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.  No shipping to Russia currently.

Yes : Fragile A1 / B1 1st Press Red / Plum 1971 Atlantic

This first pressing plays to a superb standard with only minimal background on S1 - minimal background static for a few seconds and four very light ticks on the final track.  There are no clicks or pops and the static mentioned is so so quiet!  The clarity and depth of the audio is so impressive on S1 but on S2 it is taken to another level!  I have graded every track as Mint such is the sonic quality on offer.  The vinyl is in lovely condition and clearly has not been over-played, it has been very well preserved.

The Roger Dean cover has also been carefully looked after and has only minimal wear.  The original inner sleeve has light wear only.

This I believe is known as Version 7 of the red / plum pressings.  All details can be found on Discogs :-)

2401019  A//1  1 3 3

2401019  B//1  1 3 1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 ranges between NM & Mint- / T2 NM- / T4 first piano section Ex+)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-)

The gatefold is Ex+

The 'plastic bags...' inner sleeve is Ex

The labels are Near Mint

Visual description

The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has a stunning glossy sheen with no scratches.  I can only see a couple of very faint sleeve removal hairlines and it's clear the vinyl has not been overplayed or removed from its sleeve very often.  There is a tiny faint mark on each side, kind of a small hairline mark but they are superficial as they have no impact on the audio.  Under 'normal' lighting the vinyl is immaculate and still damn impressive under a bright light!  The run out grooves are very clean and the red / plum Atlantic labels still have their original deep colour with barely any spindle wear on S1 and just a little more on S2.

Play grading

The entire intro on 'Roundabout' plays with clinical precision, the clarity is stunning.  Anderson's opening vocal is just as clean and the first chorus is almost 'as new' with only minimal static distortion behind the organ section but so so minimal as to negligible.  The next verse is flawless and the following instrumental is deep and strong with no interference.  Tremendous depth here.  The accompanying vocal is just STUNNING and you can turn this section up to max with no fear of distortion, the playback is spectacular!  The quiet section featuring Howe and Wakeman plays perfectly and the remainder of this classic track plays to the highest standard possible.  The power and depth of the audio really is on another level.  I'm sure many would grade this as Mint but I think ranging between Near Mint and Mint is about right.

'Cans And Brahms' then plays very clearly with no ticks, clicks or pops and there is only a hint of background static on a handful of occasions.  Again it's so quiet and non-intrusive.  Near Mint-

'We Have Heaven' plays with remarkable sonic quality and no background not even on the 'running' end section!  Easy to grade - Mint it truly is a superb version.

The intro on 'South Side Of The Sky' has no intrusion and the powerful opening vocal section plays with unbelievable quality also.  It proceeds in the same way - it's a 'busy' section and yet each note can clearly be heard.  The piano piece then has a couple of minor statics at the start and a small number of mega light ticks but again the clarity of sound is still very impressive.  The next 'vocal' passage is 'as new' as is Wakeman's brief return.  The powerful finale is superb and I cannot emphasise enough just how strong and powerful the audio is, there is zero distortion on the top end.  Howe's solo at the end could not play any better and the 'wind' outro is so clean.  I will grade the earlier piano section as Ex+ abut the rest of this classic is Mint in every way.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Bruford's 'Five Per Cent For Nothing' plays perfectly without any background.  Mint

The intro on 'Long Distance Runaround' has no interference and from then on plays with impeccable quality through every section.  No background just pure Mint audio from the first note to the last.

'The Fish' and 'Mood For A Day' both play to the same high end standard with no background.  Zero!  The clarity is 'as new' and when of course the latter is a quiet acoustic number.  Stunning!  Mint

The intro on 'Heart Of the Sunrise' reinforces the idea has this side ever been played?!  Obviously it has but the sonic quality would suggest not.  Every section plays with outstanding power and definition and then the opening vocal plays beautifully with not even a dust tick.  It continues to play with unrivalled quality and I cannot find one single negative.  I won't dissect every section because throughout the entire 11+ minutes the clarity of sound is faultless.  There are a number of quiet sections and yet the playback is so clean.  There is no distortion on the powerful end section either and there is no doubt in my mind that this classic grades as Mint - the reprise of 'We Have Heaven' plays with perfect clarity also.

The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve

The Roger Dean cover is in excellent condition with only minimal shelf wear.  The top edge has hardly any rubbing and the bottom edge has just a little more albeit faint.  The spine has a small number of minor specks and just light wear on the corners and the right hand corners have only a little wear.  The opening edge has hardly any handling wear.  The front cover remains in superb shape with only a tiny corner crease top left and the back cover is more or less the same with just a little corner rub bottom left.  The inside of the gatefold is immaculate and the attached booklet looks untouched and is still firmly attached.  A fine example example overall.

The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bags...' inner sleeve (dated 1271) has no side splits or tears and just a little age related fading mainly around the edges.  One small pen mark also.

Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT-VM95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

2401019  A//1  1 3 3

2401019  B//1  1 3 1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

Recent Feedback

Postage & Packaging

I will only send items items worldwide via tracked shipping.  This provides 'peace of mind' in case of loss or damage.  The shipping costs are shown below and combined shipping is always offered.  Any over-payment will always be refunded.

The Royal Mail only insure up to a value of £250 so if an item sells for more it may be wise to use a courier service (e.g. Parcelforce or DPD).  An extra insurance premium will be required but I will not know the exact amount until the final sale price is known.  Because of this I will sometimes have to estimate the cost and this will be shown in the listing.  Please wait for the invoice before making payment and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.  Many thanks.

All vinyls are packaged in strong over-sized custom made mailers with plenty of extra cardboard protection.  They are placed inside separate poly-lined inners outside the cover so as to avoid seam splits in transit and then placed inside a PVC sleeve to provide even more protection.  I pride myself on my high quality packaging as my feed confirms and if any customer has any specific requirements I am more than happy to help.

The mailers I use cost £1.00 each and I will use anything between 3-5 cardboard stiffeners which cost approx £0.18 each.  There is also the cost of the poly-lined inner and PVC sleeve to consider, it all adds up!  Not forgetting that eBay take 10% of the shipping fee also!!

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

LPs/12" singles : £6.50 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £13.95 then £2.00 per extra

USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra

If you are not entirely happy with your purchase please contact me before leaving feedback and I will always resolve any issue, 100% guaranteed.  If you would prefer to send the item back I will also pay the return shipping cost if I am at fault, I am only human after all!!