DAVID BOWIE SELF TITLED 1969 PHILIPS SBL 7912 1st UK PRESS - FULLY PLAY-GRADED

	£		372
	$		492

All my items have a full money-back guarantee - if it's not as described you can return it for a full refund.

This auction has NO RESERVE. The highest bid wins!

****************************************************************

This is an original 1st UK pressing from the time of first release in 1969. It is not a reissue.

Please note that this IS the true first UK pressing: I've seen a lot of inaccurate information written by people selling the so-called 'unassigned credits' version, claiming that it is the first pressing because the publishing credits for most of the songs 'hadn't yet been assigned to Essex Music'. This is false: Essex Music only ever owned the publishing rights to three of the songs on this album. The 'unassigned credits' version is a repressing which came out in 1970 (we can tell this because it has the revised THIN Philips logo labels which weren't introduced until 1970). The first pressing - the one listed here - has the wide Philips logo, but the labels incorrectly show the publishing for all titles assigned to Essex Music Int., even though, at the time, Bowie retained the publishing rights (copyright control) to all but two of the tracks. This mistake on the labels was corrected with the 1970 repressing to show the correct publishing information. [Incidentally, the rights for all the remaining tracks except 'Memory of a Free Festival' WERE assigned the following year, but to Titanic Music, NOT to Essex Music!]

The vinyl has clearly been well-played and has numerous marks and signs of play and use to both sides, but plays much better than might be expected from its appearance. The labels have lots of spindle trails showing that the record was played many times and there are a couple of small touched-in marks on the side two label. The playing surfaces give the impression of a record that was played a lot and probably wasn't handled carefully and wasn't well cared for. In normal daylight there are a number of visible marks to both sides, including hairlines and scuff marks as well as numerous fine marks which can be seen under bright, direct light.  I have included photos of both sides of the vinyl but please note that these make the record look a bit better than it really is. However, despite its appearance, the record plays really well and generally sounds great. I have played the whole album in full from start to finish and it plays through with no jumps, skips or sticks, although there is inevitably some crackle in the fades, silent grooves and intros, and a few brief clicks here and there, but there is nothing that overpowers the music anywhere and the play-grade for the record is well-above its visual grade. Generally all the music play-grades really well with just some background crackle between tracks and in the fades and intros. Overall, I would say that the play-grade for side one is a bit better than side two, but that both are surprisingly good. I would play-grade side one as a SAFE Very Good Plus (VG+) and side two as a SAFE Very Good (VG). This play-grading is higher than the visual grading for the vinyl, which would probably be around Good (G), maybe Good Plus (G+).

The gatefold sleeve shows various signs of age, wear and use. There is wear to the edges and corners, and the spine is very worn (see photos). There are internal repairs to central seam splits, top and bottom, and there are corner splits near the opening. There are a number of small touched-in marks and a sticker tear on the rear. There is a patched area on the front cover which I've shown close-up in the last two photos. So, this is far from perfect and has lots of signs of wear and age etc and some careful restoration here and there. But despite these issues I would say that this is still a presentable example.

The poly-lined inner sleeve has age-related discolouration, creases and a seam split in one side seam, but no major issues.

Detracting features not covered above:  None.

All photographs are of the actual item for sale. Please look at the photos and ask any questions before you bid or buy.

Where gradings are given these are based on the UK Record Collector grading system (see below) and are visual gradings only, unless the listing specifically states that it is a play-grading.

I use the UK RECORD COLLECTOR GRADING SYSTEM. This grading system differs from some other grading systems, in particular the Goldmine grading system. Please make sure that you are familiar with the UK record collector grading system before you bid.

Mint: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

Excellent: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packag­ing might have slight wear and/or creasing.

Very Good: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable sur­face marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

Good: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration, etc.

Fair: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for prop­erly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.

Poor: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

Bad: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler.

Plus (+) or Minus (-) are added where items fall between gradings. I only ever use one plus or minus.

P&P costs as follows:

UK:

First LP or 12" record = £5.50, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

First 7" record = £3.95, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

Europe:

First LP or 12" record = £18.95, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £13.95, each additional item = an extra £1.40 P&P charge.

Rest of the world:

First LP or 12" record = £29.50, each additional item = an extra £3.10 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £18.95, each additional item = an extra £1.80 P&P charge.