John Mayall Crusade ORIG UK Wide Band DECCA STEREO LP Keef Hartley Blues EX+/NM

	£		30
	$		40

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. 1967 unboxed DECCA Wide-Band STEREO pressing of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers ‘Crusade’ L.P. (Catalogue Reference: DECCA SKL 4890).  This was produced by Mike Vernon and features a legendary line-up of Mick Taylor, John McVie and Keef Hartley (amongst others).  This is an early pressing.  The early pressings feature unboxed DECCA logos however, the labels here are flat (not grooved).  The matrixes read ‘ZAL-7995-1W’.  As you would expect this DECCA sleeve is laminated on the front extending around the spine and on to the rear by approx. 1cm.  The rear of the sleeve features a cut-out to reveal the colour of the inner sleeve (i.e. to designate a Mono or Stereo pressing).  This is a stunning copy which remained unsold at the time and which has just sat around in it’s polythene sleeve ever since.  This is one of a series of Mayall LPs which I have for sale this week.  They’ve all come from the same source and they’ll all beautiful.  I’d think this might have been played ONCE although it isn’t immediately obvious that it has ever seen play.  The vinyl has sat in a poly-lined DECCA sleeve it’s whole life and this has sweated a little (nothing to worry about and very typical of DECCA pressings of this period).  Looking beyond this (under an intense light) there are limited ‘wispy’, swirling hairline marks which are also just as typical of DECCA pressings (I’ve never definitively concluded whether this is a result of the polythene or the production process as you always see these markings).  On the A-Side on the first track I note one small finger ‘drag’ as a result of a finger slipping from the rim onto the playing surface.  The vinyl is graded as being in EXCELLENT+ condition.  As noted above the sleeve has spent it’s entire life inside a polythene cover and this has aided in it’s somewhat miraculous survival.  It is not an exaggeration to say that the sleeve looks like NEW.  The laminate shines like NEW and the rear is as bleached white as the day this was pressed.  The spine has been pinched which has resulted in both creasing and tiny laminate bubbles in this area.  Each of the corners has received the lightest of knocks.  There is on crease in the laminate on the front cover near the opening edge of the sleeve as a result of the sleeve being gripped between the fingertips whilst the vinyl is removed.  Lastly, I must just note that in the cut-out on the rear of the sleeve someone has written the letter ‘S’ (for Stereo) in blue biro.  There is nothing else to mention and you won’t find a superior example of the sleeve.  To be honest it would be a travesty to grade it anything less than NEAR MINT.

Condition

VINYL – EXCELLENT+

SLEEVE – NEAR MINT

Final Remarks

Simply a beautiful example of this highly desirable Mayall L.P.  Please check my other auctions for a run of Mayall LPs from the same source as well as a large run of Pop, R&B, Rock and Soul collectables in similarly immaculate condition.  Save me as a favourite seller as there is plenty more where this came from!

General Conditions & Information

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.