PINK FLOYD A SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS 1/1 1st PRESS 1968 Blue COLUMBIA SUPERB AUDIO
£
312
$
413
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Description
I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges. However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale. No shipping to Russia currently.
I recently purchased a stunning Pink Floyd collection where all the records and covers have been so well preserved by the previous owner. I am selling the majority of them during this auction.
Pink Floyd : A Saucerful Of Secrets 1/1 1st Stereo Press Blue COLUMBIA
This highly collectable first pressing plays to a standard that is rarely found today. There are no clicks or pops, barely any static and the overall sonic quality is stunning throughout. That is especially true on S2 where the title track is easily one of the finest versions I have heard in many a year. The vinyl is visually impressive with only a couple of obvious hairlines and two faint hairline 'scuffs'.
The laminated cover is in lovely excellent condition with only very minimal wear, it is one of the cleanest you will find. It has retained its original shape so well and the original inner sleeve is also in great condition.
As can be seen there is only a single stamper on each side making it one of the earlier first pressings.
SCX 6258 // YAX 3633 - 1 / YAX 3634 - 1 // H 1 / P 1
The audio on S1 is Near Mint (T3 ranges between Ex+ & Near Mint- / T4 Ex+)
The audio on S2 is Near Mint (T3 Mint-)
The cover is Ex+
The labels are Near Mint
The original inner sleeve is Ex+
Visual grading
The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a lovely glossy sheen. There are no scratches on either side and not too many hairlines either. S1 does have a long(ish) faint hairline and a couple of shorter 'scuff' hairlines but they are superficial as they have no affect on the audio. Aside from that it is visually very impressive with no groove wear and it cannot have been played that often based on the audio and that there is very little spindle wear. The blue Columbia labels are in superb condition with no marking and this particular copy does not have the KT tax stamp on either side.
Play grading
The intro on 'Let There Be More Light' plays so clearly with no intrusion - perhaps just a hint of barely audible static for 1/2 seconds. The opening vocal is stunning with no ticks, clicks or pops and no static either and it continues to play with audio that you rarely find today. If there is any static it is so much in the background as to be totally negligible and overall the sonic quality is very impressive. The vocals are so 'clean' and the instrumental end section also plays with clarity and definition. This section so often has some distortion but that is certainly not the case here. This has to grade as Near Mint although it could be argued that is an underestimation.
With complete silence in the dead wax the intro on 'Remember A Day' plays perfectly as does the first verse. There is one very light tick soon after and from then on it plays with great precision. The definition of the audio is very impressive and by that I mean each note is very clean and so sharply defined. It has not been overplayed which would affect the sonic quality and to the end there is no interference. Even the fade out plays to perfection, that gives you an idea of the clarity on offer. I think Near Mint is again a fair assessment of the audio.
'Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun' is of course a very quiet track but I am pleased to say it plays with great distinction. The intro plays very clearly and Waters' opening vocal similarly so. This standard is kept up throughout with no ticks, clicks or pops - if I was being super harsh there is just a minor hint of background static but in no way does it intrude on the quality of the listen, it is very very quiet! It has to be one 'cleanest' versions I have heard in a long time and ranging between Ex+ and Near Mint- is about right.
As is common 'Corporal Clegg' does play with some inner groove distortion but find me a version that doesn't! In my opinion you cannot avoid on the first pressings and in a way should not be downgraded as a result. It is mainly on the vocals but in saying that it still plays extremely well and is not a track you have to 'turn down' because of it. It is not a major issue and the instrumental sections in particular are very strong. An Ex+ end to the side.
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The quiet intro on 'A Saucerful Of Secrets' plays with stunning clarity and you can hear each note so clearly even the background percussive elements. There is one light tick just after one minute but this is easily the finest 'introduction' I have heard in a long time, the playback is phenomenal! As the volume the sonic quality does not diminish in any way and for once there is no static distortion on the top end. As Mason joins in around the four minute the audio is 'as new' and that applies to the entire percussive section here. This truly is audio of the highest calibre! The quiet passage following this section again plays with wonderful clarity as does the first organ piece. The subsequent organ 'recital' plays to near perfection with only a couple of very light ticks and it really is the lack of 'background' that really makes this epic shine. The choral section then plays beautifully with a STUNNING clarity of sound and again there is no static distortion, another sign that this record has hardly been played. In essence there is no intrusion across the entire 12 minutes and how often can that be said for this first pressing that is now 54 years old?! This is an exceptional Near Mint version for sure.
'See-Saw' more than keeps up this exemplary standard and plays with great clarity and definition and no interference. There is barely any of the 'muddied' sound that you so often get with this track and the playback is very impressive indeed. I am confident in grading this as Near Mint also.
'Jugband Blues' ends this classic album with perhaps the most 'complete' version I have ever heard. The clarity and depth of the audio is on another level and there is just no 'background' to be heard. Barrett's opening vocal is 'as new' as is the following instrumental section. It continues in the same way - the brass section section is flawless and Barrett's final emotive vocal is equally as good. A stunning version the likes of which I cannot remember hearing before. This has to grade as Mint- as it cannot be faulted.
In summary this first pressing plays with wonderful clarity, depth and warmth on both sides and not one single click or pop! There is barely any static either and this has to be one of the 'cleanest' versions of this classic album that I have ever listened to. S1 is very impressive but S2 is on another level in my opinion and it's hard to believe this record is now 53 years old. These blue Columbia first pressings are of course highly collectable today and it would certainly be difficult to find one with better audio than this! A sublime album that would add to any collection.
The Cover & Inner Sleeve
The laminated G&L cover is in excellent condition with only minimal shelf wear. The top edge is perfect and the bottom edge has no rubbing and just one small split next to the right corner. The thin pinched spine is in superb order with no marks and very little wear on the corners. The right hand corners have very little wear and the opening edge has only the bare minimum of handling wear. The front cover is in lovely condition with just a couple of minor laminate crease on the right side and a handful of the usual small creases next to the spine. The unlaminated back cover is unmarked and the flipbacks for once are very clean with none of the marking/staining on the edges and they are also still firmly attached to the cover. All you can see are a handful of small creases on them. You can see a small bottom left corner 'rub' but that really is the only negative. A fine example of this iconic cover.
The original EMI inner is in great condition with barely any marking just one tiny bottom edge split and only very minimal creasing.
Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable // B & W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
SCX 6258 // YAX 3633 - 1 / YAX 3634 - 1 // H 1 / P 1
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 NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.
THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE MAY BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD). AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH. MANY THANKS.
ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO 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.
I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!
UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item
EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £17.45 then £2.00 per extra
REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £25.95 then £2.50 per extra
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS! IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED. IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT. I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!
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