Led Zeppelin I LP - Rare UK 1969 Early Press - Superhype / Dual Corrected Matrix
£
350
$
464
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Description
Item Description:
Rare early 1969 UK pressing of Led Zeppelin's debut album on the Atlantic label (Catalog Number: 588 171).
Pressing Identifiers & Rarity
This specific copy is a highly sought-after transitional variant, commonly identified by collectors as "Version 5." It features several distinct manufacturing hallmarks from the initial UK production wave:
The Dual Correction Matrices: The runout stampers read 588171 A//1 and B//1. Crucially, both sides feature the famous factory correction where an initially incorrect '8' (from an erroneous 588181 sequence) was manually scored out and replaced by Polydor plant workers.
The Matrix Anomaly (A Note for Collectors):
This specific copy features a famously documented and highly fascinating Polydor pressing plant anomaly in the runout grooves. The metalwork engineer initially stamped the correct Atlantic catalog prefix (588), but inexplicably scored out the first '8' and hand-etched a '7' in its place. Historians and collectors note this likely happened because the engineer momentarily confused the Atlantic 588 prefix with the 587 prefix used for Track Records (Jimi Hendrix, The Who), which were manufactured at the exact same Polydor plant. The mistake was then caught, and the sequence was corrected back. This chaotic, on-the-fly correction is a recognized, ironclad hallmark of this rare early transitional pressing and serves as incredible physical proof of the frantic initial production run for one of rock's most important debut albums.
The Labels: The central labels feature the short-lived publishing credits for Superhype Music and Jewel Music. These labels were printed for a very brief window before the publishing paperwork was updated to Warner Bros/7 Arts.
The Outer Sleeve: The cover features the standard orange lettering and correctly credits MacNeill Press Ltd., London on the unlaminated reverse.
The Inner Sleeve: The record is housed in the correct era-specific generic white poly-lined inner sleeve, stamped with "Patent Applied For" and "Made in England."
Condition Assessment
Sleeve (VG+): For an early UK MacNeill Press cover, this is remarkably well-preserved. The notoriously fragile spine is uncrushed and fully legible. The edges and corners remain sharp. The front laminate retains a nice gloss with only very minor lifting at one corner. The unlaminated back shows expected age-related foxing and light staining.
Vinyl Visual (VG+): Shows a few light surface scuffs and hairlines from normal play and handling, consistent with a well-cared-for record of this vintage.
Vinyl Audio (EX / Strong VG+): Play-tested and provides a superb listening experience. There is occasional light surface noise or minor background crackle during quieter acoustic passages, but it does not overpower the music or compromise the dynamic impact of the record. There are no skips or jumps.
Note: all pictures taken under strong harsh LED lighting for clarity.
Professional Cleaning
To ensure the absolute best audio fidelity, this record has been meticulously deep-cleaned and thoroughly rinsed using a professional-grade wet-washing system. This process safely removes deep-groove dust and static for optimal playback.
Postage, Packaging & Delivery
To guarantee this piece of Led Zeppelin history reaches you in the exact condition described, it will be packaged to strict collector standards:
Separated for Safety: To completely eliminate the risk of seam splits occurring during transit, the vinyl has been removed from the main jacket.
Archival Storage: The freshly cleaned disc is housed in a brand new, premium anti-static archive-quality inner sleeve.
Outer Protection: Both the record and the original sleeve are stored together within a high-density protective outer vinyl sleeve.
Reinforced Shipping: The entire package will be securely dispatched in a proper, heavy-duty reinforced cardboard record mailer to protect those sharp corners.
Offers welcome! Please feel free to message with any questions.
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