LED ZEPPELIN 4 EARLIEST FIRST PRESS UK PLUM Nr MINT

	£		100
	$		133

For those who want a quick fix/summary of this album-there are 3 incredibly rare features about this album:

First-incredibly rare labels-THE VERY FIRST PRESS of this huge Zeppelin release.Different to other plum labels!!!!!

Second-Incredibly rare first vinyl press with THE EARLIESTA3/B3 maitrices confirming THE very FIRST release.

Third-Incredibly rare NEAR MINT labels( no spiders!!!!NEAR MINT MINUS VINYL and NEAR MINT AUDIO!!!!!!!

Rarer than rare!!! Will NOT come across another like this in donkeys years….please read on for more details as yes this album really does exist!!! Hard to believe but incredibly true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WILL NOT SEE LABELS/MATRICES LIKE THESE HARDLY AT ALL.MEGA MEGA RARE!!!!!!!!!AND THE BEST EVER COPY OF A HUGE, HUGE ALBUM OF LED ZEPPELIN!!!!!! THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE LABELS AND THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE MATRICES!!!!!!!!AND THE MOST STUNNING ALBUM /VINYL EVER OFFERED for a very long time!PLEASE DO NOT MISS as this is an album that is OUTSTANDING in every way!!!

Led Zeppelin 4 1971 UK THE VERY FIRST PRESSING on Maroon/Red with white band label Atlantic Cat.no. 2401012 LP with lyric inner sleeve. Zoso symbols on label and inner which represent each member of the group. Peter Grant / Warner credits on labels.

Breathtaking record with MASSIVELY rare 1971 UK Stereo VERY FIRST PRESS labels. This record is extremely rare as it is the earliest possible first pressing of this HUGE Led Zeppelin LP. The labels are different from most red/plums issued and displays the earliest possible label format different from all the later pressings. These labels, when examined, have remarkable differences as the labels went through certain changes as the plum/reds were released. The differences are listed below and are as follows:

1.   “Under licence from Atlantic Recording Corp., USA” is above the white line, later labels have this text inside the stripe!!

2.   Below song listing, Kinney Music Ltd. Is printed ONLY. Later releases state “Kinney Music/Superhype Music Inc.”.

3.   Text Led Zeppelin placed near bottom of label and smaller. Later releases position name of group towards the top and is larger!

4.   P. Grant credit-this is omitted on later releases.

Matrix shows also the very first press of this awesome release. Has A3/B3 matrices and the later and more common records have A3/B4 matrices.!!!IT GETS BETTER AND BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hence, this album is massively rare, showing THE very first pressing as it displays a very early plum/red label format and has the earliest matrices. To make this an awesome item, the condition of this record is phenomenal, so please read on!!!!

Track listing

Black dog

Rock and Roll

Battle of evermore

Stairway to heaven

Misty mountain Hop

Four Sticks

Going to California

When the Levee breaks

I listen very carefully to all my records before any auction as I know how important it is to all you enthusiastic collectors to get the gradings right. In the event of any genuine mistakes, I will seek to remedy the situation as best as I can.

I promise you that this album is extremely rare especially in this very near mint condition. This copy without a doubt , has hardly been played which for this particular album is incredible. During the 70’s, these albums got played into submission as classics do, and to find a Zeppelin album in this condition is very exceptional and quite rare. These Plum / red Atlantic labels are getting scarcer by the day, and are fast becoming extinct. The original format Plum label is a highly sought after commodity in all collectors catalogues. This album was issued right at the very beginning of this format design before it changed to the more common design much later-green/orange version. The record number also changed to K50008.The number of Led Zeppelin IV Plum reds released is estimated to only be in the region of 4000 copies! That is a very small number for a huge selling album. These plum/red labels which were issued around 1971 are very scarce and this label is the very first formatted plum label to be issued against this album. This LP was released on Nov. 8th,1971  .These very first issues are very scarce and are increasingly difficult to come by as there were not many produced of this particular label format.

  I shall endeavour to describe exactly what I see and hear as I examine this record.

Sleeve

Beautiful unlaminated gatefold sleeve. Opens crisp and sharp to an artistic design against a black centrefold. No damage to be seen except the very slightest of wear starting to show on one top and one bottom edge. Corners are nice and sharp with very minimal wear.

Would grade near mint -. Beware of later covers being substituted which were less matt finished and were glossier. Very clean and unmarked.

Inner sleeve

Yes I understand this is pretty crucial to you guys and am pleased to report that it is in EXCELLENT condition. It is absolutely perfect apart from  the bottom seam opening. There are no creases or rips or tears. There is a slight curvature where the vinyl was housed for a period of time, but apart from that, the dark brown inner sleeve is very near perfect!! A fantastic example of the earlier edition as this sleeve is much darker than the later versions which were much lighter than the originals. These inners were notorious for damage as they are so delicate and please refrain from using this for housing the vinyl as it will tear eventually and knock value off a fantastic album.An early sleeve that falls into a genuine excellent condition is very special in deed.

