King Crimson In The Court Of The Crimson King UK PINK ISLAND A2/B4 GREAT 1969

	£		103
	$		136

I am happy to combine postage, but insist on fully insured postage at the cost of the winning bidder, therefore, if you are at all unsure of these costs, please contact me first! Many thanks! August is a big month for River.Dog Records as I sell a fair chunk of some of my rarest records, starting this week, there will be some big hitters of loads of genres, PROG, PSYCH, BEAT, FOLK etc. etc. etc.  Today there are such records of Legendary rarity as DOGFEET, some mid hitters too, like Vertigo swirl rarity Dr Strangely Strange's Heavy Petting (mislabelled version!), some very limited and highly sought after private presses, such as the extremely elusive (and lovely) TICKAWINDA, there will be Psych/Freakbeat rarities covered next week with such items as the extremely rare Yardbirds German EP Heart Full Of Soul, The Eyes UK single Man With Money, unheard of UK pressings of Linda Van Dyck (Seduction Song), to my knowledge NEVER released in the UK, and never documented, but there's a UK demo "A" copy (on Gemini Records) going to show it's self this month! And other undocumented demo UK psych 7"s such as, did you ever wish The Crystal Mansion pressed their often talked about track "The Thought Of Loving You" in the UK... well, another original yet to my knowledge undocumented, "A" label demo coming up this month! Plus where would record collecting of the 50s/60s/70s be without some extremely rare Beatles pressings thrown in for good measure,SOLID CENTRES of early UK singles, to my knowledge undocumented overseas presses (has anyone seen a South Rhodesian "Ain't She Sweet", with scroll Polydor labels and a tri-centre? I could be wrong, but I certainly never have caught wind of it on any forums!), Gold Label, Red Labels, Box Set, etc... And some surprises thrown in! I have already have started to list some of the real rarities... so check out my other items! To make sure you don't miss anything over this month (and indeed future months- we haven't even touched on Soul and Ska in the above list!), please be sure to add me to your favourites list! Although some of the grades of these items this week sound high, I hope you can believe that I know what I'm talking about, as this is most of the cream of my PROG/PROGRESSIVE-PSYCH FOLK LP crop, please refer to my feedback if you are at all unsure about my grading "pedigree!" please refer to my previous feedback comments, each year I have a bit of a clear out, (though this year I'm doing more major titles than previous years!, this year, as with every other year, I have only had positive feedback (I have NEVER had a negative comment either publicly or privately about my grading), the only grading related comments I get (both privately and publicly on my feedback) are telling me my grading is too far under what it should be, I have tried to take this on-board, but I always want customers to be completely satisfied. But please check my previous feedback (from the past few months and previous years), and judge for yourself! I don't like the idea (though it has never happened to me) of people asking for partial money back etc, so if you find anything amiss with my descriptions then I will offer full bid price back (upon return of the item in the condition I sent it in- I fully record all LPs before listing them for my digital collection!), though to avoid time wasters I will put the proviso in that I will not pay for postage unless there is a definite mistake in my listing… I really hope that all sounds reasonable! Many thanks! And Happy Bidding! 

