The Nice : Ars Longa Vita Brevis 1Y2 / 2Y2 1st Press

This first pressing comes from the same Rolling Stones' collection that I purchased recently and the sonic quality on this album is absolutely stunning!  It has been so well preserved down the years and has not been played very much at all.

As this is a genuine first press it has the 1Y2/2Y2 matrix and the Immediate pink labels have a smaller run out area than later pressings.  The R/G stampers are also the earliest known - I don't believe there was a G stamper for S1.  This could have been the first one off the press!  The original cover is also in superb shape.

IMSP 020 // 1Y-2 / 2Y-2 // R 1 / G 1

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority)

The cover is a very strong Ex (so close to Ex+!)

The labels are Near Mint

The inner sleeve is Near Mint

Shipping costs to the US have increased recently so please wait for the invoice.  As an example I recently sent 3 LPs via tracked shipping and this cost just over £34.00 - packaging costs not included!

There is no need to grade every 'track' on S1 as they more or less play to the same 'high end' standard.  Only 'Little Arabella' has a small number of very light static ticks on the intro but you would find this on a new vinyl let alone one of this age!  There are a couple of light ticks on 'Don Edito...' also but overall the clarity throughout is stunning!  There is no underlying static and it could hardly play any better.

I have played S2 in its entirety and the sonic quality is again exceptional.  There is one static click on the second 'movement' but aside from that you cannot really fault the clarity and depth of the audio on offer here.  As per S1 there are so many quiet sections and yet they all play so clearly with no underlying static at all.  A couple of minor ticks but 99% of this is 'as new' it is that good!  It is incredibly rare for a vinyl from 1968 to play to this standard and I cannot overstate how well it plays.  It may not be to everyone's taste but it certainly gives an interesting insight into Keith Emerson's early work.

Visual grading  

The vinyl is in wonderful condition and retains a stunning glossy sheen.  There are no scuffs or scratches and only a small number of very small 'speck marks' on both sides but they have no affect on the audio.  There are only a handful of very faint hairlines but overall this is a very impressive looking vinyl that has only very minimal spindle wear.  The run out grooves and labels are also extremely clean.

The Cover and Inner

The cover is in lovely condition with only minimal shelf wear.  The edges have only a little rubbing with just a bit more by the corners.  The actual corners themselves do not have very much wear at all, just a little creasing on the bottom two and the opening edge is in superb shape with barely any handling wear.  The front cover is very clean with only a couple of faint scratch type lines and a couple of white 'specks'.  The back cover is superb and the flipbacks do not look over 50 years old!  They are still very much firmly in place and have no marking or staining on the edges, a genuine rarity!  A fine example overall.  The plain white die-cut inner has no side splits or tears, no marking and barely any creasing.  I do not think it has been removed from the cover very many time!

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

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 SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SENDING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA/UKRAINE AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM VIA TRACKED SHIPPING AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00.

WHEN ITEMS SELL BETWEEN £50.00 AND £250.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT TO ANY INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY AND COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £7.50 AS EXTRA INSURANCE IS REQUIRED.

FOR ITEMS OVER £250.00 PLEASE CONTACT ME AS THERE WILL BE A HIGHER INSURANCE PREMIUM AND WILL HAVE TO BE SENT VIA A COURIER SERVICE AND THE COSTS CAN VARY.  THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE UP TO £250.00 HENCE THE NEED FOR ANOTHER SERVICE.  PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR THE EXACT AMOUNT AND THEN WAIT FOR THE INVOICE.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, MANY THANKS.

COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN MORE THAN ONE ITEM IS WON.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PLACED IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE THE COVER IN ORDER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST. EVERYTHING IS THEN 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.

UK Postage Rates (First Class)

LPs/12" singles : £5.75 (recorded) up to 1kg then £0.95 per extra item 

7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

EUROPE (Standard)

LPs/12" singles : £10.95 then £1.75 per extra 

7" singles / CDs : £6.45 then £0.95 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Standard)  

LPs/12" singles : £18.95 then £1.95 per extra

7" singles / CDs : £7.95 then £1.45 per extra

I WILL LEAVE FEEDBACK ONCE I HAVE RECEIVED IT.  THIS IS SO I KNOW THE ITEM HAS BEEN RECEIVED SAFELY AND THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH IT. IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  I WILL ALSO PAY THE RETURN POSTAGE COST IF I AM AT FAULT - yes this can happen as I am only human!!