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.

Deep Purple : Fireball A-2U / B-3U 1st Press 1971

This first pressing plays with stunning quality and with no interference.  The clarity, depth, power and resonance of the audio is easily the finest I have ever encountered on this classic album.  I have only graded one track as Near Mint with all the others as Mint!  I say this with confidence because I have listened to every track in full as per usual and the sonic quality is sensational!  The playback is so clean and precise and the one NM track is only graded that way because of a minimal distorted sound on the last track of S1 during the end vocal, believe me it is minimal!  The vinyl is very clean also with only one obvious hairline mark on S1.

The fully textured cover is in lovely condition with only minimal wear and the lyric insert is practically like new.  The original Harvest inner is also in great condition.  A stunning package all round.

SHVL 793 A - 2U PE K (etched) / B - 3U // L1 / OH 2

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T4 Near Mint)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-)

The gatefold is Ex+

The lyric insert is Near Mint

The EMI / Harvest inner sleeve is Ex+

The labels are Near Mint

Visual description

The vinyl is in excellent condition with a strong glossy sheen and no marks or scratches.  There is an obvious thumbnail hairline mark on the final track of S2 but it has literally no affect on the superb audio.  Aside from that it is very clean with only a small number of very faint sleeve removal hairlines.  The yellow / green Harvest labels are unmarked and do not have too much spinndle wear.

Play grading  

The 'percussive' intro on 'Fireball' has no background, not even a minor static, and the opening vocal plays with superb clarity, depth and power also.  It proceeds in the same way and the mid instrumental is flawless.  The final vocal / instrumental has no intrusion and the entire track plays with stunning sonic quality.  No distortion, just pure clean powerful audio throughout.  Mint

'No, No, No' keeps up the standard and plays with exceptional audio through every vocal and instrumental section.  Without dissecting every part I can confirm the playback is so strong and dynamic and the clarity of sound is just stunning, and that includes all of the quieter passages not that there are many!  Once again the audio is so clean and fresh and in essence it plays 'as new' from start to finish.  Another Mint track.

The intro on 'Demon's Eye' is again so clean and Gillan's opening vocal is perfect.  It continues to play with genuine quality and if there is any distortion on Lord's mid instrumental it is kept to an absolute minimum and is totally non intrusive.  The rest of the track plays so well and overall Mint- is fair.

The quiet intro on 'Anyone's Daughter' has only a couple of barely audible statics, the clarity is STUNNING!  Just a hint of very light static at the end for a couple of seconds only if that.  The first verse has no background and the following instrumental plays with sublime clarity.  From then on you really cannot fault the audio.  Being the final track on the side there is a minimal distorted sound on the final verse but I only mention it to be 100% complete with my grading.  It is not intrusive in any way, hardly anyone mentions this kind of 'background' anyway!  Near Mint

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The first part of the intro on 'The Mule' plays perfectly and as the guitars kick in the playback is strong and deep with no intrusion at all.  The vocal then plays with perfectly clarity and the long instrumental section then plays with stunning precision, it just could not play any better.  Tremendous work from Blackmore and Paice here, driving the track superbly.  The closing section with Lord very much to the fore is incredible and it builds to a crescendo with no distortion.  This is Mint in every way with not even a dust tick on the quiet percussive ending.

The quiet intro on 'Fools' plays like it has never been on a turntable before and the low key opening vocal has the same clarity of sound.  Cannot fault it, the audio is immaculate.  The first 'louder' vocal is faultless and then the 'classical' instrumental section is STUNNING!  The clarity of sound is remarkable and 'as new' sums it up, each note is so clean and precise.  The final vocal / instrumental is of the same high end standard and again Mint is deserved.

'No-One Came' completes the album in fine style with such strong audio throughout.  There are no ticks, clicks or pops and no underlying static either.  Glover's bass is so deep and powerful here and ads so much to the overall sound.  For a final track the sonic quality is incredible and there is not one single negative.  The mid instrumental is again breath-taking and this is without question the finest example of this classic that I have ever heard.  Right through to the end it plays with sublime quality and I have no hesitation in grading it as Mint wow what a finish!

The Gatefold, Lyric Insert & Inner Sleeve

The fully textured cover is in great condition with only minimal wear.  The edges have only a little rubbing and the wide spine still has its original shape with only a handful of minor rubs.  All corners are very clean with hardly any wear and the opening edge is near perfect with only minimal crimping near the top.  The front cover has just one very small white scuff and the back cover is so clean also with only a tiny 'rub' in the bottom left corner.  The inside of the gatefold is immaculate with no marking and the left panel has just a couple of very minor 'ripples'.  A fine example overall.

The lyric insert is superb with no marking and hardly any creasing and the original EMI / Harvest inner is in great condition also with no obvious wear.

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

SHVL 793 A - 2U PE K (etched) / B - 3U // L1 / OH 2

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!!