Here we have an incredibly important, collectable, LP and one not just desired, but NECESSARY for ANY prog collection, and if you're going to buy any copy why not go to the top and buy an original Pink Label UK Island copy! Some people cite this as being the definitive moment that spawned Prog-Rock as we know it. It certainly is a monster, and you know you're in for a treat when the opener, "21st Century Schizoid Man" kicks in. Even to the most ardent prog detractors, this LP is undeniable quality, and for most, it's a dream! This too is such an important LP for any 60s collection, especially progressive/psych, this if you will is the corner of the corridor from the 60s Psych direction to the Progressive Rock trajectory of the 70s. (I Also Have an A1/B1 Pink Island UK 1st copy of In the Wake Of Poseidon listed later on today!) This then is Robert Fripp, Ian McDonald, Greg Lake, Michael Giles, and Peter Sinfield… King Crimson's opening gambit, from 1969 "In The Court Of The Crimson King (An Observation By King Crimson)", an original UK A2/B4 pink island pressing (ILPS-9111). The sleeve condition: VG/VG+ Certainly less than average wear and tear on this E.J. Day Gatefold sleeve, I'll give you the major minor 1st, that on the back of the sleeve, at the very top right hand corner, the previous owner has marked this sleeve as theirs by what I can only guess is Tolkein-esque elvish! This was the first copy of this I had and at first glade I though this was the artist's signature, so in keeping with this zeitgeist this is! It is in fading blue ink and resembles the letters "prfj", if that helps! That is the only writing that shouldn't be on this package that is! The bottom and top edges show  a little shelf-wear, though less than most copies I've seen. The spine is pretty good, with a little wear, The text "In The Court Of The Crimson King" is pretty legible, though the "observation" etc. text is a little worn, still can be made out, but a little more worn. The corners are a little feathered. The front of the sleeve is nice and clean, and has no significant stains/abrasions. The back fares very similarly (apart from the initials/elvish!) a little handling indent fades a little crescent near the opening mouth edge. The opening mouth edges themselves (and the other gatefold edge) are without rips and nicks and are indeed quite straight with little feathering to the cardboard. The inside is very nice and vivid, with very little wear to the top edge seams  causing a little lightening of the print along the slightly raised line of the tabs within the sleeve. All adhesive holds string along the edges, there are no wear-throughs, or partings along any edge/spine.There are no rips/nicks significant abrasions anywhere on this sleeve! A nice copy! The Disc Condition: VG+, some very light surface/hairlines, but the audio (and this is one LP to really show anything that's there up!) shows it's a strong copy! Really the odd very light background noise in the quietest places. Really nice! The Labels: EX-, just a few very light spindle rubs centred around the centre hole on either side, and only visible when angled into direct light other than that, no stains/writing/fading/rips/abrasions etc. etc. etc. NICE!
DEADWAX INFO/MATRICES ETC:
Side 1:
ILPS   9 111   A  \/  2    1   2   1  1
Side 2: 
ILPS    9111   B//4    1  1    1   2
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO ASK!

PLEASE CONTACT ME ABOUT INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING IN ADVANCE TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT! SOME COUNTRIES COST ALOT!

I INSIST ON ITEMS OVER £30 BEING SENT INSURED, AT THE COST OF THE WINNING BIDDER, PLEASE WAIT FOR AN INVOICE IF THE ITEM GOES OVER £30, OR YOU REQUIRE IT TO BE SENT OVERSEAS, MANY THANKS!

I WILL OF COURSE MAKE COMBINED ITEM POSTAGE DISCOUNTS!

GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY BIDDING!

My Grading system:

Based on a slightly stricter version of the Record Collector, Rare Record Price Guide system.

I Don't believe in Mint, I almost only ever hear it from sellers who don't know the grading systems, therefore, you won't hear me using "MINT". If an Item is sealed I will state it as such, but still will only go as high as EX+.

EX+: Sealed, or seemingly NEVER played, if EX+ were to ever spill over to an item that may have been played a handful of times, but incredibly carefully, I will explain this thoroughly!

EX: The top end really, someone has very much cared for this record, else forgotten they've had it! Again only played with reverence, and not played much!

EX-: Very similar to EX, but slightly more realistic, many cared for collections may have a few EX- discs in them, though usually they'll be those James Last records your Auntie bought for you and (hopefully) you've never listened to since!

VG+: Again a very well looked after record, though with noticeable surface marks/hairlines when caught in the light, the worst one may hear is the lightest, very occasional background noise, often not even this on many players!

VG: Same as above, except more surface marks,  and a little more audio background noise, though certainly not detracting from the listening experience. A good playing copy for someone who buys to play the record.

VG-: A little worse, still very listenable, and plays though fine, though might not be the end of the world, if someone drunkenly adds a few more surface marks to it one night! Background noise will be there in some form!

G+: "Good" doesn't really mean good does it?! G+ means it still plays though, though someone in the room, un-used to records (and probably born when minidiscs were already a thing of the past!), will probably make a comment about the crackliness.

