PINK FLOYD: THE WALL (sticker UNDER shrinkwrap - amazing original UK vinyl)
£
105
$
139
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Description
HERE is an incredible original UK vinyl copy of Pink Floyd's brilliant double LP, The Wall, from 1979 on Harvest. What is remarkable about this particular copy is that it retains its famous 'sticker', still in its original position, firmly attached to the front cover, BENEATH the shrinkwrap (and that is interesting in itself).
The Wall's custom 'sticker' (a misnomer if ever there was one) has been the subject of endless speculation - was it only supplied with later copies following concern from traders that customers were unaware what the album was? There seems to be some general agreement that some, not all copies, had the sticker. Yet that doesn't really make sense, when you consider it is such an integral part of the concept - graffiti on the wall carried out by kids who don't need no education. The graffiti turns something bland into a strident piece of artwork. It is, I would argue, necessary to the concept. As a work of art, it's incomplete without it.
This auction offers an extremely rare opportunity for a Pink Floyd fan to acquire this album with its clear peel-off sticker unpeeled, perfectly in place, just as it originally left the factory.
'Sticker' really is a misnomer as there's no 'sticky' involved. It is said that the miracle of air pressure alone kept it in place. You will be fully aware that virtually all copies of this set available today come with their sticker unstuck, if they still have it, or missing altogether. Loose, lost or just never there in the first place. And here's another thing - once removed this sticker cannot be reattached, unless you cheat with glue, which would be cheating. And obvious.
Equally obvious, on account of the constraints of shrinkwrap, is the fact that this iconic gatefold sleeve has never been opened wide, though the shrinkwrap itself has been parted along the opening edge to allow access to the discs within. Parts of the shrinkwrap are split, at the top and the side on the front and at the bottom on the rear, as you can see in my photos, but the wrap still envelopes the sleeve and of course covers the sticker. Ripples in the shrink are caused by the presence of the sticker beneath. Any discolouration you can see is of the shrinkwrap and not the cover. There is no barcode on the back of the sleeve.
Both discs are in EX/NM condition, with all four labels showing only the very lightest traces of spindle activity, indicating very little play over the years. All four sides of the vinyl look like new when examined under strong halogen lighting - I can see no untoward marks. Inner sleeves are of the thick card variety with rounded corners, and the matrices of these discs are SHSP 4111: A-2U, B 5-U, A 3-U and B-2U.
Thanks for looking and good luck if you are bidding on this ultra rare item - an extremely rare example of a slice of rock history.
PLEASE NOTE: I carefully pack vinyl with records removed from covers, and placed inside spare inners if there are custom inners present, such as here.
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