CREAM, WHEELS OF FIRE, 1968 UK POLYDOR DOUBLE MONO 1st ISSUE

	£		28
	$		37

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It's my pleasure to offer for auction a superb copy of the iconic blues/rock double album (one studio disc and one live disc) by Cream titled "Wheels Of Fire", Catalogue Number 582031/032. It's a 1968 UK mono first issue on the Polydor Record Label, with an Ernest J. Day & Co. Ltd. silver-foil covered gatefold sleeve. It comes complete with the original matching white poly-lined inner sleeves. [The stamped matrix numbers are the earliest 582031 Av1, 582031 Bv1, 582032 Av1 and 582032 Bv1, where v= inverted triangle].

The sleeve is in between VG and EX condition with only light wear and a few minor creases. It's a very well-preserved example of this notoriously wear-prone silver-foil covered sleeve. I've taken plenty of photos from all angles which hopefully do it justice.

The solidly-pressed 143g and 144g records are in EX condition. The playing surfaces display only a few superficial rub-type surface marks (not scratches) which do not have any effect whatsoever on the audio playback. The Polydor labels are unmarked with only a modest number of spindle traces near the centres. There is barely any wear to either spindle hole. Both sides play EX+ throughout with no deterioration in sound quality and virtually no unwanted noise at all. In my opinion the mono mix is vastly superior to the stereo which lacks the audio impact. The mono version is definitely the one to own. Mono pressings are also much rarer than their relatively common stereo counterparts which were re-issued many times. It goes without saying that a pair of clean-playing mono records (studio and live) are very difficult to find. This set is precisely that. There are no loud pops, repeat ticks, distortion, hiss or anything else. It really is a superb-playing copy!

The matching white poly-lined inner sleeves are both in unmarked EX condition with no splits or tears.

Overall this is a great opportunity to add a superb and hard to find mono first issue of Cream's iconic Wheels Of Fire double album to your collection.

GRADINGS

The records that I offer for sale have been critically play-graded, at loud volume, on a Pioneer PL-L1000 linear-tracking turntable fitted with a Nagaoka MP-30 cartridge. I will only sell records that play to a high standard. My grading is strict and in accordance with the following descriptions:

·         MINT- Record is superb, almost like new, with just a few sleeve removal type surface marks and no deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve is near perfect in all respects.

·         EX Record is a top quality example with just a few very light surface marks and virtually no discernible deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve has slight wear and/or creasing.

·         VG Record has some visual surface marks, but still plays to a high standard without any major deterioration in sound quality – just a few clicks or light surface sound in places. Sleeve has normal wear and tear without any major defects but is still very presentable.

     All records can be expected to rotate sufficiently evenly on the turntable for there to be no effect whatsoever on the audio playback. Minor warps or dishing will not be mentioned as virtually all records display these features to some degree and no record is perfectly flat.

    Vinyl is not a perfect medium and even the finest quality pressings will play with a degree of residual surface sound, however minimal. Where, in my opinion, unwanted noise interferes with the listening enjoyment of the record, it will be mentioned in the item description. It is unrealistic to expect a 40+ year old record to play with a background of complete silence. Please bear this in mind when bidding.

PACKAGING         

LPs are packaged with care and well protected to ensure that they arrive safely in the same condition as they leave me. Records are removed from both inner and outer sleeves in order to prevent seam-splits in transit.

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE

LPs posted outside of the UK will only be sent International Signed-For with insurance at the following cost:   

Europe up to £50 value - £13.50

Europe oer £50 value - £16.10

Worldwide up to £50 value - £17.40

Worldwide over £50 value - £20.00