BLACK SABBATH VOL 4, 1972 UK VERTIGO SWIRL 1st PRESS

	£		100
	$		133

Hi, my name is Nick (aka playgraderecords). I have been an avid record collector for many years, building up an extensive collection of mostly blues/rock, psych, progressive and classic rock 1st issue albums from the mid sixties to early seventies period. I have decided to sell off a few choice albums in either the Fixed Price or Auction formats. These offerings represent the crème de la crème of my 35 years of record collecting and are of the highest quality. My grading is strict and any significant defects will be mentioned. You can rest assured that a record that I grade as MINT- will be both visually and aurally as fine a copy as you are ever likely to find (hopefully my feedback and 4.9/5.0 "item as described" rating will bear this out). My descriptions are concise and in accordance with the GRADINGS detailed below. I will not bore you with the unnecessary duplication of song lyrics, and self-respect will not allow the use of ridiculous words like "awesome, mega, hyper", etc., or endless exclamation marks. Customer satisfaction is of the highest importance to me. In the unlikely event that you are not entirely happy with an LP bought from me for any reason, I will refund you in full upon return without any hassle.

From my own personal collection I am pleased to offer an exceptional example of the iconic fourth studio album by BLACK SABBATH titled “BLACK SABBATH VOL 4”, Catalogue Number 6360 071. This is an ORIGINAL 1972 UK STEREO 1st PRESSING on the VERTIGO SWIRL RECORD LABEL, with a 1st ISSUE HOWARDS PRINTERS (SLOUGH) LTD. MATT-FINISH GATEFOLD SLEEVE with 4-PAGE PICTURE BOOKLET. Complete with the original white poly-lined inner sleeve with “08 72” printed date text. [The sleeve is the earliest possible design, made out of thick rigid card. The vinyl matrix numbers are the earliest 6360071 1Y//1 and 6360071 2Y//1. “PORKY” and “PECKO” is etched in the run-out of Sides A and B respectively, indicating the work of the renowned cutting engineer George “Porky” Peckham].

The sleeve is in close to EX condition. There is a small surface scuff near the top right hand corner of the front cover where the original price sticker was removed, and a little surface rubbing near the edges of the covers. It is otherwise a very nice sleeve indeed.     

The vinyl is in EX+/MINT- condition. The Vertigo Swirl labels are like new with only a few short spindle traces each side. I can confirm that the record has only received a few careful plays on top end hifi.

Playgraade Assessment:

Both sides play EX+/MINT- throughout with no discernable deterioration in sound quality and barely any unwanted noise at all (just the lightest touch of residual surface sound which is never intrusive and only mentioned for complete accuracy). There are no loud pops, repeat clicks, hiss, distortion or anything else. The sound quality is truly outstanding – very loud-cut powerful and vibrant as you would expect from a record cut by George "Porky" Peckham. I think that it will be almost impossible to find another copy which plays to such a high standard. 

The inner sleeve has the catalogue number written in one corner and a stamp from “Lonsdale Universal Record Shop” where it was bought in 1972.

Overall this is a superb 1st press copy of Sabbath’s fourth album which will grace any record collection.

GRADINGS

The records that I offer for sale have been critically play-graded, at loud volume, on a Rega P5 turntable fitted with an Elys 2 cartridge. I will only sell records that play to a high standard. My grading is 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 but is still very presentable.

     All records can be expected to rotate sufficiently evenly on the turntable for there to be no effect whatsoever on the audio playback. Minor warps or dishing will not be mentioned as virtually all records display these features to some degree and no record is perfectly flat.

PACKAGING         

LPs are packaged with care and well protected to ensure that they arrive safely in the same condition as they leave me. Records are removed from both inner and outer sleeves in order to prevent seam-splits in transit.

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE

LPs posted outside of the UK will only be sent International Signed-For with insurance at the following cost:   

Europe - £10.95

Worldwide - £14.80