Led Zeppelin IV 1971 Red Plum 1st UK press Rarest A3 B3 "pecko duck" EX+copy Wow

	£		500
	$		663

 This is from my own collection, I am not a dealer, in the next few months I am selling off part of my collection, some rarities and collectable, no filler! Thanks for looking!

`Vault Stored`
A SUPER RARE UK A3 B3  1971 UK 1st press to buy and keep
THIS IS THE SUPER  RARE JIMMY PAGE AND LED ZEPPELIN credits `NO BAND NAME` on upper half of label before the infamous  sticker added ON LOWER HALF OF LABEL by Atantic Records  with the Legendary `PETER GRANT` Production Credit later to covered by Jimmy Page stickers SUPER RARE

The original grey blotting paper inner with "Stairway to Heaven" lyrics is present IN vgc only soo difficult to get in frayed shape. has the super rare `Keith Morris` Photography Credit so hard to find  `kept in a protective sleeve` has tape around see pictures

ATLANTIC WERE APPARENTLY SO Angry with this non commerical behaviour `THEY APPLIED` stickers with the `BAND NAME` and `Superhype` soon after release so this is A very rare version 1 NO BAND NAME label copy on A3 B3 is possibly the rarest...label version...
the PG credit situ had rolled over from LED ZEP III and once again `Peter Grant` was credited as exec producer only on the very early presses these are rare now and in EX impossible below 600 GBP


Very rare this one is an EX plus vinyl and NR EX sleeve copy , not `a perfect` or `nr mint` but a dcecent playable copy, please read all the listing fully and ask any question....     



Please note that this album is complete and original 1971 UK pressing and is sold for its rarity rather than for its condition

To be clear this is an A3 B3 1971 UK pressing, the very earliest MATRIX possible.

There are 4 varieties of labels on the very first UK presses, this is version no 1


this  later version 2 has `LED ZEPPELIN` stickers on the label due to Atlantic Records displeasure with the `NO BAND NAME` on upper half style of the Version 1 label.

Excellent plus the Vinyl

This is the label 1st version with NO BAND NAME in the upper half of the label,  the correct "Mountain Hop" with  so this is the label version 1 red plum press 1971 label with the correct "hop " credit.

Photos are of actual item for sale, what you see is what you get here. 


this has on side 1 "Peco Duck" and side 2 "Porky" hand etched on the runout groove....

(this was a reference by the famous "Beatles Engineer" George Peckham)

whose stamp was "a porkys prime cut" Page was so impressed with what heard on the Beatles records he asked for George , employed then at Apple then 3 Saville Row, London who obliged on this occasion.

the sound quality of these rare first presses wipes the floor in our view with the new reissues but over to the listener....

like the Turquoise 1st Album the song credits help identify a true 1st press which this is and its a reluctant sale...

We hear that there were only around 2000 Led Zeppelin 1 turquoise 1st albums made now they are sky high in value and deservedly so how many remain--

the  A3 B3 versions of the 4th album are getting rarer as collectors snap them up....there is no earlier matrix (only label variations)

look now on ebay and once you sift through to the "real thing" only 1or 2 normally show up , many priced 500 gbp + in very good only condition , this vinyl is rare and a  keeper look no further!

  

This is rare and getting hard to find in anything like good order

Led zeppelin IV recorded between their "mayhem tours" in USA in 1970 at Headley Grange England , this is very much the sound of a band settled and for many their best work.
The classic tracks are here by the bucketful, Black Dog , Rock n Roll, Stairway to Heaven, Levee Breaks all jump off the grooves with incredible clarity on this copy, the audio is awesome on our Rega 3.

Page got what he wanted here and the mixing done at various locations dictated by tour schedule are a credit to the producer, despite delays by mastering artwork and "no title" wrangles with Atlantic the album was released in UK end October Early November 71. This is one of those early early copies!

This recording really put Zeppelin back on top following the cooler reception of the 3rd record (at the time) we have heard 1st hand some aging critics waxing on about how much they love the 3rd (hmm but at the time guys you panned it!) no names as we know you know.

