Rain Tree Crow RARE 1991 British-pressed Virgin L.P. Sylvian Karn Japan EX-/EX

	£		18
	$		24

RARE, Original U.K. 1991 Virgin Records L.P. pressing of Rain Tree Crow’s Self-Titled L.P. featuring David Sylvian, Steve Jansen, Richard Barbieri and Mick Karn (Catalogue Reference: Virgin Records V2659).  This is essentially a Japan reunion L.P. and is a British pressing as opposed to a European pressing featuring a thin, laminated card inner sleeve and a vinyl pressing with picture labels.  I believe this is the 1st pressing with the matrixes reading ‘V 2659 A-1U-1-2’ (Side One) and ‘V 2659 B-2U-1-1’ (Side Two).  Typically, for a late 80s/early 90s British Virgin pressing the vinyl here is very thin although it is surprisingly high quality pressing.  The outer sleeve is a single sleeve affair and reasonably thin.  This is a very solid example of this rare L.P.  It has clearly been very well looked after as the vinyl had been placed into an anti-static sleeve before coming into my possession.

CONDITION: EX- (VINYL) / EX+ (INNER SLEEVE) / EX- (SLEEVE): This has definately seen some play but has clearly been very well looked after.  As noted above the vinyl was found in an anti-static sleeve and it is this which has caused the only obvious flaw.  The information printed on the anti-static sleeve appears to have reacted with the playing surface in places on one side.  This information appears like a shadow in places on one side.  I’m surprised this has happened.  Perhaps because it has sat somewhere for years before coming into my possession.  My instinct is that you won’t be able to remove it.  Otherwise there are no obvious marks, only marks which require an intense light to be seen.  Under an intense light there are a relative volume of ultra fine hairline marks.  If you look very hard you can tell that sections of the surface have received a light wipe at some time (causing these fine hairline markings).  There are some marks over the first half of the track ‘Blackcrow Hits Shoe Shine City’ on Side B and these appear to have depth (although they are too fine to be felt) and sure enough upon playback an impact can be heard in the background which does not overpower the music.  To be frank - If this pressing has more depth and wasn’t so fine you wouldn’t usually hear such marks.  I have played sections of this and the playback was fine.  There are numerous quiet sections and the pressing was quiet which demonstrates to me that this couldn’t have seen very heavy play (because you would get more feedback from the groove wall).  The vinyl here really shines.  The inner sleeve is really very crisp.  There are a couple of small creases near the opening edge where the thin card has bent around the fingertips whilst the vinyl was removed but otherwise this is flat and clearly hasn’t been handled much.  The outer sleeve is also very solid and is fundamentally flat which is saying something when a sleeve is as thin as this.  There is obvious wear to each corner and at some time the vinyl has attempted to come through the top of the sleeve but hasn’t succeeded (it has just pushed it up slightly).  If you angle the sleeve under an intense light there are fine impressions in the card sleeve suggestive of grit rubbing across the surface.  This is most obvious on the rear at the base of the sleeve which I have attempted to capture in the attached images and only occurs randomly across the rest of the sleeve.  There is limited wear along the opening edge which is more obvious on the front of the sleeve than the rear.  This remains a fine example of this L.P. which has clearly been cherished and handled with relative care.

GRADINGS – How I Grade

My items are visually graded under an intense light using my nearly 20 years of experience buying and playing records.  I am a record collector first and foremost.  I would say my grading is on the conservative side however, it is also realistic.  Realistic in the sense that sometimes even brand new records are not immaculate.  Some items are play-graded and where this is the case it will be noted in the Item Description.  Please note that it is my assertion that 99.9% of issues which might be experienced upon playback of a record can be identified through visual grading.  I’m a longstanding Ebayer so please feel free to check my feedback if you have any concerns about the quality of the items I list.  As always please review my images if you have any concern about the condition of a sleeve!  A picture speaks a thousand words!  

GRADINGS - Description

MINT – If used to describe the condition of a record the item will be sealed.  Mint will rarely be used to describe the condition of a sleeve however, it will mean the item is sealed and no storage damage is evident.

NEAR MINT – When used to describe a record it will mean that it is hard to discern that the disc has been played.  When viewed under an intenselight there might be the odd hairline mark however, you would really have to look hard for it.  Ultimately, the vinyl will look like it has just been made.  When used to describe a sleeve it will mean that the sleeve has no shelf-wear or storage damage.  The sleeve will look like new.

EXCELLENT+ - There will be an indication that the record has seen some play but not heavy play.  When viewed under an intense light only the tiniest, wispiest hairline markings will be present and not excessively so.  The vinyl will retain a great sheen.  A sleeve described as EX+ will display minimal shelf or storage wear including an odd crease or the stubbing of corners, slight fraying to the opening edge.  Ultimately, the sleeve will still be a superior example.

EXCELLENT – There might be an indication that the record has seen a reasonable amount of play and handling however, it has been well looked after.  Superficial surfaces scuffs may be present but no marks of real substance (i.e. which will affect playback).  Under an intense light it is likely that a relative volume of hairline marks are present.  A sleeve described as EX will display shelf or storage wear including creasing, loss of print (due to rubbing), possible stubbing of corners etc.  The sleeve will not display any substantial flaws.  Ultimately, it will be a solid copy.

VERY GOOD+ - I will rarely list vinyl for sale described as VG+.  Any vinyl listed as VG+ will have a detailed condition description included in the listing.  The description VG+ is more often used to describe sleeves.  Often VG+ describes the condition of a sleeve which was of very cheap manufacture (think 1970s EMI sleeves or Polydor late 60s/early 70s) and therefore more prone to display the vagaries of time.  A sleeve described as VG+ will not be a basket case.  It will likely display a reasonable volume of creasing, a reasonable amount of rubbing/stubbing and possible the odd substantial flaw.

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