Love and Money Dogs in the Traffic Hard-to-Find 1991 U.K. Fontana L.P. EX/EX+

	£		15
	$		20

Hard-to-Find, Original U.K. 1991 Gold & Plum Fontana L.P. pressing of Love and Money’s ‘Dogs in the Traffic’ (Catalogue Reference: Fontana 848 993-1).  This would have sold in very limited quantities on vinyl and would have seen most of its sales on CD which was already the dominant format at this time in the U.K.  I’ve struggled to find any indication of where this was pressed but I believe it to be a U.K. pressing.  Like other European pressings of this period (in particular German pressings) the vinyl is thin, flimsy and pretty light.  These early 90s Fontana pressings feature pretty attractive gold and plum labels which aren’t very forgiving when they’re handled (these are pretty crisp - more details below).  This is the 1st pressing (and I would guess likely the only pressing) with ‘A-1U-1-1’ (Side One) and ‘B-1U-1-1’ (Side Two) matrixes.  The vinyl is stored in a thin, matt card lyric inner sleeve.  The outer sleeve is a thin, single affair which is lightly laminated.  This copy has only seen the most limited of play and remains in very fine condition.

CONDITION: EX/EX+ (VINYL) / EX+ (INNER SLEEVE) / EX (SLEEVE): I’d be surprised if this copy had seen more than a couple of plays.  It has certainly been very well looked-after having been removed from the potentially damaging, harsh card inner sleeve and been placed in a poly-lined inner.  The surfaces shine in such a way that you know this has never seen heavy play and they remain pretty damn clean.  Like all my items this has been graded under an intense light.  The odd, ultra-fine hairline mark is visible and I note a little groove-wear on the second and third tracks on Side One.  These early 90s Fontana labels don’t respond well to handling and tend to show-up all fingerprints.  These are pretty much immaculate.  The thin card inner sleeve clearly hasn’t been handled much and only displays a few of the most minor of flaws.  One of the bottom corners has been slightly ‘stubbed’.  There are a couple of very light creases near the edges on either side.  If the inner is angled under an intense light some encrusted dirt is visible.  The outer sleeve remains in fine condition and like the inner only displays minor flaws.  The top edge has been ‘stubbed’ at some point and a little wear is evident in places (which has exposed the white cardboard underlay).  Both opening edge corners display a little wear with the bottom right-hand corner having been knocked at some point which has caused a small crease on the rear of the sleeve.  The thin layer of laminate displays a little wear and there has been a small amount of laminate loss in the top right-hand corner on the front where presumably a sticker has been removed at some point in time.  This is a very nice example of this hard-to-find L.P.

GRADINGS – How I Grade

My items are visually graded under an intense light using my nearly 20 years of experience buying and playing records.  I am a record collector first and foremost.  I would say my grading is on the conservative side however, it is also realistic.  Realistic in the sense that sometimes even brand new records are not immaculate.  Some items are play-graded and where this is the case it will be noted in the Item Description.  Please note that it is my assertion that 99.9% of issues which might be experienced upon playback of a record can be identified through visual grading.  I’m a longstanding Ebayer so please feel free to check my feedback if you have any concerns about the quality of the items I list.  As always please review my images if you have any concern about the condition of a sleeve!  A picture speaks a thousand words!  

GRADINGS - Description

MINT – If used to describe the condition of a record the item will be sealed.  Mint will rarely be used to describe the condition of a sleeve however, it will mean the item is sealed and no storage damage is evident.

NEAR MINT – When used to describe a record it will mean that it is hard to discern that the disc has been played.  When viewed under an intenselight there might be the odd hairline mark however, you would really have to look hard for it.  Ultimately, the vinyl will look like it has just been made.  When used to describe a sleeve it will mean that the sleeve has no shelf-wear or storage damage.  The sleeve will look like new.

EXCELLENT+ - There will be an indication that the record has seen some play but not heavy play.  When viewed under an intense light only the tiniest, wispiest hairline markings will be present and not excessively so.  The vinyl will retain a great sheen.  A sleeve described as EX+ will display minimal shelf or storage wear including an odd crease or the stubbing of corners, slight fraying to the opening edge.  Ultimately, the sleeve will still be a superior example.

EXCELLENT – There might be an indication that the record has seen a reasonable amount of play and handling however, it has been well looked after.  Superficial surfaces scuffs may be present but no marks of real substance (i.e. which will affect playback).  Under an intense light it is likely that a relative volume of hairline marks are present.  A sleeve described as EX will display shelf or storage wear including creasing, loss of print (due to rubbing), possible stubbing of corners etc.  The sleeve will not display any substantial flaws.  Ultimately, it will be a solid copy.

VERY GOOD+ - I will rarely list vinyl for sale described as VG+.  Any vinyl listed as VG+ will have a detailed condition description included in the listing.  The description VG+ is more often used to describe sleeves.  Often VG+ describes the condition of a sleeve which was of very cheap manufacture (think 1970s EMI sleeves or Polydor late 60s/early 70s) and therefore more prone to display the vagaries of time.  A sleeve described as VG+ will not be a basket case.  It will likely display a reasonable volume of creasing, a reasonable amount of rubbing/stubbing and possible the odd substantial flaw.

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