John Mayall Thru The Years ORIG U.K. Decca LP Peter Green Heckstall-Smith EX+/NM

	£		14
	$		19

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. 1971 boxed DECCA Thin-Band STEREO pressing of John Mayall’s ‘Thru The Years’ L.P. (Catalogue Reference: DECCA SKL.5086).  This was produced by Mike Vernon and features recordings spanning the period March 1964 through to April 1968 and features a cavalcade of British legends from the 60s blues/jazz scene (Aynsley Dunbar, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Peter Green, Keef Hartley etc.).  This features the raised DECCA labels which are standard for post-69 DECCA pressings.  The front of the sleeve is laminated and this extends onto the rear by approx. 1cm.  I have a number of Mayall LPs for sale this week.  They’ve all come from the same source and they’re all in stunning condition.  While there is evidence that this copy has been handled it isn’t immediately obvious that it has ever seen play (if you look for spindle-marks or any evidence that a needle has hit the run-in groove).  I’m fairly confident that at most this has seen a single play.  I mention above that there is evidence that the vinyl has been handled and this comes from the fact that on Side Two there are a group of finger ‘drags’ extending from the centre half way across the playing surface.  These are nothing to worry about and are only visible under an intense light and manifest themselves as a collection of thin, tiny hairline scratches.  Otherwise there are isolated hairline scratches on Side One (but you really have to look for them) and other isolated clusters of hairline scratches on Side Two (other than those mentioned above) which are most likely a product of the withdrawal of the vinyl from the poly-lined inner.  The vinyl is a comfortable EXCELLENT+ grade.  The sleeve essentially looks like NEW.  The sleeve has spent the last 40 years+ inside a polythene cover and this has resulted in the laminate looking as fresh as they day this was pressed and the rear (which is largely black print which usually doesn’t wear well) having lost no print whatsoever.  The spine has been pinched and unsurprisingly this has resulted in some creasing to the spine and some small laminate bubbles.  Outwardly it would appear that the two corners of the spine has received light knocks but in reality this is a by-product of how the sleeve has been pinched.  There are a couple of small laminate bubbles along the top of the sleeve but these aren’t going anywhere fast.  There are two small creases in the laminate on the front of the sleeve (and one on the rear) which are a result of the sleeve being gripped between the fingertips whilst the vinyl is removed.  I’m not exaggerating when I say the sleeve looks like new and you’d never find a superior example.  The sleeve is graded as being in NEAR MINT condition.

Condition

VINYL – EXCELLENT+

SLEEVE – NEAR MINT

Final Remarks

This isn’t the easiest Mayall L.P, to track down and is certainly one of the rarer DECCA LPs (his chart career had peaked with the British blues boom + he’d crossed over to Polydor) and this is a stunning example.  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.