U2 Boy 1980 original Vinyl LP UK Pressing Island Records ILPS-9646 &Inner Sleeve

$

55

U2 Boy Vinyl LP UK 1st Press ILPS 9646 JONZ PLAY-GRADED NM Vinyl VG+ Jacket

Up for sale is a stunning, fully play-graded 1980 UK true first pressing of U2’s iconic debut studio album, Boy, on vinyl.

Deadwax Matrix Identifiers:

Side 1: Stamped "D", machine-stamped "ILPS 9646-2U", hand-etched "JONZ"

Side 2: Machine-stamped "ILPS 9646B-1U", hand-etched "SOUND CLINIC"This indicates the highly collectible original lacquer cut by renowned mastering engineer John Dent ("Jonz") at The Sound Clinic, pressed by EMI in the UK.

Provenance & History:

From a meticulously maintained personal collection. The album has only been played twice since its original 1980 purchase. It has spent its entire life safely stored inside a heavy poly outer sleeve from the vintage record shop "Book Strengths and Things." The original store label remains perfectly intact on the poly bag, offering great authentic history.

Condition & Play-Grade Details: Vinyl: Near Mint (NM). Impeccable visual gloss. Fully play-tested prior to listing: plays flawlessly with incredible dynamics and absolutely NO pops, clicks, crackles, or background surface noise. An audiophile-standard listen.

Jacket/Cover: Very Good Plus (VG+). Solid spine and seams with full structural integrity. There is a small 1/4-inch dent on the front right corner.

There is also some light brown, age-related foxing on the boy's chin and neck area on the front cover, as well as some light foxing on the back jacket. (Please see the high-resolution photos number three and four where these areas are clearly highlighted).

Inner Sleeve: Near Mint (NM). Original printed inner sleeve is included, sharp and free of seam splits or tears.

This is a beautiful, completely transparently graded copy of a post-punk masterpiece. Perfect for collectors who refuse to compromise on playback quality.

Pricing Justification Note:

Pricing for this premium, play-graded album has been determined using verified historical sales and active marketplace comparable data from Discogs. This price specifically reflects a confirmed 1980 UK true first pressing with the coveted -2U JONZ / -1U SOUND CLINIC deadwax matrix identifiers. It represents the highly sought-after top-tier market value reserved for dynamic, entirely quiet audio performance (Near Mint playback) combined with unique, original record-store provenance.

Shipping & Handling: The record will be removed from the jacket and inner sleeve prior to packing to prevent any seam splits during transit. Safely shipped in a sturdy, professional cardboard record mailer.

Please check out my other listings for more pristine vintage vinyl!