Rare David Bowie Barn Find 1972 Ziggy Stardust LP UK Radio Caroline Promo 4E/6E

	£		44
	$		58

BOWIE BARN FIND - NO-RESERVE
ITEM DESCRIPTION 
This is a no-reserve 7 day auction for the now seldom seen first UK pressing of David Bowie's 1972 LP The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, Radio Promo. 
BIOGRAPHY
This early UK first pressing produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott has no mention of Bowie's later (infamous) management company MAINMAN. This is an indicator of an early first UK pressing. Later copies of the LP had the MAINMAN credit on the LP sleeve rear cover.
This LP has etched matrix numbers BGBS 0864 6E A3 AC and BGBS 0865 4E AZ AW (please see the large photographs provided).
This iteration of the LP is an ultra rare RCA radio promo copy distributed by RCA to radio stations, this particular copy features a large DAVID BOWIE RCA promotional sticker affixed to the LP front cover reading Radio Caroline PO BOX 2448, The Hague, Netherlands, plus the LP catalogue number hand written. 
This is possibly how RCA marketing got the new LP to the station proprietors in 1972 given the stations everchanging legal status as a pirate station. 
Side 1 of the vinyl LP also has a small promotional sticker affixed with the RCA and station identity/address/handwriting on. Please see the large photographs provided.
TRACK LIST
Side 1: 
Five Years (4:42)  Soul Love (3:34)  Moonage Daydream (4:40)  Starman (4:10)  It Ain’t Easy (2:58)
Side 2: 
Lady Stardust (3:18)  Star (2:47)  Hang on to Yourself (2:40)  Ziggy Stardust (3:13)  Suffragette City (3:25)  Rock n Roll Suicide (2:58)
MUSICIANS
David Bowie (vocals, guitar, saxophone)  Mick Ronson (guitar, piano, vocals)  Trevor Bolder (bass guitar)  Mick Woodmansey (drums) Arrangement by David Bowie and Mick Ronson
LABELS/FORMAT
RCA Victor with genuine first gen glossy orange labels with ‘Titanic Music’ and "Chrysalis Ltd" credits, plus GEM Production, and no mention of MAINMAN. All indicative of the early 1972 first UK pressing. 
LP COVER
Printed in England by Robert Stace. Artwork by Terry Pastor of Main Artery. Photography by Brian Ward. This UK first issue Ziggy Stardust LP does not mention or credit Bowie's infamous management company MAINMAN. This omission is indicative of a UK first pressing. 
CATALOGUE NUMBER SF8287 (LSP 4702)
MODE / SPEED Stereo / 33 
VINYL WEIGHT Original 130 gram vinyl. Today, Audiophile reissues are sometimes pressed on 180 gram vinyl. Only a small percentage of early vinyl was ever pressed to this specification. Records pressed in the 1960s averaged 140 to 150 grams. Records pressed in the 1970s were usually lighter and some records pressed around 1973 were very light due an oil crisis at the time. 
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE England. The earliest UK pressing from 1972 on RCA Victor with Titanic Music and Chrysalis credits are now seldom seen, make no mistake. 
Seeing the original heavy UK pressing with 4E/6E matrixes in the radio promo format is an extremely rare encounter, let alone the opportunity of now adding it to your collection. 
For those who bought this album when first released, most played them into submission and finding originals that play well is incredibly difficult. Often fans bought later copies as replacements for their originals. The more discerning collectors who do own the first pressings will rarely part with it, why would they? Not only that, the cover is a nightmare for rubbing and ring wear. It is worth remembering this LP is now 53 years old! 
MATRIX NUMBERS BGBS 0864 6E and BGBS 0865 4E.  These etched factory matrix numbers are indicative of a 1972 early first pressing. 
GRADING & CONDITION All round a very good+ LP sleeve with no separation, no graffiti or handwriting, but with some superficial rubs and scuffs and some clear signs of ring wear and spine wear/bumps/creasing. Please refer to the many large photographs provided.
Original SF 8287 (LSP 4702) catalogue number and only the ‘GEM PRODUCTION’ text and logo on the reverse and no mention or credit to "MAINMAN" are all indicative of an early UK first pressing. 
The inner picture bag is made of very thin paper and printed with lyrics and portraits of the band. It has various rubs, bumps, scuffs and stains (see the many large photographs provided) plus some minor spots of foxing, but otherwise still in very good condition. 
The vinyl LP is still visually very lustrous, really glossy and quite original looking - with minimal visible signs of playing. 
I have never played the LP myself (ever) since acquiring it in early 1980's so I would visually grade the vinyl as strong EX+ 
Both labels are still quite original but this is a radio promo so there are some spindle marks/minor center hole damage and Side 1 still has a promotional label affixed. 
SHIPPING & INSURANCE

Securely consigned fully insured, packaged and additionally protected in a reinforced record mailer then shipped to the UK buyer using Royal Mail Tracked service.

Securely consigned fully insured to EU & Worldwide shipping with tracking.

Any import duty would be your responsibility to investigate and/or to pay where it to be relevant to you.
QUESTIONS

Please ask questions prior to bidding.
Please note I cannot provide an audio play through grading, so if by chance this is not satisfactory please do not bid. 

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