MERCYFUL FATE 7" BLACK FUNERAL PICTURE DISC KING DIAMOND LIMITED 1983 SEALED

$

76

For your consideration is an ORIGINAL, SEALED, LIMITED EDITION MERCYFUL FATE 7" picture disc single of the songs "Black Funeral" and "Black Masses". "Black Funeral" is from their 1983 first full-length LP MELISSA; "Black Masses" is a non-LP B-side from the MELISSA sessions. The record was purchased new by me in 1983. No edition number is mentioned, although the printing on the record itself assures "very limited edition" (it is presumed to be an edition of 1,000 pieces like its predecessor in the series). The A-side shows a portrait of legendary metal vocalist KING DIAMOND; the B-side shows a cross graphic and text. The record was issued on the US label MEGAFORCE RECORDS as number 2 in their IMMORTALS OF METAL 7" picture disc series (I believe it was the last of the series as well).
This record is still sealed in its original packaging and has never been played. The clear layer on the disc has yellowed with age (this is most noticeable on the B-side image which was black, gray, and white when it was new, but the whites and grays have yellowed in the thirty years of its existence). There are also three very tiny surface cracks in the clear layer of vinyl on the A-side radiating from the center hole (the largest of these measures just over 1/16" or 3 mm; these are visible in the last four detail photos, and their visibility depends upon the angle of the light source so I have shown this lighted from different angles). The tiny cracks are only in the surface of the record's A-side (the cracks do NOT go through to the record's B-side) and would not affect the playability of this record. I believe these tiny cracks to be the result the record's manufacturing process; they are definitely not the result of mishandling, abuse, or poor storage conditions (I recently sold an unsealed copy of this record on eBay, and it exhibited a similar though larger crack in the clear layer of the A-side surface); this condition was present when the record was originally purchased in 1983.
The still-sealed sleeve is a generic soft-plastic sleeve, the one in which it was originally issued (it is not the shiny, hard-plastic sleeve typical of picture disc issues). The plastic sleeve does show wear typical of handling, but it is not torn nor does it exhibit an excessive amount of wear.
This piece is as close to like-new condition as can be expected from a record which is three decades old.

For the BUY-IT-NOW price: The Buy-It-Now option includes FREE DOMESTIC PRIORITY MAIL SHIPPING and INSURANCE within the lower 48/contiguous United States. International shipping or shipping outside of the lower 48/contiguous states will NOT be included in the Buy-It-Now price. For BUY-IT-NOW purchaser, the item will be shipped within 12 hours of the receipt of payment via USPS Priority Mail. Immediate payment is required (Ebay's rule, not mine). International buyers are responsible for shipping charges. International buyers should wait for an invoice before paying as the shipping calculator is not always correct for international shipments.
For the AUCTION price: Payment is expected within five days of the auction's end. Once the item is bid upon, the BUY-IT-NOW option disappears. If the item goes to auction, the buyer is responsible for shipping charges.
Items will be shipped within three days of payment. They will be shipped insured if the service is available. I will not ship rare items such as these without tracking or insurance, preferably both, and I cannot control the handling of the item once it leaves my hands; so I encourage the buyer to select an INSURABLE SHIPPING METHOD. If there are any questions concerning which shipping methods can be insured, please contact me before paying.
I will combine shipping for multiple items of the same type (more than one of the same or similar items); but I cannot always combine shipping for two different items (one shirt and one record, etc). If you are bidding on more than one of my auctions and they are eligible for combined shipping, please wait for an invoice which combines shipping for all items before paying. If you are unsure of a shipping charge or if they can be combined, please contact me for an estimate before bidding: I can't control the shipping costs, but I will give the buyer as many options and opportunities to lower the shipping cost as possible.
US Bidders: Domestic shipping will be by USPS Priority Mail or USPS Standard Post (customer's choice, prices vary upon destination). If you spend a total of $100.00 or more on my items, Domestic shipping to US destinations in the lower-48 contiguous US is FREE (this shipping discount does not apply to destinations outside the lower-48 contiguous US).
International Bidders: I will gladly ship internationally. BUY-IT-NOW purchasers of single items are required to pay immediately (this is Ebay's policy, not mine). Multiple BUY-IT-NOW purchases are eligible for a combined shipping discount. Please request an invoice if you purchase more than one item at a BUY-IT-NOW price to take advantage of combined shipping.
If you win the item at an auction price, please wait for me to send an invoice before paying. If you fail to wait for my invoice, I will cancel the sale. I had problems with an international buyer who paid the incorrect shipping amount. I sent them several messages about the shipping total which went unanswered. If my instructions are not followed, I will cancel the sale to avoid having such problems happen again.
INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS PLEASE NOTE: Many regions charge CUSTOMS FEES, IMPORT TAXES, IMPORT DUTIES, VAT (Value Added Tax), and/or HANDLING FEES for any items shipped into their region from another country. These fees have been known to approach or exceed the shipping costs and the cost of the item itself. Any such fees are the responsibility of the BUYER and are not included in my shipping cost. If you have any questions about this, contact me BEFORE BIDDING. I am not responsible for any Customs fees, taxes, import duties, VAT, or handing fees specific to your region, nor will I refund them if the buyer is unaware that such fees will be charged.
I will combine shipping for multiple items for savings for the buyer, so please wait to be invoiced for your shipping total. Any above-stated FREE SHIPPING promotions apply only to destinations in the domestic US.
International shipping will be via USPS Priority Mail International. I will list any other options and prices when I invoice international buyers, so please wait for my invoice before paying. USPS Priority Mail International is my preferred shipping method as it usually allows the item to be tracked and insured to the full purchase amount. Shipments to some destinations cannot be insured. I will not ship to a destination if tracking and insurance are not available. I generally ship through ebay's shipping service which completes the customs forms as merchandise purchases showing the value as the final price paid by the buyer. If you have any questions concerning International Shipping, contact me BEFORE YOU BID.
This item is sold as-is. I will accept returns and give refunds if the buyer feels that the item has been misrepresented in an extreme way. Shipping on returns is to be paid by the buyer.
Please check my other auctions as I will be listing other vintage PUNK, ROCK, and METAL items in the coming days.
Many thanks for your interest in my auction, and happy bidding!