Charlie Wills RARE Self-Titled 1972 Trailer LP Pocket Sleeve + Booklet TOPIC EX

	£		20
	$		26

RARE, Original U.K. 1972 Blue Label Leader 1st MONO Pressing L.P. of Charlie Wills ‘Charlie Wills’ (Catalogue Reference: Leader LEA 4041 MONO).  This is the 1st Pressing featuring ‘A1/B1’ matrixes.  This is one of those lovely pocket-sleeve constructions with a relatively thick booklet stapled into the spine.  The outer sleeve is made from thin, textured card.  The booklet extends to 15 pages and is utterly fascinating and very informative.  The vinyl pressing is pretty weighty (by the mid-70s these Leader/Trailer pressings were quite thin) and sits in a pocket built into the rear of the booklet.  This is from my own collection but it is going because I have never bothered playing it.  In truth if I had more space I would be keeping this but I need to prune the collection a little.  This was purchased second-hand and had seen limited play prior to coming into my possession but remains a very fine example of this rare set.  In my experience this type of sleeve construction does not generally survive the ravages of time well but this is in more than solid condition.

CONDITION: EX (VINYL) / EX/EX+ (BOOKLET) / EX (SLEEVE): It is fairly obvious upon withdrawing the vinyl from the paper sleeve that this hasn’t seen heavy play however, I grade under an intense light and it is clear to me that this has seen some play.  There are no obvious marks but a relative volume of ultra-fine hairline marks can be seen under an intense light (you do need to look quite hard but they are there).  I would say the B-Side is in superior condition to the A-Side.  This is because the A-Side appears to have received a light clean at some point in time which is what has caused the bulk of the aforementioned ultra-fine hairline marks.  There is the odd, tiny spot of encrusted dirt and while the surfaces are definately a little dusty they really shine.  The booklet is fully attached to the sleeve but I have assigned the booklet it’s own grading because it is such an integral part of the set.  Like the outer spine the booklet spine has also yellowed a little otherwise the pages are pretty white an just display the odd brown spit/sign of discolouration.  I can’t see any creasing on the pages.  There is a small dark mark on the blank rear of the booklet.  I can’t imagine that the booklet has been perused more than a couple of times.  The rather flimsy, exposed outer sleeve remains in solid condition.  An obvious flaw is the browning/yellowing along the spine.  The wallet at the rear of the sleeve which contains the record remains in perfect condition.  In my experience they often split near the edges.  Each corner has received a knock which has bent in some of the corners a little.  There are odd spots of dirt visible on the outer sleeve.  This is a really lovely example of this rare set!

GRADINGS – How I Grade

My items are visually graded under an intense light using my nearly 20 years of experience buying and playing records.  I am a record collector first and foremost.  I would say my grading is on the conservative side however, it is also realistic.  Realistic in the sense that sometimes even brand new records are not immaculate.  Some items are play-graded and where this is the case it will be noted in the Item Description.  Please note that it is my assertion that 99.9% of issues which might be experienced upon playback of a record can be identified through visual grading.  I’m a longstanding Ebayer so please feel free to check my feedback if you have any concerns about the quality of the items I list.  As always please review my images if you have any concern about the condition of a sleeve!  A picture speaks a thousand words!  

GRADINGS - Description

MINT – If used to describe the condition of a record the item will be sealed.  Mint will rarely be used to describe the condition of a sleeve however, it will mean the item is sealed and no storage damage is evident.

NEAR MINT – When used to describe a record it will mean that it is hard to discern that the disc has been played.  When viewed under an intenselight there might be the odd hairline mark however, you would really have to look hard for it.  Ultimately, the vinyl will look like it has just been made.  When used to describe a sleeve it will mean that the sleeve has no shelf-wear or storage damage.  The sleeve will look like new.

EXCELLENT+ - There will be an indication that the record has seen some play but not heavy play.  When viewed under an intense light only the tiniest, wispiest hairline markings will be present and not excessively so.  The vinyl will retain a great sheen.  A sleeve described as EX+ will display minimal shelf or storage wear including an odd crease or the stubbing of corners, slight fraying to the opening edge.  Ultimately, the sleeve will still be a superior example.

EXCELLENT – There might be an indication that the record has seen a reasonable amount of play and handling however, it has been well looked after.  Superficial surfaces scuffs may be present but no marks of real substance (i.e. which will affect playback).  Under an intense light it is likely that a relative volume of hairline marks are present.  A sleeve described as EX will display shelf or storage wear including creasing, loss of print (due to rubbing), possible stubbing of corners etc.  The sleeve will not display any substantial flaws.  Ultimately, it will be a solid copy.

VERY GOOD+ - I will rarely list vinyl for sale described as VG+.  Any vinyl listed as VG+ will have a detailed condition description included in the listing.  The description VG+ is more often used to describe sleeves.  Often VG+ describes the condition of a sleeve which was of very cheap manufacture (think 1970s EMI sleeves or Polydor late 60s/early 70s) and therefore more prone to display the vagaries of time.  A sleeve described as VG+ will not be a basket case.  It will likely display a reasonable volume of creasing, a reasonable amount of rubbing/stubbing and possible the odd substantial flaw.

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