Cream Fresh Cream ORIG UK Reaction RARE MONO LP Press Baker Bruce Clapton EX/EX+

	£		65
	$		86

RARE Original U.K. 1966 Reaction Records MONO pressing of Cream’s ‘Fresh Cream’ L.P. (Catalogue Reference: 593001 MONO).  I believe the MONO pressing of this is much harder to come by than the stereo pressing and it should be noted that both the labels and the sleeve confirm that this is a mono copy.  Clearly, a very early pressing of this as the matrixes read 593001 A?2 / 593001 B//1.  What should be noted is that there is a different format/font type between the A and B-Side matrixes.  This looks quite odd.  The sleeve is a typical, period Polydor pressing with a laminated front and an un-laminated rear and the vinyl stored in a poly-lined inner.  I’d think this copy has been played a couple of times at most and has evidently been very well looked after.  I’ve had a lot of questions about this item and so I concluded that I hadn’t done a very good job of describing it!  Please note that the price the item is listed at is the price I want for it and I do expect the buyer to pay postage costs.  The item would need to be registered due to it’s value.

CONDITION: EXCELLENT/EXCELLENT+ (VINYL) / EXCELLENT (SLEEVE)

ITEM SPECIFIC COMMENTS

I believe I’m a conservative grader when it comes to grading vinyl.  I haven’t quite made up my mind whether I feel this is an EX or EX+ grade.  I suppose this is likely because I believe an EX grade is too conservative for what is an incredibly nice copy.  All my vinyl is graded under an intense light.  If you look very hard you will notice a minimal amount of groove-wear (‘Cats Squirrel’ for instance) however, it is immediately obvious upon withdrawing the vinyl from the poly-lined inner that it hasn’t seen heavy play.  The surfaces retain a great sheen to them which is invariably lost once an item is played many times (usually because dust gets under the needle, is crushed by the stylus and this results in a ‘greying’ of the playing surface).  Limited wispy hairline marks are present.  These are a by-product of withdrawal of the vinyl from the poly sleeve.  The bulk of the playing surface is mark-free.  I believe you would struggle to find a superior copy of the vinyl.  These blue ‘Reaction’ labels tend to show-up greasy fingerprints but these labels are clean.  The only marks are a few spindle drags around the hole on both sides.  The first thing I should note about the sleeve is that I don’t feel the images attached to this auction of the rear of the sleeve do it justice.  There is limited browning and some more intense grubby marks however, the photographs seem to accentuate these marks which are far less obtrusive in real-life.  The laminate on the front of the sleeve really gleams which is another indication that this copy hasn’t seen much handling.  There are no major flaws however, some minor ones.  The top right-hand and bottom left-hand corners have been ‘stubbed’ resulting in small laminate bubbles in these corners.  There is a crease in the sleeve in the top right-hand corner which runs parallel with the opening edge which might have resulted from the aforementioned knock.  It manifests as a bend on the front and a crease in the corresponding position on the rear of the sleeve.  There is also a crease running diagonally across the bottom right-hand corner of the sleeve however, this doesn’t appear to have left an impression on the rear.  There is limited fraying along the spine and in places along the bottom edge of the sleeve.  This fraying is typical of this kind of Polydor-sleeve construction.  Lastly, there is a crease on the rear of the sleeve in the top right-hand corner, starting at the spine and running a couple of inches along the top of the sleeve.  Ultimately, this is a lovely copy and overall I believe it will be hard to beat!  Please check my other auctions for a large selection of Folk, Jazz, Pop, R n B, Rock and Soul collectables in similarly immaculate condition!  Save me as a favourite seller as there is plenty more where this came from!  Overseas buyers welcome!

GRADINGS – How I Grade

My items are visually graded under an intense light using my nearly 20 years of experience buying and playing records.  I am a record collector first and foremost.  I would say my grading is on the conservative side however, it is also realistic.  Realistic in the sense that sometimes even brand new records are not immaculate.  Some items are play-graded and where this is the case it will be noted in the Item Description.  Please note that it is my assertion that 99.9% of issues which might be experienced upon playback of a record can be identified through visual grading.  I’m a longstanding Ebayer so please feel free to check my feedback if you have any concerns about the quality of the items I list.  As always please review my images if you have any concern about the condition of a sleeve!  A picture speaks a thousand words! 

GRADINGS - Description

MINT – If used to describe the condition of a record the item will be sealed.  Mint will rarely be used to describe the condition of a sleeve however, it will mean the item is sealed and no storage damage is evident.

NEAR MINT – When used to describe a record it will mean that it is hard to discern that the disc has been played.  When viewed under an intense light there might be the odd hairline mark however, you would really have to look hard for it.  Ultimately, the vinyl will look like it has just been made.  When used to describe a sleeve it will mean that the sleeve has no shelf-wear or storage damage.  The sleeve will look like new.

EXCELLENT+ - There will be an indication that the record has seen some play but not heavy play.  When viewed under an intense light only the tiniest, wispiest hairline markings will be present and not excessively so.  The vinyl will retain a great sheen.  A sleeve described as EX+ will display minimal shelf or storage wear including an odd crease or the stubbing of corners, slight fraying to the opening edge.  Ultimately, the sleeve will still be a superior example.

EXCELLENT – There might be an indication that the record has seen a reasonable amount of play and handling however, it has been well looked after.  Superficial surfaces scuffs may be present but no marks of real substance (i.e. which will affect playback).  Under an intense light it is likely that a relative volume of hairline marks are present.  A sleeve described as EX will display shelf or storage wear including creasing, loss of print (due to rubbing), possible stubbing of corners etc.  The sleeve will not display any substantial flaws.  Ultimately, it will be a solid copy.

VERY GOOD+ - I will rarely list vinyl for sale described as VG+.  Any vinyl listed as VG+ will have a detailed condition description included in the listing.  The description VG+ is more often used to describe sleeves.  Often VG+ describes the condition of a sleeve which was of very cheap manufacture (think 1970s EMI sleeves or Polydor late 60s/early 70s) and therefore more prone to display the vagaries of time.  A sleeve described as VG+ will not be a basket case.  It will likely display a reasonable volume of creasing, a reasonable amount of rubbing/stubbing and possible the odd substantial flaw.
Payment is expected within 3 days of auction end.  I am relatively relaxed but if it is expected to take longer to make payment I expect the buyer to be proactive about maintaining a dialogue with me.  Payment is possible via PayPal and Personal Cheque.  Other forms of payment will be considered.
I have had to bring my postage charges in line with Royal Mail Terms & Conditions effective April 2013.  This means items with a start price <=£20.00 and which complete with a price< =£20.00 will be sent via standard post.  Items with a start price >£20.00 will be advertised with insured& tracked postage.  Items which have a start price <=£20.00 but whose final price is >£20.00 will be subject to extra insured postage costs.  Multiple purchases will be consolidated usually at a reduced price to the buyer.  Please don’t make payment until you receive an invoice from me.  If you have special shipping requirements please don’t contact me after you’ve made payment with an extensive (expensive) list.  I would expect such requests to be made prior to payment.  Overseas buyers welcome!  If either domestic or overseas buyers want me to confirm postage charges then please contact me before the auction’s end.  Proof of Postage is always obtained and retained.



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