LED ZEPPELIN 4 - RED/PLUM 1st UK Atlantic press orig. insert EX PORKY/PECKO DUCK

	£		76
	$		101

LED ZEPPELIN - 4 

ATLANTIC RED/PLUM

 2401012

1st PRESS   UK 1971

Machined matrices:  A//3 B//4

LABEL PRESS DETAILS:

Plum Red Atlantic Deluxe – 2401012, inscribed in the deadwax of side 1 with "PECKO DUCK" and on side 2 with "PORKY."

MASTERED BY GEORGE PECKHAM - "A PORKY'S PRIME CUT" - MASTERING ENGINEER TO THE BEATLES, APPLE STUDIOS. 3 SAVILLE ROW, LONDON

George Peckham mastered this album with Jimmy Page and Phil Carsons from Atlantic Records. Page called back after the session to say how please he was with the results and that he wanted George to master all future Led Zeppelin Lps. his "Porky's" inscription would go on to also appear on latter albums.

MATRIX NOs. ON RUN-OUT GROOVE

A//3 / B//4 FIRST PRESS LABELS .

THIS IS A COMPLETE GENUINE ULTRA RARE FIRST EVER ORIGINAL FROM MY OWN PERSONAL COLLECTION, AND IS A REMARKABLE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE VINYL ALBUMS OF ALL TIME. ARGUABLY LED ZEPPELIN’S GREATEST WORK IN ITS COMPLETELY ORIGINAL FORMAT.

An abnormality found on the first side's matrix numbers, instead of the correct, "- A - 3", it ended with "- B - 1"! This was spotted as well and where Atlantic determined to get these  few records out and sold! That ending was over stamped with 'XX' and the correct ending "- A - 3" was stamped to the immediate right, you can still just about see the incorrect stamping. This matrix is only on the very first records made, most likely even before the later snickered copies.

It doesn't get much better than this!!! Awesome condition and possibly the best I have ever come across in 30 years!!! believe me I have seen quite a few although less and less lately. 

Any serious collector will easily know that original press Zep 4 covers are irreplaceable. Made out of unique and totally unmissable matt card with a colouration that is unique to the first press Plum editions, they are unmistakably different to all later pressings. Also, the inside gatefold on these first pressings is much lighter than all later pressings a very dark shade of brown rather than the later pitchblack, also you can clearly see the original art work shading to the background.

"Four Symbols" spent an amazing 57 weeks in the UK charts. The green & orange label pressing's would far outsell the red and maroon colour early pressing's. The Plum label variants were only available for 12 of the 57 weeks, during which time Atlantic prepared to launch their new labels and the new catalogue numbers. The sleeve here is the original one and first press but, to add to the rarity of this album, has an oversticker with the new catalogue number on the back. According to some literature this only happened to a few dozen sleeves awaiting the newly printed ones that were not matt. This is the first sleeve with that feature I have ever seen in over 30 years.

The absolute rarity of this album is not to be underestimated. It hardly ever surfaces nowadays. This has a lovely deep glossy sheen!! Hauntingly beautiful songcraft!!! Immense quality prog album that ticks all the right boxes and incredibly hard to find. I have thirty years experience in grading. It doesn't get much better than this!!

Please, also have a look at my other prog albums on sale this week.

****ELUSIVE CLASSIC PROGROCK MONSTER!!!****PERPLEXING SONGCRAFT!!!***AN INSPIRATION TO MANY SUBSEQUENT TOPACTS!!!***

!!!!A VERY HARD FIND!!! Most have been bought up by collectors!! This is hardly offered these days!!

Sensational sound quality, I have played this through in its entirety and it was a great joy!!! NO skips or jumps. NO clicks or crackle, this is really a stunning heavy glossy jet black vinyl .The audio is impeccable. Inspected under an intense lightsource and angled.

Vinyl: EX+ .  A sensational find!!! I have played this in FULL twice over> The replay is ASTOUNDING!!! I first played for a general listen and a second time for a more detailed observation. Only two wispy hairlines can be seen under a strong lightsource. A lovely copy which is rarely seen in such fabulous condition. Fantastic songcraft! I am very glad to be able to report that this is a fine slab of vinyl without any problems at all and as such worthy of inclusion of any great prog collection. Of course NO jumps/clicks/skips etc.

Gatefold Sleeve: EX+.   An amazing copy at last!!! NOT ANY CREASE AND NO WEAR!!! This early copy is made all the more rare by two other major factors: the cover, like the record is highly intolerant of heavy handling and poor storage and is very rarely found with little wear, and most have deep ringwear and rubbing and look a real mess. This one is in fantastic condition and is a genuine original first press sleeve. This is in superb nearly UNTOUCHED condition and is highly elusive indeed and will prove near impossible to find better. Such a clean overall copy is rare and will not come again soon, make no mistake!!! Rubbing on the edges is absolutely minimal. The spine is deadstraight. If you're looking for this album, this is the copy to get.  OF COURSE NO WRITING, NO TEARS ETC.

Inner Sleeve: The original double flipback lyrics inner sleeve. I have never seen one without seamsplits and this one has them as well. Otherwise this is in fantastic condition without smudges or writing. Rough textured, an original, not replaced by a later re-issued smooth one!! In most cases this inner sleeve is lost. So there it is, a complete Zep 4 original 1st press album!!

Labels: EX. Light spindle traces only. This has not been played much at all.

***This is a unique prime investment opportunity!!! Finding this album in any condition at all is nearly impossible!!! This is  a great and seriously collectable super album!!  You will buy into a piece of  prog core history.*** 

             This is a unique investment opportunity!!! The next psych album to go completely through the roof. Finding this album in any condition at all is nearly impossible so late in the day. Get this while you still can. This value of the album is only going to go one way ... up and up ... until it will be totally unavailable at all for a reasonable price.

Important : International postage will be registered and insured if over GBP 41.00.  Please wait for my invoice before paying. Postage will be according to Royal Mail rates. Postage is NOT a money spinning exercise for me.

Though there are rarely ever any problems with my items, I always try my very best to describe everything exactly!  PLEASE REMEMBER to contact me FIRST,  if you have any problems at all, before you leave feedback and star ratings, so I get a chance to turn any negative experience into a positive one!  I can always happily sort anything out for you, if you let me know you have a problem!  This way no one has to leave Negative/Neutral feedback - and we both walk away happy! Similarly with the amount of stars, anything less than a full 5 * rating is effectively detrimental to a seller's rating as lower ratings will incur higher Final Value Fees  and lower priority in the bidlists eventually making it unattractive to list items on Ebay at all. I know of at least one major previous Ebay seller who has decided not to list via Ebay again. Please do NOT bid if you cannot give me at least 1 chance to sort everything out to your FULL satisfaction in the unlikely event of a problem.  Thanks again!!

This an excellent investment opportunity!!! Any questions please ask me and I will try to answer soon.