LED ZEPPELIN IV A3/B3 UK ATLANTIC (Inverted Feather) Red/Plum VG+/EX
£
230
$
305
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Description
LED ZEPPELIN IV A3/B3 UK 1971 Red/Plum Label (Inverted Feather & Peter Grant credit)
This A3/B3 version of 'Zoso' or 'Four Symbols' is a real rarity and hardly ever seen today.
Whilst there are about eight red/plum pressings of this classic album the one I am selling is a genuine first pressing. Firstly, the A3/B3 matrix is the first known matrix, A3/B4 followed soon after. This vinyl has the Peter Grant production credit on the labels and because Jimmy Page wasn't happy with this he had it removed from all subsequent pressings. In the meantime many had stickers applied to correct this error and also to correct the erroneous publishing credit from 'Kinney Music Ltd' to 'Kinney Music Ltd./Superhype Music Inc' so to find an original one as per the one I am selling is very rare.
What makes this even rarer and more collectable is that it has the inverted (upside down) feather on the S2 label. This again was corrected on later versions. Also this one has 'Misty Mountain Hop' on the S2 label, on some later ones it was incorrectly spelt as 'Misty Mountain Top'.
Of course it has PECKO DUCK and PORKY etched into the dead wax on each side.
I have never seen a A3/B3 press with the Peter Grant credit (no sticker) and the inverted feather so this could be a super mega rarity!!
2401012 // A/3 // 1 2 1 // Pecko Duck
2401012 // B/3 // 1 2 4 // Porky
The audio on S1 is Ex- ('Stairway To Heaven' is VG/VG+)
The audio on S2 is VG+ ('Going To California' and 'When The Levee Breaks' are VG)
The gatefold is Ex to Ex+
The labels are Ex
The original inner sleeve is VG+
Visual grading
The vinyl is very clean and does not have very much spindle wear. I can only see 4/5 tiny 'dots' on S1 and no hairlines or scratches. S2 just has a couple of faint hairlines and again no scratches. Visually it really is in great condition. However, there are a small number of 'mottling' marks on the labels so this LP probably hasn't been stored in the best way which would explain my audio grading as below.
Play grading
'Black Dog' plays very clearly but does have some light crackle in some of the quieter sections. It is only sporadic and the track still plays with excellent clarity and no distortion. 'Rock and Roll' has incredible power and range and again no distortion and grades as Ex with just a little crackle at the end. 'The Battle of Evermore' follows a pattern in that you can hear some light crackle when the music is quieter. To be honest it is only intrusive on the intro and the remainder of the track is still an excellent listen. The crackle on 'Stairway to Heaven' is more obvious as there are so many quiet verses. Yes it does interfere with the sound quality but it isn't loud during the entire track and there are no pops or jumps. From the 'if there's a bustle in your hedgerow' verse the audio actually plays very clearly. A little distortion perhaps but it still plays with excellent sound and does not disappoint. The guitar solo and vocal that follows it play with great power and range. Of course there is some crackle again on the quiet last few seconds.
'Misty Mountain Hop' has some quite heavy crackle on the intro but is then largely in the background on the rest of the track due to the louder nature of it. It is again prevalent on 'Four Sticks' although the music still plays clearly. Don't get me wrong it remains perfectly playable it just isn't quite up to Ex standard. There is also some heavy crackle on the dead wax between tracks. 'Going to California' only grades as VG as the crackle is again more obvious due to it being a quieter track. There are no clicks, pops or jumps though. The main issue on 'When the Levee Breaks' is with distortion which I find is always the case on this track. It is intrusive here and plays to a VG standard in my opinion but again has no clicks, pops or jumps.
I summary I would say this should be owned more for its rarity value as the audio is not of the best standard. Having both the inverted feather and the Peter Grant credit confirms it as the rarest of all the pressings. A professional clean may well improve the audio but I will leave this to the winning bidder as people often prefer to use their own methods.
Gatefold cover
The gatefold has been very well preserved and has only minor shelf wear. The edges are very clean with hardly any rubbing. The spine is also in excellent shape with only a little corner wear. The right hand corners have only absolute minimal wear. The cover itself is unmarked and the inside especially is in lovely condition. The opening edge has almost no handling wear. Overall this is a great example of this iconic cover and will not disappoint.
Inner sleeve
This is definitely better than so many you find. It is very clean with no marking/writing and the only real area of wear is a 14cm split on the bottom edge. It is a fine one so isn't that obvious. There is also a very small split on each side but like I say it is better/cleaner than many as so often they are just wrecked!
The labels
The red/plum labels have no writing on them but do have a few small age related 'mottling' marks. There is not very much spindle wear. The 'inverted feather' is on the S2 label.
Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable // B & W 684 Speakers
2401012 // A/3 // 1 2 1 // Pecko Duck
2401012 // B/3 // 1 2 4 // Porky
Any questions please feel free to ask
Please pay within 4 days of auction end
I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SHIPPING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" AS TOO MANY ITEMS GO MISSING AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £6.00. PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THIS.
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