A Nice Pair

This 1974 first pressing has the original cover with the soon to be censored image of 'W.R. Phang'.  The audio plays to a superb standard with a little interference on S4 only.

SHSP 4031/2 // YAX 3419 - 1 / YAX 3420 - 1 / YAX 3633 - 1 / YAX 3534 - 2 // PL 2 / MG 2 3 / PO 3 / OO 2

The audio on S1 is Near Mint

The audio on S2 is Near Mint

The audio on S3 is Near Mint

The audio on S4 is Ex+ (many sections Near Mint / opening 45 seconds of track 1 is VG)

The gatefold is Ex

The labels are Ex+

The original inner sleeves are VG+ and Ex

Visual grading

The 'Piper' vinyl is extremely clean and has only a couple of very fine hairlines on each side and no scratches.  It displays a healthy glossy sheen and has obviously been very carefully handled down the years.  The 'Saucerful' vinyl is also very clean with only one obvious hairline on S3 which doesn't affect the audio.  However, there is a very thin scratch at the beginning of S4 causing some clicks and a couple of other hairlines that have no bearing on the sound.

Play grading  

'Astronomy Domine' plays with perfect precision and only a very light hint of static on the intro.  It demonstrates superb power and no distortion, a stunning version.  The remainder of S1 also plays with sublime audio and there are no clicks or pops at all.  The clarity is stunning and 'Pow R. Toc H' is a superb example of that.  A quiet instrumental but no 'background' worthy of mention.  A little distortion on the vocal here and there but as everyone knows this is just how this classic album was recorded.  S2 plays much in the same way and 'Interstellar Overdrive' in particular plays with very powerful audio and no interference, not even during the quieter passages not that there are many!  The end section is quite simply stunning and plays with incredible power and no distortion.  'The Gnome' is another highlight and is Near Mint if not better.  The other tracks play with the same dynamic power and precision and again not a single click or pop.  A little more vocal distortion on 'Chapter 24' and 'Bike' but again you always find this.

'Let There Be More Light' on S3 plays with stunning clarity from the get go and easily grades as Near Mint such is the strength of the audio.  'Remember A Day' also deserves a mention as it plays in supreme style and not one iota of interference, an immaculate version.  The two final tracks also play in impeccable style and 'Set The Controls...' is stunning to say the least.  Such a quiet track and yet it plays with no 'background', wow!  Just a little of the usual distortion on 'Corporal Clegg'.  Sadly the intro to 'A Saucerful Of Secrets' on S4 plays with some clicks per revolution for the first 45 seconds due to the small scratch that is visible.  However, from that point on it plays extremely well with just a little quiet static here and there.  In fact from the drum section onwards the audio is stunning and plays practically 'as new' and the organ section is superb.  The two final tracks do not disappoint and grade as Near Mint the clarity is 'high end'.  

The Gatefold

The gatefold is one of the cleanest I have seen in a long while and has the uncensored W.R. Phang picture on the front cover as per the first pressings.  The edges have no shelf wear and the corners have very little rubbing.  The top corner of the spine has a small crease and there is a little more creasing on the bottom corner which is more evident on the back.  Aside from that the wide spine is in excellent condition and remains 100% legible.  The opening edges are in superb shape with no obvious handling wear.  The gatefold is very clean throughout with no marking, a great example overall of this iconic cover.

Inner sleeves

The blue inner does have two small side splits and a small tear on the thumb notch but is actually very clean with no marking or creasing.  The green one has no side splits and just the one tiny tear on the thumb notch and no marking or creasing again.

The labels

The yellow/green Harvest labels have only minor spotting on a couple of them and remain in excellent shape with no other marking or writing.  There is some spindle wear but not a massive amount.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

The records have been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

SHSP 4031/2 // YAX 3419 - 1 / YAX 3420 - 1 / YAX 3633 - 1 / YAX 3534 - 2 // PL 2 / MG 2 3 / PO 3 / OO 2

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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Postage & Packaging

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SHIPPING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE. WHEN ITEMS EXCEED A SALE PRICE OF £50.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT INTERNATIONALLY INSURANCE IS NECESSARY AND COSTS AN EXTRA £2.50.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

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ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PLACED IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE THE COVER IN ORDER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST. EVERYTHING IS THEN PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

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