Led Zeppelin IV EX Red Plum 1st UK Press A3 B3 Peter Grant credit "pecko duck"

	£		395
	$		523

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!

Collectors vault copy UK A3 B3 1971 UK press to buy and keep

this is the earliest version with Peter Grant credits on the label,

`No band name` in the upper half of the label

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 no 1

EXCELLENT CONDITION FOR THE VINYL

EXCELLENT THE LABELS

This is the label 1 version with the band name only on the lower half of label, so this is the version 1 red plum press 1971 label.

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

also credits go to "Kinney Music Ltd" and "Superhype Music Inc"

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.

PETER GRANT PRODCTION 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 earliest 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 2normally show up , all priced 300 + in various conditions , this vinyl is excellent so ...its over 350gbp

This is rare and getting hard to find in 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.

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!

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,

the upper half of the labels only have the rune symbols for each band member, pics 1 and 4 give cleat photos of labels,
Black on Red does not appear distinct  on the whole vinyl pics.

Atlantic records were furious about the `no band name` approach which was altered on later labels. an excellent  super rare copy...

  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 hard to find in any condition.

The Record

EXCELLENT
A3 B3 the very 1st matrixes!

In EXCELLENT condition with some light surface lines and hairlines (see photos) some scuffs from sleeve removal over the years ,no jumps or sticks on our Rega 3 bear in mind this is a 47 year old vinyl record! we also tested on a fussy "light tracking" Kenwood deck., audio quality is excellent very clear in the acoustic tracks , there are no skips or jumps to disrupt. There are very light clicks in some quieter passages.

some of these RED PLUMS JUST PLAY BETTER, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE.
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 acoustic parts,

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

Plays good sound played hard, vinyl 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., great labels EXCELLENT.

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 47 years old
The sleeve

with the original "Grey Blotting paper" inner lyric insert
these are super rare in good order this is VGC

Overseas yes we do! post cost is in GBP onlAny import taxes applied by your country are the buyers responsibility

The Outer Sleeve
Near Excellent

Having done it's job over 47 years the sleeve has very little ring wear on the rear! (see photos)stored in upright PVC sleeve for 30+ years. the is a lot of scuffing but no major issues.

It is one of the "original matt sleeves" it does have some wear at corners, its a handled sleeve slight rounding to corners no graffitti or writing (see photos in listing)

(see photo in listing) good order no stickers or writing.

colours are good and not a lot fading, the thick card has done its job.

The original grey blotting paper inner with "Stairway to Heaven" lyrics is present wow! so difficult to get.

inner sleeve is in good order, some small fraying at the opening side see pictures, these are old and fragile now (see photos in listing) this is VGC and nice for 47 years

These are often tatty beyond help but on this one its in very good condition and an original from release date in 1971

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 a collectable vinyl in excellent to play and enjoy , not for you if you want a `vault quality copy`

Near Mint copies are almost impossible now sometimes £500+!
This is a great affordable copy to own "EXCELLENT" our "fully audio tested" grading. not a near mint or mint copy.

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

See my other Zeppelin albums for sale