Atlantic by this time had given a blank cheque but when they found out the 4th record was planned untitled no band names etc. Ahmet Ergun hit the roof! and summoned Page and Grant to USA to "discuss" ...backed by the very large Peter Grant Page stuck to his guns and replied "if they didn't like the last one this this will wake them up but no band names, this rests on the music and the fans" he was right and Peter Grants Boys had done it again, to this day many regard this as THE greatest rock album of all time... judged for yourself but for us the audio quality of these 1st presses are vastly superior to the recent "deluxe super deluxe releases!"  just DAMN HARD TO FIND AT A FAIR PRICE! HERE IS A MUST BUY AND KEEP OFTEN THESE SELL FOR 500 GBP plus in VGC THESE ARE RARE AND SEEN AT 700 GBP PLUS....SO her for 500 IS A SUPER DEAL.

Atlantic did a great job in 1971 with these, word is Peter Grant got the pressing plants to clean the master discs more regular (using a process normally reserved for classical recordings) rock and pop were still considered "passing phases" so it was not felt necessary to clean the pressing plates as often due to the volume they were recorded at with few quieter passages
.
Once again Grant broke the mold when he visited the UK pressing plant and "insisted" who would refuse him?

The job was done this way for the early runs in the first year or so... after...

Only the first presses came out with no band name on top the label only the 4 symbols. The spacing is different v later presses so easy to spot once you know, see photos,
all photos are of actual item for sale, what you see is what you get here, see our 100% feedback!

Grab yourself a piece of rock history!

These are getting harder to find in anything like this condition.

The Record

Excellent plus 
A3 B3 The very  1st matrixes!

In EX plus condition with some light removal lines only,1 visible scuff side 1, and hairlines (see photos) few hairlines , no jumps or sticks on our Rega 3 bear in mind this is a 49 year old vinyl record! we also tested on a fussy "light tracking" Kenwood deck with no issues. There is some LIGHT static on the intro to `Going To California` and `Battle of Evermore` and `Stairway` intros, all is good.with superb Audio , visibly side 1 has a scuff line which SHOWS BUT DOES NOT AFFECT no skips awesome audio.

good clear audio quality in the acoustic tracks with no skips or jumps to disrupt. There are some faint clicks on also in some quieter passages but not many.

Anyone are looking for "mint" or " near Mint" or "Mint" archive copies please see our other listings and note this is not one of those.


some static in the very quiet, the acoustic parts, the odd click and static no skips or jumps

Nice fat pre oil crisis 70s vinyl wow ! nice flat and fat.

Plays very good with bright punchy crisp sound may benefit from a professional clean (we don't do this as it's an individual thing) some background static is noticeable in the quieter passages but not many of those!

The labels are free of writing doodles or stickers and retain great bold colours with no fade we can notice under light., the pictures do not do justice! Side 1 has slight discolouration at top see picture,they are very very clean with few spindle lines.
SUPER RARE before the stickers over version 2  THE PETER GRANT CREDIT ON THE LABEL AND `NO BAND NAME` IN THE UPPER HALF OF THE LABELS



Please note that this album is complete and original 1971 UK pressing and is priced for its rarety rather than for its condition
the record and sleeve are original and 49 years old


The sleeve     

with the original "Grey Blotting paper" inner lyric insert

VGC only inner  sleeve

Having done it's job over 49 years the sleeve has only some wear on the corners, hotos) stored in upright PVC sleeve for 30+ years. spine has some wear see  photos. 

 It is one of the better "original sleeves" it does have a little wear at corners, and some pin holes but its almost 50 ,nr excellent sleeve (see photos in listing) collectable.

(see photo in listing) really great order no other issues, stickers ,see pics but a decent spine and cover for 49 year old. its really hard to find a pristine example THE inner is VGC.

There are no seam splits , colours are good and not a lot fading, the thick card has held up well,  

The original grey blotting paper inner with "Stairway to Heaven" lyrics is present VGC only shape ,soo difficult to get in decent shape. has the super rare `Keith Morris` Photography Credit so hard to find its frail so stored in a pvc sleeve for protection.has ancient tape around see pictures. 


inner sleeve is in VGC order fraying at the opening side see pictures, many of these are old and fragile now (see photos in listing) 
These are often tatty beyond help, this one is VGC only , its showing wear see photos..  
This is a great buy for someone looking for a wholly original 1st press of this great album (its not an archive Mint copy)

It is an nr excellent vinyl , only a tick here and there, zero skips or jumps and beatifull audio Excellent and Near Mint copies are almost impossible now sometimes £500+!

This is a great affordable copy to own and play! "EX plus vinyl " our "fully audio tested" grading.

See photos.... Please note this item is advertised for sale elsewhere also

See my other Zeppelin albums for sale

Overseas yes we do! post cost is in GBP onl
Any taxes applied are the buyers responsibility