Reduced shipping costs for March/April!  All items sent tracked.

I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale.

Uriah Heep : The Magician's Birthday A1/B2

For this auction I am selling a number of progressive/heavy rock records that have been so well preserved down the years and many of them hardly played.  I am moving house soon so want to 'shift' a lot of my stock quickly so unfortunately do not have the time to describe each track in detail as I generally do.  However, I will still play every track in full (such a chore!) so as to provide a 'complete' grading.

This early pressing plays with STUNNING audio and in essence it plays 'as new' with no interference.  It has hardly been played and is visually stunning to say the least.  It is pristine.

The gatefold is in lovely condition with hardly any wear and the original lyric inner is as close to perfect as could be.

ILPS 9213 // A-1ᴝ (crossed) / BRNA 213 // A-1U / B-2 / O3 / O1 // G.KONG etched on S1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The gatefold is Near Mint-

The labels are Mint-

The lyric inner is Mint-

Visual grading

The vinyl is in beautiful condition and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen.  There are no marks or scratches and I cannot locate any hairlines either, it honestly looks like it has just been purchased 'new' from the record shop!  The Bronze labels are pristine with only a couple of barely visible small traces on the S1 label.

Play Grading

'Sunrise' plays with stunning clarity from the get go and this quality is maintained throughout.  'As new' is no exaggeration and even the quieter sections play beautifully.  A Mint start.  Both 'Spider Woman' and 'Blind Eye' play to the same 'high end' standard where each note is so clean and precise.  So far the album could not play any better!  'Echoes In The Dark' is equal to that and again plays with exceptional clarity and power.  The piano intro on 'Rain' is close to perfect with just one very light tick and the remainder then plays with stunning precision.  The clarity here is phenomenal for such a quiet track and I only heard one other static tick.  A stunning Mint- version for sure, best I have ever heard!

'Sweet Lorraine' on S2 has no 'background' at all and plays with tremendous power and depth throughout.  The acoustic intro on 'Tales' is faultless and it continues in the same way.  The playback here is amazing!  A relatively quiet track and yet the clarity is so impressive - just one mega light tick on the fade out.  'The Magician's Birthday' does not disappoint either and plays with stunning clarity, power and resonance from the first note to the last.  A bit of an unwieldly epic but it nonetheless plays 'as new' with no interference.

The Gatefold & Lyric Inner

The G&L cover is in superb condition with barely any shelf wear.  The edges have very little rubbing and the wide spine and all corners are incredibly clean.  The front cover is unmarked apart from one very small faint sticker removal mark top right and the back cover is even better!  The inside of the gatefold is immaculate with no marking.  The die-cut lyric inner is in fantastic condition with no real wear - no side splits or creasing and just one tiny rub on the top edge.

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

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

At the moment eBay do not allow shipping to Russia due to the ongoing crisis.  Apologies to my Russian customers, you know who to blame

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

Recent Feedback

Very happy with this item, and special thanks for perfect packing!

Fabulous - like new. Fast dispatch, well packaged. 5* seller. Thank you

100% reliable seller. Fast shipping and great communication. A++++

Everything perfect as usual!! Item in pristine condition and quick delivery!

Top seller! Well packed record and great condition of item.

Fast, safe post, packing & comms. Ebay needs more sellers like this. Thank you.

Fantastic shipping, killer service, amazing seller, buy from him !!

Best seller! A++++ always great collectible items in perfect condition!

Postage & Packaging

I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE WILL BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD).  AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN.  HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING.  PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH.  MANY THANKS.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO 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.

I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!

UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £12.95 then £2.00 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £20.95 then £2.50 per extra

I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS!  IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT.  I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!