PINK FLOYD UMMAGUMMA A1/B2/A1/B2 1st PRESS No EMI/GAND + LONDEN SUPERB AUDIO NM
£
195
$
258
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Description
Pink Floyd : Ummagumma A1/B2/A1/B2 1st Press
This may well be the most stunning first press that I have ever sold. The clarity and definition of the audio across all four sides is so impressive and there is no obvious interference aside from a little static on a couple of intros. There are no clicks or pops and visually the records are also in superb condition. This double album has been so well preserved over the last 50+ years.
As this is a genuine first pressing there is no EMI logo on the labels and it has 'Gand' on the S4 label. The gatefold has London incorrectly spelled as Londen on the back cover and this is one of the rarer examples as the inside of the cover is upside down. Not totally unique but this is the first I have seen on a first press. I am pleased to say it is in fantastic condition with barely any wear, very difficult to find better! The EMI die-cut inners are also in excellent condition.
With international shipping (including Europe now) I will declare a lower amount so as to decrease/avoid any Customs' fees.
SHDW 1/2 // A - 1 / B - 2 / A - 1 / B - 2 // RD 1 / RD 2 / L 1 / RD 1
The audio on S1 is Mint(-)
The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / T1 Ex- for 5/6 seconds)
The audio on S3 is Mint(-) (T1 ranges between Near Mint- and Mint- / T2 intro VG+ intro for 5/6 seconds)
The audio on S4 is Mint(-) (T2 Near Mint)
The laminated gatefold is Ex++
The labels are Near Mint-
The inner sleeves are Ex
Visual grading
The vinyls are in superb condition and both retain a very strong glossy sheen. There are no scratches and they really are very clean with only a small number of faint hairlines. There is a small 'V' shaped hairline mark on S2 but again this is faint and does not affect the audio in any way. There is a little spindle wear on each label but it would be difficult to find a genuine first press as visually stunning as this, both vinyls really are in lovely condition! The run out grooves are very clean as are the yellow/green Harvest labels which have lost none of their original colour.
Play grading
As always I have played the record in its entirety and I can confidently say S1 plays with genuine quality from start to finish! The quiet intro on 'Astronomy Domine' plays with wonderful clarity and as the volume builds this 'high end' standard is more than maintained. It continues in the same way with no distortion on the top end and the next quieter section also plays with sublime clarity and only a handful of barely audible dust ticks. The closing instrumental and vocal play to perfection with no interference and this is without doubt a Mint- start to the album. The super quiet intro on 'Careful With That Axe, Eugene' is quite simply STUNNING! There is not even a dust tick and as the vocal 'scream' comes in there is no distortion either. The 'louder' section then plays with faultless precision with no ticks, clicks or pops and no underlying static either. The final section plays with exceptional clarity with just one minor tick right at the end and again this is deserving of a Mint- grade although 99.9% is Mint if I'm honest!
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'Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun' on S2 begins in fine style with no intrusion and the very quiet opening section has only a small number of insignificant dust ticks. Water's first vocal is as close to perfect as could be and it continues to play with great clarity - just a couple of minor ticks which are very quiet. Again as the track builds the sonic quality is so impressive and there is no interference of any kind. There are a small number of static ticks at the start of the following quiet section but from then on the clarity cannot be faulted. In fact this entire section plays with exceptional clarity, there is no 'background' aside from a couple of light static ticks on the fade out. This classic track is Mint- with one very brief Ex- section. The super quiet intro on 'A Saucerful Of Secrets' is so 'clean' with only a modicum of very light static and it continues to play with barely any 'background'. As the volume increases the playback is stunning and Mason's long percussive section is flawless - wow! The following quiet passage is nigh on perfect and the beginning of the organ 'recital' plays with a clarity you so rarely find on these first pressings, I detected just one minor tick. It progresses in much the same way - no clicks or pops, no obvious static just a couple of mega light ticks. The audio definition is phenomenal as the track builds and the first 'vocal' section is absolutely superb! Never heard better! The clarity and power is second to none and to the end it is 'as new' with no interference. I will grade as Near Mint but again the vast majority is better than that.
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The opening section on 'Sysyphus' is near perfect with only a minimal amount of barely audible static at the start. The piano section plays very clearly with only a small number of light ticks but in no way are they intrusive. The clarity is very impressive Part 1 is Near Mint- overall. Part 2 is Mint as there is no interference, not even a dust tick, and the playback is incredible! Part 3 also plays with amazing clarity when you consider how quiet it is. There is only very minimal static and has to grade as Near Mint- in my opinion. Part 4 once again plays to a fantastic standard with no clicks or pops and whilst this album may not be to everyone's liking there is no denying the quality of the audio here. A Mint- finish to this instrumental. The quiet intro on 'Grantchester Meadows' has a little static - the first obvious static on the album! The acoustic section is faultless and the remainder is of the same 'high end' standard with a clarity that defies its 50+ years. It is Mint- but with a VG+ intro but this only lasts for 5/6 seconds. Every note can be heard so clearly including the bird/bee song! The quirky 'Several Species...' plays with sublime precision from the first groove to the last with no intrusion whatsoever. A Mint- version for sure.
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'The Narrow Way' plays with stunning quality from the get go and the opening acoustic section in particular is stunning. 'As new' is a correct description. The second section is almost as good with only a small number of non-intrusive dust ticks and the final part also impresses with a clarity that is outstanding! With only a handful of mega light dust ticks this is as close to audio perfection that you will find and the entire 12+ minutes sounds like it was pressed only yesterday! The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is so impressive. A STUNNING Mint- version from beginning to end! 'The Grand Vizier's Garden Party' has only minimal static on the intro and then plays to a superb standard with no ticks, clicks or pops. There are so many quiet sections and yet the playback is very 'clean' throughout. Yes the odd dust tick but they are obviously so quiet and totally non-intrusive. The long 'percussive' section in particular is fantastic! The vast majority is Mint but overall I would say Near Mint is a fair assessment of the audio.
In summary this rare and very collectable first pressing plays to a standard that can hardly be faulted. There are no clicks or pops and only the bare minimum of static. If I'm being totally honest it is only the static on the 'Grantchester Meadows' intro that you would say is a little intrusive but even then it is not loud and is soon over. The clarity and depth of the audio across all four sides is stunning and this is clearly a double album that has been so well looked after down the years. These first pressings are actually quite hard to come by and especially with audio as 'clean' as this.
The Gatefold & Inner Sleeves
The E.J. Day cover is genuinely rare in that the inside has been pasted on upside down. The first press Londen covers were not manufactured in vast numbers and in all my years this is the first 'upside down' one I have ever seen. Must be rare! Better still this one has been so well preserved down the years and has only very minimal wear, you won't find many better! The edges have no rubbing and the wide spine is superb with barely any corner wear. The other corners are also super clean with no obvious wear. The opening edges are in excellent order with only very minor 'crimping' near the top. The front cover is near perfect with no laminate damage and no real creasing either. There is just a minor touch of wear next to the opening edge top right. The back cover is just as impressive with only a couple of minor 'specks' next to the opening edge. The 'upside down' inside is immaculate with no marking and the inner spine has no damage at all. A stunning example.
The original plain white die-cut inners are in excellent condition with no side splits or tears. They have only minimal creasing and a couple of small marks.
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
SHDW 1/2 // A - 1 / B - 2 / A - 1 / B - 2 // RD 1 / RD 2 / L 1 / RD 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 WILL 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 : £5.75 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item
EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £17.45 then £1.50 per extra
REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £23.95 then £2.00 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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