Labels

Now this is when you won’t believe me! These labels are 35 years of age and they are PRISTINE!!! I promise you that you will not find a better label than these on a Led Zeppelin vinyl –in fact on ANY vinyl of this age!. They are absolutely stunning with no markings on them whatsoever. I have scrutinised from every possible angle, and no spiderlines are detected!! How rare is that?There are NO hairline/spider line spindle marks and no spindle wear to report. It is if the record has never been played. Awesome, grade Very near MINT! How rare is that for the best rock album ever produced!

These labels hold the secret of this vinyl. It shows absolute proof that this vinyl has been very lightly played. Any record that has a small residue still attached to the central hole is often very scarcely seen, and points to light use only, especially if found on older records. This very fragile vinyl residue usually snaps off quickly & does not remain on the hole for very long. Now, if you inspect very very closely, you will still see the remnants of the strip which actually is fairly prominent and is seen delicately displayed outside the centre hole. This confirms a minimal playing history and that it has been very carefully handled. If you had any doubts about this vinyl, I am sure you have none now. This is an ultra rare sign of a Zeppelin album being very very carefully handled with the minimum of handling!!!

Vinyl

Jet black and polished with a mirror like sheen. (see pics). Beautiful and looks near perfect. However , with closer scrutiny there appears to be some  2/3  surface markings on both sides when angled towards the light, but they do not interfere with the audio. They are merely superficial  . To be honest, that is THE only anomaly against the entire album package. This vintage copy has the PECKO and PORKY etchings on the run out grooves on both side 1 and side 2 respectively. These were among the most finest of pressings produced and give it that extra special personalisation. Even with those light surface markings, the immaculate labels and the sheen of the vinyl makes this record sensational and the visual appearance is still quite breathtaking to say the least!!

Audio

The most important aspect of any vinyl. Sensational and will not find better!

Led Zeppelin crystallised into a superb rock band by this time and made their mark as rock legends after this fantastic album’s release. Zeppelin IV was the recording that produced the most celebrated of compositions “Stairway to Heaven”. The quiet entourage at the beginning requires crystal clear channels and this vinyl fails to disappoint. Wonderful audio as the intensity builds up and, from a gentle lyric eventually, a thundering heavy rock ballad evolves. Sandy Denny (from Fairport Convention) is also on this album featuring in “Battle of Evermore”. Silent grooves between tracks and the tones are strong and clear with crystal clarity.

No interference or background noise, the impact of the audio is magnificent and is delivered with a very warm punch but with a sharp definition. The acoustic/electric guitars wail and moan from the speakers and with the sharp high notes from Plant’s vocals, the sound of this rock band is simply awesome especially through these particular audio channels. It is remarkable that this vinyl has possibly only been played two or three times at the most .Considering this aspect of the vinyl, you can then begin to appreciate the clarity of the grooves that have hardly been disturbed for the last 35 years.WOW!!! You won’t get much better than this!

Summary

Probably the best Zeppelin album ever produced. This album topped the UK and USA charts and has become THE greatest rock album ever released. It is a classic beauty without a doubt. And this will probably be the BEST album that you will ever own as believe me, I have never seen an album quite like this one. The appearance of the factory new plum red labels are worth a fortune in themselves, and must be very rare to find in this awesome/MINT condition. Coupled with the fact that these plum/red labels display the EARLIEST POSSIBLE first press format and the vinyl boasts the EARLIEST POSSIBLE matrices for this HUGE rock classic!! Collectors will drool over this record. Near silent audio channels, silent grooves between tracks ,near perfect album sleeve and inner lyric sleeve, and the purity of the labels, make this a very highly desirable item for collectors world wide.!! Overall grading is a Near Mint – and is a stunning copy. I put it to you, that you will never have the opportunity to purchase such an immaculate EXTREMELY SCARCE copy of this HUGE album ,released by  THE GREATEST rock band in the world today-Led Zeppelin . Hardly any about like this almost non existent, so don’t miss this once in a life time opportunity to own THE EARLIEST PRESS and THE MOST STUNNING vinyl of the greatest rock classic ever produced!!

Good luck if you do decide to bid and please bid with confidence. If , in the unlikely event, you are unhappy with your purchase, I will happily refund in full minus P&P and e-bay costs, providing the record is returned in the condition that it was received.

Shipping

UK-£3.75

Europe-£6.00

USA-£7.95

Please wait till after the auction for your final invoice. Insurance will be added as this is a very valuable item indeed.