G: You won't want to use your best stylus on this one probably! We're definitely in "filler" territory now, unless it's a particularly rare copy, this is a party copy, you shouldn't mind when this one gets a scratch, (you might not even notice!).

G-: If crackling gives vinyl it's "warm" sound, then this one is beginning to become a fire hazard! The likelihood is you won't catch me selling a record at this condition or less, unless there really is special cause (rarity/signed/mispressed etc.). 

I often won't even grade things lower than a "decent playing copy" (VG-), though if they don't play through or are warped etc (even if they do play through), I will mention "JUMPS", "WARPED" etc. etc. either in the title, or near the beginning of the item's description, so there can be no doubt!

I endeavour to be as meticulous as possible when grading, and almost always play test the entirety of every LP and 7" I'm selling (often I make an MP3 back-up of it too... yes I know it's obsessive), but I'm sure one of these days I will overlook something, or someone will have reason to question my gradings (so far I have only had the honour of being told that I'm shooting myself in the foot by undergrading! If an honour, that is!), in which case please do contact me, and we will sort the issue out! 

Please check out my other rare punk/new wave/indie in my other items!

And I'll be listing loads more over the next few weeks so be sure to add me to your favourites list and check in regularly

Alittle about me!

I've collected records for about 20 years, and now have TONNES! I want to go travelling for as long as I can, and as such don't want to have too many possessions to have to store, I also need dosh to travel as freely as I'd like, and therefore selling the bulk of my collection seems the best of both worlds! I love records and will still keep buying them, I'm sure, but I really need to downsize in a big way! I do have some seriously RARE records to list over the next few months, and will price them to sell, so please do watch this space!

And if you're at all unsure, please check my previous feedback for tales of satisfied customers, many of whom return again and again!!

I will of course, if you aren't ENTIRELY happy with your item offer you a full refund upon a quick return of the item, in exactly the same condition I sent it out in, I wont however cover the postage costs- just in order to put off any time-wasters, I hope you understand. I do have here some REAL MEGA-RARITIES, and I understand perhaps your confidence in me might not be complete, as I haven't listed for a while, which is why I offer this offer of full re-embursment. However I am not a fan of the trend of people trying it on and asking to keep the item but want a partial re-fund, I haven't had it happen to me, and want to keep it that way, so please don't try that, I will happily offer your full winning bid money back upon the safe return of the item, and I think that's fair. 

I am very strict with my grading, having been a collector myself for many years, and I try to include as much relavent information as possible on sales, however if you have any further questions please don't hesitate to ask, I will gladly resond as soon as I can.

One thing I would ask is that the winning bidders do leave feedback, as it's annoying when people overlook it.

I happily offer reductions of postage costs on multiple-items, 

I try grade using direct sunlight which shows up more than anything (hence where poss I take my photos in direct sunlight too), however living in the Pennine Hills, contrary to popular rumour it isn't sunny here EVERY day! So when this isn't always possible, as a backup I also use a 100 Watt lightbulb, though when poss I try to use both.

I feel my grading system is stricter than many I see used, but the sellers I respect on Ebay and elsewhere seem to be of the same mind as me, I'd much prefer to be known as someone who undergrades and you can get a good record from, than someone you have to wonder, "actually is their VG+ quite what I'd expect from that?". Hope I can win you over! 

(SOMETIMES I MAY COME ACROSS A RECORD OF SIGNIFFICANT RARITY/DESIRABILITY THAT MAY HAVE A JUMP/STICK IN IT. IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT I THINK SOMEONE MAY WANT IT (EG. IT'S COVER'S IN GOOD NICK, OR IT'S A PRIVATE PRESSING/PROMO OF LIMITED AVAILABILITY) I'LL CLEARLY MARK THIS IN THE TITLE "JUMPS" OR "WARPED" ETC.)

Good luck and Happy Bidding! Loads more punk/new wave etc. etc. every genre really to come over the next 2 months! so...

River.Dog.

PLEASE ALSO CHECK OUT MY LOVELY 1ST COPY OF IN THE WAKE OF POSEIDON FINISHING LATER ON TODAY ASWELL! THANKS AGAIN, AND THE VERY BEST OF LUCK!