PINK FLOYD "A SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS" 1st UK PRESS Ex CON

	£		250
	$		331

THIS IS A QUITE RARE AND HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER ALBUM FROM PINK FLOYD.  THIS IS THE BANDS SECOND ALBUM RELEASE, FROM 1968 ENTITLED " A SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS". A VERY GENUINE FIRST UK STEREO PRESSING ON THE BLUE/BLACK COLUMBIA RECORD LABELS, AND ALL IN THE MOST FANTASTIC CARED FOR CONDITION.

DURING THE START OF THE FLOYD ERA (1967-1968) WHEN THEIR FIRST TWO ALBUMS WERE RELEASED, THE MONO RECORDING WAS PRODUCED IN MUCH GREATER NUMBERS, DUE TO THE FACT THAT STEREO SOUND WAS STILL VERY "NEW FANGLED" AND EYED WITH SCEPTICISM BY THE MAJORITY OF YOUNGER BUYERS. OWNING MONO PLAYING EQUIPMENT WITH MONO CARTRIDGES, THE GENERAL FEELING WAS THAT STEREO WAS TO BE A SHORT LIVED GIMMICK, AND NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THEIR EQUIPMENT ANYWAY. MONO RECORDINGS CONTINUED TO SELL AMAZINGLY WELL, HENCE THE HIGH NUMBER SEEN FOR SALE ON EBAY AT ANY ONE TIME. THIS STEREO MIX, ALTHOUGH TOTALLY THE SAME ALBUM, DOES SOUND QUITE DIFFERENT IN PLACES. THE POWER AND BLUNTNESS OF THE MONO WAS REPLACED BY A SOUND EQUALLY AS POWERFUL, BUT WITH A LITTLE MORE POISE AND PRESENCE. A SOMEWHAT MORE SOPHISTICATED SOUND, AND ONE THAT WOULD BE WARMED TO BY ALL EVENTUALLY. SO THE STEREO VERSION IS OUT NUMBERED BY THE MONO, AND THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO REALLY SAY THE MONO VERSION IS THE RARER OF THE TWO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO SELL THEM!! PERSONALLY I HAVE NO MAJOR PREFERENCE FOR EITHER. I THINK THEY BOTH BRING SOMETHING TO THE TABLE. I OWN SEVERAL COPIES OF EACH, AND LOVE THEM BOTH IN EQUAL MEASURE. THIS IS AN ICONIC ALBUM THAT SHOULD (IN MY HUMBLE VIEW) BE IN EVERY VINYL COLLECTION IN THE LAND.

SIDE ONE:   MOTHER IS "1"   STAMPER IS "H OR M" (HARD TO TELL WITH MY EYES!!)

SIDE TWO:   MOTHER IS "1"   STAMPER IS "GD"

WORKING ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT EACH STAMPER WAS USED FOR AROUND 1,000 PRESSES, THIS PUTS THIS ALBUM IN THE FIRST 10,000 PRESSED (AS "GD" IS THE 10th STAMPER USED) ALTHOUGH SIDE TWO WAS PRESSED WITH A MUCH EARLIER STAMPER (EITHER THE 4th OR 7th)

THIS IS A BREAKDOWN OF ITS COMPONENT PARTS:-

THE COVER:  GRADED AS  EXCELLENT (PARTICULARLY BEARING IN MIND THIS IS IN ITS 42nd YEAR). THE COLOURS ARE STILL VIVID AND STRONG WITH NO DISCERNABLE FADING. NO STORAGE WEAR TO TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES OR SPINE. ONLY ABSOLUTE MINIMAL CREASING TO THE LAMINATE. MINOR DISC IMPRESSION STARTING TO FORM. REAR COVER IS VERY CLEAN. FLIPBACKS ARE NEAR PERFECT. NO WRITING OR DOODLES OF ANY KIND ANYWHERE. THE ONLY MINUS POINT OF ANY NOTE IS A LITTLE WEAR TO THE (FRONT) BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER. IT IS A VERY SMALL CREASE, AND THAT IS CAUSING A 20mm x 1mm LAMINATE LIFT. THATS IT.

