Wish You Were Here A1/B3 1st Press + Postcard

This is one of the rarest first pressings you will find as it has the highly collectable 'G1' stamper on S2.  Based on EMIs GRAMOPHLTD system any records with the 'G1' stamper were the first off the 'press' hence their rarity.

The audio plays to an excellent standard and S1 in particular is superb.  There is a little interference on S2 and this is documented below.  The cover is very clean and the original inner has the rare side opening.  The postcard is also included and is in pristine condition.

SHVL 814 // A - 3 / B - 3 // OM 2 / G 1

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / track 1 G for one second! / track 2 intro Ex+)

The audio on S2 is Ex+ (Mint- in many sections / end of track 1 G for four seconds / track 3 intro VG+ & fade out Ex-)

The cover is Ex

The labels are Mint-

The lyric inner is Ex-

The postcard is Mint

Visual grading

The vinyl is in lovely condition and retains a very glossy sheen.  There are only a small number of very faint hairlines on each side and there are no marks or scratches.  I would say it hasn't been played that much as there is barely any spindle wear - this is a vinyl that has always been very carefully handled.  The run out grooves and labels are also super clean with no marking.

Play grading

The classic intro on 'Shine On...' builds beautifully with stunning clarity.  There is no intrusive static (or worse!) and the playback is very impressive indeed.  As you approach one minute there is the odd dust tick but they are so quiet as to be inconsequential.  You find will dust ticks on a new vinyl let alone one that is 44 years old!  This is a superb intro by all accounts and whilst there is a faint tick as Gilmour enters the scene the only obvious interference is one click soon after.  Having had a very close look at the vinyl I cannot see what is causing it so may even be a pressing fault, there are certainly no marks or scratches.  The remainder of this first solo plays with great clarity and no intrusion on the superb audio.  There is just a hint of light static in the as you enter into the next guitar section but again it is very minor.  The instrumental section following Mason's entrance is hypnotic!  The clarity is just so 'clean' you cannot believe you are listening to an A1/B3 first pressing and grades as Mint in my opinion!  There is only the lightest of static in the quieter section following Gilmour's next solo but again I am at pains to say it is totally non-intrusive and I only mention it to be complete in my grading.  I sit very close to the speakers and it is barely audible when you stand in the centre of the room!  Up to the first vocal the audio plays with prefect precision and the two verses are of the same immaculate standard with no 'background' of any kind.  There are a couple of mega light dust ticks just as the saxophone starts which then plays with sublime clarity and power.  There is only a few seconds of very light static at the end of the fade out but wow what a version!  Apart from that one click there is no intrusive interference at all!

The quiet intro on 'Welcome To The Machine' plays very clearly from the outset with no clicks or pops and only light intermittent static again, nothing intrusive.  Once you hear the acoustic guitar the audio is 'high end' and this is carried on into the first vocal which is without fault.  It continues to play with stunning precision including the instrumental sections and the final vocal.  This is audio of the highest order and there is no distortion either.  The quiet end section is one of the 'cleanest' I have ever heard with only a couple of dust ticks and the 'crowd' can then be heard with perfect clarity.  This is a superb ending and I reiterate clarity and definition such as this is rarely found on a genuine first press and let's not forget the G1 stamper!  It is worth noting you can hear the deliberate double pop sound and cough right at the end!

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'Have A Cigar' is 'as new' from the very first note and the intro is flawless with not even a dust tick.  The entire track plays with wonderful precision and depth until the radiophonic section at the end where there are four clicks.  Bizarre really as there is nothing on the vinyl to suggest what is causing this.  

The radiophonic intro on 'Wish You Were Here' is very 'clean' with only minimal static and just the one static tick.  The clarity is excellent and better than so many I have heard as this section will often play with a fair amount of interference.  You can easily hear the quiet 'cough' and 'sniff' very clearly!  The acoustic guitar then plays with very little static and the vocals are nigh on perfect with no obvious 'background'.  This section is easily Near Mint and the instrumental end section also plays with exceptional audio.  The fade out also plays clearly with only a handful of dust ticks.

The 'wind' intro on 'Shine On...Part Two' does have a little more obvious static although you can still hear the 'music' clearly.  Not crackle as such but it is the first real intrusive static on the album.  After about a minute is has decreased a lot to just the odd tick.  As Wright's keyboard begins the audio is very impressive with barely any 'background' and the audio is absolutely stunning during Gilmour's long solo!  I cannot emphasise enough how well it plays, the audio is Mint without question.  The final vocal is almost of the same sublime standard with only a couple of dust ticks.  The instrumental then plays with super 'clean' audio and there is no 'background' of any kind.  The depth and clarity of the audio here is equal to that of a vinyl hardly played.  As it becomes quieter there are a small number of non-intrusive light ticks and then plays with superb clarity.  There is some static on the long fade out but this is a common feature.  Overall a very impressive version with just some interference at the beginning and end.

In summary this A1/B3 first pressing plays with excellent audio and S1 in particular is stunning apart from the one click.  S2 certainly does not disappoint but it does have a little more 'background' although the majority is not intrusive.  Of course S2 has the ultra rare G1 matrix and believe me when I say this is hardly ever found on this LP!

The Cover

The G&L cover remains strong and robust and generally very clean.  The edges and thin pinched spine have no rubbing and the corners have only the bare minimum of wear.  The opening edge has only a minor amount of handling wear.  The front cover has no major marking or staining (a rarity) and only a little fading around the edges.  The back is similar with only a couple of small marks near the top left.  Not perfectly white but a very respectable copy nonetheless.

The Lyric Inner & Postcard

This is the rarer first press version with the three cut corners as the opening is on the left side.  It is very clean with only a couple of minor print marks and one very small side split.  The postcard is in perfect condition.

The Labels

They are in beautiful condition with barely any spindle wear and no marking or writing.  Practically pristine!

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

SHVL 814 // A - 3 / B - 3 // OM 2 / G 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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