Genesis : Nursery Cryme A1/B2 1st Press (Pink Scroll Charisma Label 1971)

This very collectable first pressing plays to an excellent standard overall with only minimal interference.  Some light static here but nothing intrusive and also a little distortion on the final track on S2.  However, there are no clicks or pops and you can see how well the vinyl has been looked after because there are no marks or scratches and only minimal spindle wear.

The textured gatefold has been so well preserved and remains in superb condition with barely any wear.

As this is a genuine first press it of course has the iconic pink scroll Famous Charisma labels with an A1/B2 matrix etched with Hiltop and the initials JB etched on S1 and S2 respectively.  This album has just reached 50 years old and is in excellent condition overall! 

CAS 1052 // A-1U / B-2U // GT 1 / RD 2 / HILTOP & JB

The audio on S1 is Ex+ (T3 Near Mint-)

The audio S2 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / T4 Ex with a couple of VG+ moments) 

The textured gatefold is Near Mint-

The labels are Ex+

The inner is Ex

Visual grading

The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a very impressive glossy sheen.  There are no marks or scratches and only a small number of faint hairlines but certainly none of them stand out.  It has been very well looked after over the years.  There is no groove wear or mottling and the run out grooves are also very clean.  The pink scroll Charisma labels are clean with no writing but do have some very faint mottling.

Play grading

The intro on 'The Musical Box' plays with only minimal static and one static tick.  The first vocal section similarly plays very clearly with very little 'background' and there are certainly no ticks or clicks.  The long instrumental section has only the bare minimum of static and is not intrusive in any way and then as the volume increases the audio is so strong with no interference or distortion.  The next vocal passage is so clean, just one static click, and the 'high octane' section is 'as new' as you just cannot fault the sonic quality here.  The 'She's a lady..' vocal is close to perfect with just one static tick and the clarity here is stunning.  The final section is again so powerful and clear with perhaps just a minor amount of distortion, very minor!  I would say Ex+ is a fair grade overall.

'For Absent Friends' plays very clearly from start to finish with very little intrusion.  There are 3/4 static ticks but there is hardly any static and Ex+ is again deserved.

The classic intro on 'The Return Of The Giant Hogweed' is faultless and the first vocal is equally as impressive.  It continues play with stunning clarity and there are no ticks, clicks or pops and only a tiny hint of barely noticeable distortion in a couple of places.  The long instrumental piece starting with the quiet piano section plays superbly and the final vocal has no interference either.  The dramatic finale is awesome!  So powerful and no obvious distortion either.  I think Near Mint- is an honest assessment of this track.

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The intro on 'Seven Stones' plays so clearly with barely any static and the first verse is of the same standard.  It continues in the same way and again there are no ticks, clicks or pops.  The first chorus is superb!  The audio is so powerful and there is such depth to the music here.  The quiet instrumental section is very 'clean' with barely any static and from then on plays with great quality.  The end section could not play any better and Near Mint is deserved.

'Harold The Barrel' plays with great precision throughout with no sign of any interference not even during the quieter 'Harold' verse.  The vocals are so strong and clear and the quiet end section also is so 'clean' with only 3/4 barely audible dust ticks.  This is a stunning Mint- version.

'Harlequin' is of course a very quiet track and yet it plays beautifully with no interference.  Little more needs to be said - a handful of dust ticks at most but considering the age of the album the audio here is hugely impressive.  Mint-

The first part of the intro on 'The Fountain Of Salmacis' is superb and only on the final 'note' is there a little distortion.  The first verse is flawless and it continues to play extremely well with only a minimal touch of very light static here and there.  It is mainly during the 'high octane' moments but the majority does play to an excellent standard.  The first instrumental section has some light distortion but it doesn't mean you have to turn the volume down!  The remainder plays very well with only a little inner groove distortion on the end section but it certainly isn't overpowering.  An Ex grade is about right with a couple of VG+ sections perhaps.

In summary this first pressing plays to an excellent standard with only a minimal interference.  Some light static and a little distortion on the final track on S2 but there are definitely no clicks or pops and no intrusive crackle either.  So considering the quality of many of these found today this would certainly add to any collection.

The Gatefold & Swirl Inner

The textured E.J. Day gatefold is in superb condition with hardly any shelf wear and it has also retained its original shape so well which can only mean that it has always been very carefully handled.  The edges have barely any rubbing and the wide spine is close to perfect with only very minimal corner wear.  The right hand corners are also super clean and the opening edge has barely any handling wear also.  The front cover is immaculate with no marking and the back cover is very similar with only a couple of faint scratch lines that you can only see when held at a certain angle.  The inside of the gatefold is in lovely condition with no marking and overall this a stunning example of this textured cover.  Rather good for a cover that has just reached 50 years of age!

The vinyl is housed in a plain white inner that has no side splits or tears, no marking just some creasing here and there.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

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

CAS 1052 // A-1U / B-2U // GT 1 / RD 2 / HILTOP & JB etched onto each side respectively

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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