DAVID BOWIE Ziggy Stardust RARE UK 1972 1st PRESSING -1E/-1E EX LP

	£		34
	$		45

Label/Format: RCA Victor – these have the smooth shiny surfaces, later ones were flat matt. These include that ‘Titanic Music’ credits and ‘A Gem Production’ text, all details seen on my pictures.

Label Conditions: Both ultra clean, incredibly fresh and highly attractive with barely even a trace of a spindle mark. It is clear this copy has hardly been played. Remember, this was quite a mass-produced album soon after the very first pressings were sold, and audio quality invariably suffered, especially at a time when vinyl was used sparingly or mixed with impurities. Indeed, this album was also pressed on the wafer-thin Dynaflex vinyl substitute and most will know what those usually sounded like. This a genuine first pressing with the first -1E/-1E matrixes, and few survive in this lovely clean condition. It plays superbly with barely anything unwanted and no inherent pressing noises or flaws.

Catalogue Number: SF 8287 (LSP 4702)

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Rarity & Info: The album itself moderate, a big-selling album that really promoted all his previous and subsequent works. But this copy is a little special. An ultimate first issue pressing, purchased on, or very close to issue day. It includes the prized -1E/-1E matrixes (as seen on my pictures). These are much harder to find, and this copy appears little played. Finding this classic album as a genuine first pressing is difficult, in this clean condition with great sound, more so. The classic cover also hardly worn at all. Made with thin card, few avoid heavy rubbing, major creasing and grubbiness, this one cover-protected and with little more than a couple of spine creases each side, light ring wear and an almost invisible name written in dark blue on the rear - see photo. The same for the ultra fragile inner sleeve, fewer remain unsplit or torn and this one fully intact and only gently aged.

Original Year of Release: 1972

Matrix Nos: BGBS 0864-1E / BGBS 0865-1E [deeply and very clearly machine punched as seen, NOT scripted or scratched like most].

Cover Grade and Format: Very Good Plus: a single unlaminated format that has the RCA Victor logo, with the GEM production logo and NO ‘Mainmain’, those came a little later in 1973, or when the first were used up. Those reprintings included ‘Mainman’ near the top right corner. This has matt, smooth surfaces and is somewhat prone to wear. Printed and made in England by Robert Stace. This includes the very fragile, thin paper lyric inner sleeve.

Cover Front: An iconic cover for a classic album, one of the most famous in the history of rock. This retains deep unfaded, hardly rubbed artwork with no fading, sticker issues, and few traces of creasing. A couple visible ones on the spine edge, any other traces ultra fine, few and faint, and none away from the sides, so the graphic looks magificent, fresh and dark. No sticker issues, any marks or blemishes few, also very fine and faint seen under light. The factory trim on this cover varies – this one does not have the RCA details very close to the right cut.

Cover Back: Very similar again, any creasing minimal, little and light, any marks ultra fine and faint. A name has been written in dark ink on the rear but it is very inobtrusive and no attempt has been made to clean it off.

Top Edge: Quite thin, but very straight, without even a hint of bowing or bending. One tiny light rub trace only, then practically as-made.

Bottom Edge: Again very straight, slight rub traces.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, mostly sharp with any traces of thickening tiny and very light, these entrance edges are guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced. 

Spine and Text: Running slightly low, the white surface has gently darkened, this the only area of the cover that politely reminds of age. Solid, straight with minimal traces of compression. Only blemish is the tiny wear over the word 'Mars' 

Corners: Hardly any traces of tip rubbing with very good shape retained.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT: and fully, and naturally intact with no edge splits or repairs, that unusual as these were never lined and the paper was very thin. This original includes the Gem production only text and has ‘Titanic Music’ credits with the 1971/1972 copyrights. No hard creases, any crinkle minimal and light, even the top recessed opening is crisp and untorn. The paper a little darkened, with mild toning near the edges, again to politely remind of age. A number 17, neatly printed on a white square has been neatly attached - see pic.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT: arguably better. An impressive visual copy that is very clean with equally fine shine and solidly pressed – especially in context for this album made in the era where vinyl was used sparingly being in short supply. A copy appearing little played, any surface marks are light, mostly very wispy and faint as seen under bright light. No penetrating stylus scratches, viewed in average room light, little even register. What sets this apart is the total lack of impurity within the vinyl, so many examples of this, and other titles at this time have dulling and blotches within the record, but this has none. An album pressed at the time of the oil crisis where vinyl was often mixed with recycled vinyl or pressed very thin. It is clear this was not one of them, and manufactured prior to the great demand this album suddenly had after the magnificent music was discovered by more people. Subsequent pressings became more of a lottery as did the audio quality.