NM AUDIO 1st UK PRESS 1U/2U EARLIEST 1G MOTHER/STAMPER PINK FLOYD THE WALL 50 %

	£		400
	$		529

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THIS LISTING IS FOR 50% OF THIS ITEM ONLY. THE OTHER 50% IS IN ANOTHER LISTING. 

TO BUY THIS ITEM BOTH LISTINGS MUST BE PURCHASED.

Not only is the the absolute earliest copy I have ever seen, it also has exceptional audio that I think would be almost impossible to beat.

The Pink Floyd Archives lists a 1U/2U/1U/1U pressing of The Wall, and gives 2U/2U/1U/2U as the first variant of this.

I have never seen a 1U/2U/1U/1U and neither have I ever seen one for sale and, other than this mention in the Pink Floyd Archives, I know of no one else who has ever seen one. Apart from The Pink Floyd Archives, 2U/2U/1U/2U are the earliest matrix numbers I can find any reference to.

But, regardless of whether a 1U/2U/1U/1U pressing actually exists, it is agreed that the earliest matrix for side two is 2U.

What I have here is the earliest copy I have ever seen, but also with an undisputedly earliest side two: with the 2U matrix and 1 and G mother and stamper – an earlier copy does not exist!

Here is all the relevant information from the run-outs.

Side 1:     SHSP 4111 A-2U        (2 crossed-out) 1                   G

Side 2:     SHSP 4111 B-2U                                  1                   G

On side one the mother number is 1. Above the 1, it has a 2 which has been clearly crossed-out with a prominent stamped X.

Side 3:     SHSP 4112 A-1U                                 2                    R 

Side 4:     SHSP 4112 B-2U                                 1                    ?    (Indistinct single letter)

The stamper on side 4 is very feint so that it is impossible to be sure what it says.

The run-outs are also stamped with TML-X on side one and TML-M on the other three sides.

So, this is undoubtedly a very, very early pair of discs, with very early (earliest?) matrix numbers and the first mothers and stampers on both sides of disc one, the second mother and stamper on side three and first mother on side four. 

These super-early discs are complete with the earliest inner sleeves and earliest cover (with the removable ‘sticker’) as follows:

• The one-piece gatefold cover has no band credits inside the gatefold.
• The round-cornered inner sleeves have just the numbers SHSP 4111 (1) and SHSP 4112 (1) (they do not have the numbers SHDW 4111 or OC 158 63410).

Condition
Vinyl: The vinyl has retained its original sheen with very little to see, just some ultra fine hairlines and sleeve removal marks when viewed under bright, direct light and a couple of slightly more-visible hairlines on side three, but there's nothing significant anywhere and the audio is superb. I have played the whole album in full (all four sides played from start to finish in their entirety) and can safely say that I have never heard an original pressing of The Wall sounding as good as this. It is notoriously difficult to find an early pressing that play-grades to a consistently high standard across all four sides and, like most Pink Floyd albums, The Wall has lots of quiet and sparsely-arranged passages that are often problematic, but this copy plays superbly throughout, with barely anything to mention. For the sake of completeness I would mention some quiet background noise in some of the run-ins/outs, fades, segues and silent grooves and the occasional random click, but there is absolutely nothing significant anywhere. For sides three and four, there was nothing more to add and so I would play-grade sides three and four as Excellent Plus (Ex+) to Near Mint (NM). Sides one and two are very nearly as good: much of both sides would play-grade as Near Mint (NM), but on account of a few tiny, random crackles on side two I would play-grade side two as Excellent Plus (Ex+), and a handful of small tics in 'Another Brick in the Wall Part One' mean that I'm going to play-grade side one as a VERY SAFE Excellent (Ex), close to Excellent Plus (Ex+). These discs have been play-graded using the UK Record Collector grading system and have been graded very strictly: I think a lot of people would just say that these grade as Near Mint (NM). This is an exceptional audio performance across four sides and I think it would be very hard to find a better one, but finding another one that plays like this and with the earliest matrix numbers and stampers is probably impossible.
Labels: All four labels look superb with absolutely no signs of damage, writing, stickers etc and just light spindle marking, suggesting that the records weren't played all that much.
Cover: The cover has no seam splits, but has some normal signs of age and use, including wear to the edges and corners, some marks and minor grubbiness etc. It will be sent in the thick PVC double album sleeve shown in some of the photos.
Cover 'sticker': The removable 'sticker' (not actually a sticker; it clings by static) is in great condition and looks almost like new.
Inner sleeves: Both show some mild signs of age and use and one has a TINY (1cm) neat split in the bottom seam, but there are no significant issues.

Detracting features not covered above:  None. This is one of the absolute earliest copies ever and it has superb audio that would be almost impossible to improve on.

All photographs are of the actual item for sale. Please ask any questions before you bid or buy.

Where gradings are given these are based on the UK Record Collector grading system (see below) and are visual gradings only, unless the listing specifically states that it is a play-grading.

I use the UK RECORD COLLECTOR GRADING SYSTEM. This grading system differs from some other grading systems, in particular the Goldmine grading system. Please make sure that you are familiar with the UK record collector grading system before you bid.

Mint: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

Excellent: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packag­ing might have slight wear and/or creasing.

Very Good: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable sur­face marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

Good: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration, etc.

Fair: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for prop­erly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.

Poor: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

Bad: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler.

Plus (+) or Minus (-) are added where items fall between gradings. I only ever use one plus or minus.

P&P costs as follows:

UK:

First LP or 12" record = £5.50, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

First 7" record = £3.95, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

Europe:

First LP or 12" record = £18.95, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £13.95, each additional item = an extra £1.00 P&P charge.

Rest of the world:

First LP or 12" record = £29.50, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £18.95, each additional item = an extra £1.00 P&P charge.