Cream Wheels of Fire UK 1st Press Polydor DBL LP Gatefold Foil Cover Clapton EX

	£		40
	$		53

Background Information

I am currently in the process of shifting a vast collection of stock which largely derives from a Record Shop which closed its doors in the early 1980s.  The stock spans a period from the early 1960s through to the early 80s with the bulk dating from the 1970s.  There are large quantities of Progressive Rock, R & B and Soul and Modern Classical.  Most of the items have sustained a single play (clearly standard practice to check for flaws upon receipt of new records back-in-the-day) however, some are obviously UNPLAYED.  The bulk of what I’m currently selling comes from this source and I’d guess it will be years before I exhaust it!

UNSOLD SHOP STOCK Original U.K. Foil Gatefold Sleeve double vinyl STEREO pressing of Cream’s ‘Wheels of Fire’ L.P. including ‘In The Studio’ and ‘Live At The Fillmore’ (Catalogue Reference: Polydor Records 582 031/2).  As noted above this is a double vinyl pressing of this with the vinyl labelled Sides A-D.  The outer sleeve of the gatefold is foil effect while the inside is matt and psychedelic.  I believe this is a first pressing.  The labels are matt in appearance (whilst later pressings have much glossier labels) and the matrixes read as follows: A//2?420 + B//1?420 + A//1?420 + B//1?420.  I don’t believe this copy has seen much play however, as usual with a double vinyl pressing the first record ‘In The Studio’ has seen more play than the second (‘Live At The Fillmore’).  Grading each record individually under an intense light the first record (‘In The Studio’) retains a pretty ‘fresh’ appearance.  There are a reasonable volume of tiny hairline scratches of the ‘wispy’ kind.  I note in a couple of places collections of these marks which correspond to finger ‘drags’ on the playing surface however, large sections of the playing surfaces are mark free and clearly the record hasn’t seen heavy play.  ‘In The Studio’ is graded as being in EXCELLENT condition.  The second record (‘Live At The Fillmore’) as noted above is in slightly superior condition.  I would guess it might have been played once and it has an amazing sheen.  A limited number of wispy, hairline marks are still present but much less so than the first record.  Like the first record there are no marks of substance (i.e. which can be seen in normal daylight or which can be felt).  ‘Live At The Fillmore’ is graded as being in EXCELLENT+ condition.  Unlike the bulk of the items from this source this record was not found in a protective polythene cover and therefore it does display a certain amount of shelf-wear.  The foil effect is quite delicate and thin and ring-wear has resulted in the loss of this top layer of foil effect in places.  The psychedelic inside of the gatefold remains vivid however, the biggest flaw to the sleeve which isn’t evident on the outside of the gatefold is evidence of moisture damage which has resulted in a ripple effect at the bottom of the inside of the gatefold and if you angle the inside of the gatefold under an intense light a watermark.  I would guess that the thicker outside of the gatefold sleeve (due to the foil effect) has prevented this being visible on the outside.  Each of the corner displays some wear with the two top corners and the bottom left-hand corner of the sleeve being a little frayed.  The bottom right-hand corner has received a knock and this has resulted in a couple of creases in this corner and a greater level of fraying.  I also note the isolated loss of the foil effect along the base of the sleeve in this corner which I would guess relates to this knock or it could just be a result of the fact that the bottom edge of the sleeve is so much more exposed than the rest of the sleeve.  There is a light crease right near the opening edge of the sleeve on the front of the gatefold which is a result of the sleeve being gripped between the fingertips whilst the vinyl is removed.  I also note a group of small creases in the top right-hand corner on the front of the gatefold which are superficial enough not to be visible in the corresponding position on the inside of the gatefold.  There are creases along the spine which are evidence that this has sat in a rack at some point and a ‘break’ along the length of the spine indicating the gatefold sleeve has been opened however, the spine information is fully present and readable.  The sleeve is a solid example and graded as being in EXCELLENT condition.  Lets be clear and say that the delicate foil effect coupled with the flimsy Polydor construction does mean that this is a cover which never survives in immaculate condition.  I believe this is a better than average example.

Condition

VINYL RECORD ONE – EXCELLENT

VINYL RECORD TWO – EXCELLENT+

GATEFOLD SLEEVE – EXCELLENT

Final Remarks

This is not perfect but is a lovely overall example of this in the kind of condition which is hard to locate.  Please check my other auctions for a stunning MONO copy of Cream’s first album on Reaction as well as a large selection of Folk, Funk, Pop, R&B, Rock and Soul in similarly immaculate condition from the same source.  Save me as a favourite seller as there is plenty more where this came from!

I have been a collector for in excess of 15 years now and regard myself as a conservative grader.  I know from experience that there is nothing worse than buying an item which is described with superlatives only for it to arrive and look like it has been scrapped along the floor (!).  As a rule I don’t submit anything to auction which I wouldn’t be happy receiving myself.  I endeavour to be accurate with my grading and all items are graded under an intense light.  Please take a look through my feedback as I’d like to think it speaks for itself. 

Returns Policy

If you are not entirely happy with your purchase then please contact me within 7 days of receipt.  The buyer is expected to meet the return postage costs.

Payment Methods

Domestic buyers can pay via Cheque, PayPal or Postal Order.  Overseas buyers are always welcome and are required to pay via PayPal.  Payment is expected within 7 days of auction end unless otherwise agreed.

Postage Costs

I have had to bring my service in-line with changes to Royal Mail Terms and Conditions effective of April 2013.  Previously items sent via standard post were automatically covered up to the value of £46.00 however, standard postage now only covers items up to the value of £20.00.  Items with an opening value >£20.00 will include domestic Signed For postage costs automatically.  Items with an opening value <=£20.00 and which complete with a value <=£20.00 will continue to be dispatched via standard post unless otherwise agreed (i.e. the buyer indicates a preference otherwise).  Items which have an opening value <=£20.00 but whose final value is >£20.00 will be subject to enhanced postage costs in order to cover the extra insurance which is required.  I hope this is as straightforward as I can make it?  Ultimately, please don’t make payment until you’ve received an invoice from me and if you aren’t happy with the invoice you receive then I’m always open to discussion.  Buyers should be aware that both Ebay and PayPal take a % of postage charges (i.e. they are higher than I’d ideally want them to be).

Multiple purchases will be subject to consolidated postage costs.  I will contact you at the end of the auction to confirm these costs.

Proof of postage is always obtained and retained.

Overseas Buyers

As noted above Overseas buyers are welcome.  If you want me to investigate potential postage costs in advance of the auction’s end then please feel free to contact me.