SMALL FACES, SELF TITLED, 1966 UK DECCA MONO 1st PRESS

	£		89
	$		118

betsy50 Store

Hello and welcome to my auction. My name is Nick - aka “playgraderecords”. I have been an avid record collector for many years. Although I like lots of modern music, my passion is for classic blues, psych and progressive albums from the mid 60s to the early 70s. I don’t sell many records – the ones that I do sell are either duplicates from my collection or top quality examples sourced from record fairs or my local record shops.

I take pride in the care and attention that I give to every record that I list for auction. The records from my own collection have always been stored upright in polythene sleeves away from dust and light. These seldom require any cleaning other than just a quick dust using a sticky rubber Nagaoka Rolling 152 and a carbon fibre anti-static brush before play.

Each new find is sympathetically cleaned to remove visible dust, debris and fingerprints, before being critically assessed for the quality of play. If I think that the audio can be improved by a deep clean to remove a build-up of debris embedded in the grooves, I will clean it using a tried and tested isopropyl alcohol based record cleaning solution. I have refined my cleaning method over the years to a fine art, and am confident that the results are far superior to those achieved by the popular vacuum cleaning machines. In reality, the playback of most 35+ years old records will be improved massively by a proper clean.

Consequently, the records that I offer for sale will be immaculately presented and will play to a very high standard with barely any unwanted surface sound or static to spoil the listening pleasure.

Each record is strictly graded, and any significant defects to either the record or the sleeve will be highlighted. I will not conveniently forget to mention faults in order to sell for higher prices. If I grade a record as being in MINT- condition, you can rest assured that it will be both visually and aurally a near perfect copy which will be impossible to significantly improve upon!

Customer satisfaction is very important to me and I aim to provide a professional 5-star service to make the Ebay experience an enjoyable one.

Okay, now that I have given you little background information about myself– its time to get on to the important bit:

Here for auction is a lovely example of the sensational first studio album by SMALL FACES simply titled “SMALL FACES”, Catalogue Number LK 4790. This is an ORIGINAL 1966 UK MONO 1st PRESSING on the RED UNBOXED DECCA RECORD LABEL, with a superb 1st issue James Upton Ltd. front-laminated sleeve. 

The front-laminated single sleeve, printed in England by James Upton Ltd., is in close to EX condition with only light wear and a few minor creases. The front cover is unmarked. The back cover is very presentable, with just a little age discoloration and some tape/tape residue along the opening edge and near the top right corner. The spine is undamaged with perfect text. You can see from the photos that this is a lovely 1st issue sleeve which should please most collectors.

The top quality Decca record is solidly pressed and sits flat and true on the turntable. It retains a deep mirror-like shine and the playing surfaces are beautifully clean. 

The Matrix Numbers are:

Side 1 – XARL-7217-4A

Side 2 – XARL-7218-3A

Visually I would grade the record as being in somewhere between VG and EX condition. There are just a few very light surface marks evident under bright light in addition to a small surface scuff mark on the last track of Side 2. Apart from the scuff mark (mentioned below) these are only superficial and of no audio significance whatsoever. The grooved red Decca labels are unmarked with only a few spindle traces near the centres (maybe around 6 on Side 1 and a dozen or so on Side 2). There is virtually no wear to the spindle hole.

PLAYGRADE ASSESSMENT:

This is a top quality Decca pressing which plays with outstanding sound quality. The mono playback is particularly loud-cut and vibrant. The record plays to a very high standard. There is no discernable deterioration in sound quality and barely any unwanted noise at all. The scuff mark referred to above causes a few soft background ticks which are really not intrusive and only mentioned for complete accuracy. Please don’t be put off by my visual grading – the record really does play superbly. I think that it will be very difficult to find a better-playing 1st pressed mono copy of this essential album.

The correct white poly-lined Decca inner sleeve is in EX condition. This has no splits or tears, just a little age discoloration and a few creases.

GRADINGS

The records that I offer for sale have been critically play-graded, at loud volume, on a Rega Planar 3 turntable fitted with an Elys 2 cartridge. I will only sell records that play to a high standard. My gradings are strict and in accordance with the following descriptions:

·         MINT- Record is superb, almost like new, with just a few sleeve removal type surface marks and no deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve is near perfect in all respects.

·         EX Record is a top quality example, with just a few very light surface marks which do not sound, and barely any discernable deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve has slight wear and/or creasing.

·         VG Record has some visual surface marks, but still plays to a high standard without any major deterioration in sound quality – just a few clicks or light surface sound in places. Sleeve has normal wear and tear without any major defects. Still a very presentable sleeve.

PACKAGING

Records are sent out in new “Wrapro” record mailers. These are rectangular and strong, providing excellent protection to the edges and corners. Records are removed from both inner and outer sleeves in order to prevent seam-splits in transit.

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE

Due to PayPal’s Buyer Protection Policy, LPs posted outside of the UK (paid for by PayPal) will only be sent International Signed-For with insurance at the following cost:   

Europe up to £39 value - £8.95

Europe over £39 value - £11.15

Worldwide up to £39 value - £12.45

Worldwide over £39 value - £14.65

A postage discount will be given for multiple LPs