INNER SLEEVE:  THIS IS THE COMPANY ADVERT TYPE IN MAROON PRINT. ADVERTISES OTHER ALBUMS OF THE ERA. PERFECTLY INTACT WITH NO EDGE DAMAGE. MINOR CREASING, BUT A VERY SOLID GRADE OF AT LEAST EXCELLENT.

LABELS AND VINYLS:  LABELS ARE SPOT-ON. NO DAMAGE. SHARP COLOURS. SIDE ONE DISPLAYS AROUND 10-12 SPINDLE TRACES, SIDE TWO HAS AROUND 8-10. NO SIGN OF BEING PLAYED TO DEATH HERE. SIDE ONE VINYL SHOWS VERY LITTLE SIGN OF USE. ANY LIGHT VISIBLE WHISPS ARE IN KEEPING WITH SLEEVE REMOVAL. VISUAL GRADING AT LEAST EXCELLENT, BORDERING ON EXCELLENT PLUS. SIDE TWO IS GRADED THE SAME, AND LOOKS PRETTY MUCH IDENTICAL. THESE VINYLS ARE A TESTAMENT TO CAREFUL OWNERSHIP FROM DAY ONE. I WOULD CLASS THESE AS EXCEEDINGLY HARD TO BETTER.

AUDIO PERFORMANCE:  ON MY TOP END LINN/NAIM SYSTEM THIS STILL SOUND AMAZING. WITH CAREFUL LISTENING, AN ISOLATED BIT OF BACKGROUND IS PRESENT HERE AND THERE (REALLY JUST IN QUIET AND SILENT PASSAGES) BOTH SIDES PLAY AMAZINGLY WELL. CLEAR AND DYNAMIC. THE HEAVYWEIGHT COLUMBIA VINYLS WERE BUILT TO LAST. THIS ALBUM HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED, AND ALWAYS PLAYED ON TOP QUALITY SYSTEMS. HARD TO PUT A GRADING TO SOUND, BUT THESE MUST SIT AT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN EXCELLENT AND HIGHER. THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY PRESENTED AND MAINTAINED FLOYD ALBUM. IF YOU CAN FIND BETTER, BUY IT.

SO THATS IT. A TOP TOP ALBUM IN EXCELLENT (AND SOME) CONDITION, AND VERY SELDOM SEEN FOR SALE IN THIS TYPE OF CONDITION. IF YOU ARE IN THE MARKET FOR THE FLOYD IN THE ORIGINAL STEREO UK VERSION OF "SAUCERFUL" WITH THE EARLIEST MOTHERS, THIS HAS TO BE FOR YOU!! I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU COULD FIND MUCH BETTER. DON'T MISS THIS.

I AM HAPPY TO SELL OVERSEAS, WORLDWIDE. POSTAGE COSTS MAY VARY BY COUNTRY, AND ALL ITEMS WILL BE SENT "SIGNED FOR" WITH INSURANCE OPTIONS GIVEN. PLEASE WAIT FOR PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS AFTER SALE TO CONFIRM AMOUNT DUE.

PLEASE CHECK MY FEEDBACK RATINGS FOR PREVIOUSLY SATISFIED CUSTOMERS. MY AIM IS TO BE A TOP SELLER WITH THE VERY HIGHEST FEEDBACK. THE SATISFACTION OF BUYERS AND POTENTIAL BUYERS IS MY ULTIMATE GOAL. TOP SERVICE BREEDS REPEAT CUSTOM.

I WILL ONLY CHARGE POSTAGE FEES AT COST. NO PROFITS. ANY EXCESS CHARGED WILL BE REFUNDED IN FULL!!

I TRY TO USE RE-CYCLED SUBSTANTIAL PACKING. IF I DO NOT CONSIDER IT ROBUST ENOUGH, I WILL SOURCE NEW MATERIAL AT MY COST, NOT YOURS.

I OFFER A REFUND IF NOT AS DESCRIBED (LESS POSTAGE ONE WAY)

I OFFER REDUCED POSTAGE FOR MORE THAN 1 ITEM (STILL EXACTLY WHAT IT COSTS ME)

I WILL ANSWER ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS.

I WILL BE SELLING SOME OTHER RARE HISTORICAL ROCK VINYL ALBUMS IN THE NEAR FUTURE, SO KEEP LOOKING. MAYBE MARK ME DOWN AS A FAVOURITE SELLER ON YOUR HOMEPAGE?