press is near perfect all the way through.  I honestly do not think it has been played before based on the audio and the visual quality of the vinyl, there is no spindle wear either.  The clarity, depth and power of the audio is stunning and the only 'background' are a few very light ticks on the title track on S2.  They really are so faint and totally non-intrusive.  Pressed on heavy 180g vinyl it really does play beautifully.

The gatefold is visually stunning with no obvious wear and as can be seen it still has the original sticker in the top left corner which only came with the first pressings.  The inner sleeve is also is superb condition.  The entire 'package' has been so well preserved down the years.  Superb!

7243-5-40504-IA RI RJ STERLING 5405041 2A1

7243-5-40504-IA̶ B RI RJ STERLING 5405041 2B1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T5 Near Mint-)

The gatefold is Near Mint

The printed inner is Mint-

The labels are Mint

Visual description

The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has that 'shop fresh' glossy sheen with no sleeve removal hairlines or scratches.  There is one faint scuff hairline on the first track on S2 but it has no affect on the audio whatsoever.  It's the kind of 'hairline' mark you find when you first buy an LP so I suspect it was caused during the manufacture / packaging of the LP in the factory.  The labels have no marking/writing and there is no spindle wear either.

Play grading

The run in on S1 is perfectly silent so you are already expecting good things from this vinyl!  It does not disappoint!  The percussive intro on 'Politik' is faultless and then Martin's first quiet vocal has not even a single dust tick.  It continues to play with a quality that can only be described 'as new'.  The clarity and depth of sound is absolutely STUNNING and you would be forgiven for thinking if had never been played before.  The end sequence plays beautifully and this is easily a superb Mint start to the album.  What a version!

'In My Place' plays to the same high end standard with no intrusion on the audio and I do mean zero intrusion!  The clarity is perfect and again I am 100% confident in grading this as Mint - even the fade out is 'as new'.

There is no need to describe each track in detail because the remaining tracks on S1 'God Put A Smile Upon Your Face', 'The Scientist' and 'Clocks' all play with a sensational sonic quality with no interference of any kind.  No dust ticks, ticks, clicks, pops or static.  Just pure Mint audio through every vocal and instrumental section.

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S2 begins with a perfect version of 'Daylight' and then the acoustic 'Green Eyes' is equally as good with no intrusion on the audio.  Both grade as Mint

The quiet intro 'Warning Sign' plays with stunning clarity and the same applies to the rest of the track!  Once again I cannot stress enough just how clear and precise the audio is.  All tracks so far on this superb album are 'as new' and I do not use that term lightly.  The piano end section is just perfect!  Another sublime Mint track.

'A Whisper' is of the same standard and Mint is again deserved.

The first verse on 'A Rush Of Blood To The Head' plays perfectly and only during the second verse are there some very light ticks.  This lasts for about 20 seconds but they really are incredibly quiet and some might say they sound more like dust ticks!  From then on it plays as per the rest of the album with a clarity, depth and power that is second to none.  I will grade the track as Near Mint- as the 'ticks' are really not intrusive.

The quiet piano intro on 'Amsterdam' plays beautifully with only a couple of dust ticks and then the opening vocal could not play with any greater precision.  It continues to play with stunning clarity for such a quiet track.  The more powerful end section maintains this standard and once again Mint is richly deserved.

In summary this first pressing plays with STUNNING quality - in essence there is no interference and truth be told I have never heard a more IMMACULATE version than this.  The clarity, depth, power and warmth of the audio is comparable to a 'shop fresh' pressing purchased in 1993 that is a measure of just how good the playback is.  This is a FINAL UPGRADE time-warp classic in my opinion, you just could not improve upon this audio.  Wow!

The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve

The cover is in superb condition and still has its original shape and structure, it clearly has hardly ever been handled.  The wide edges and spine have no wear and all the corners are in perfect shape.  The opening edge has no handling wear either.  The front cover is as close to perfect as is possible with only very minor specks / fading along the bottom edge and even less top right.  I am only saying this to be 100% complete with my grading as this 'wear' really is so faint.  The back cover is in lovely condition with only a couple of minor specks and the inside of the gatefold is immaculate.  A stunning example overall.

The printed inner sleeve is 'as new' basically with only a couple of specks on the edges.

Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

7243-5-40504-IA RI RJ STERLING 5405041 2A1

7243-5-40504-IA̶ B RI RJ STERLING 5405041 2B1

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 NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE MAY BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD).  AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN.  HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING.  PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH.  MANY THANKS.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!

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

LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £17.45 then £2.00 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £25.95 then £2.50 per extra

I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS!  IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT.  I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!