DEEP PURPLE MACHINE HEAD - UK 1st PRESS - EARLIEST MOTHERS & STAMPERS - NM AUDIO

	£		145
	$		192

Please read the Terms and Conditions lower in the listing about payment, postage costs and insurance BEFORE placing a bid. Thank you.

I am happy to answer any questions, but please read the listing carefully before sending a question or placing a bid. I try to provide comprehensive details and information in every listing so the answers to most questions should be found below.

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During nearly eight years of trading on ebay, I have received around 2,400 positive feedbacks from over 1,900 individual customers, almost all from the sale of vinyl records.  Until recently I had 100% positive feedback, but I have recently received a totally unjustified negative feedback. Please see my page if you want the full story.

I take great pride in ensuring that my items are always described accurately and fairly. All my items come with a full money-back guarantee - if it's not as described, you can return it for a full refund. 

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PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE 12 PHOTOS IN THIS LISTING. USE THE SCROLL BAR BESIDE THE THUMBNAILS TO SEE THEM ALL AND USE THE 'ZOOM' FACILITY TO GET A CLOSE-UP VIEW.

This is a very nice example of a genuine 1st pressing which sounds superb.

Not only does this have 'The Gramophone Co Ltd . . .' rim text on the labels and the following 1st press matrix numbers, it also has the 1st mothers and really early (14th and 17th) stampers, making it one of the first copies ever pressed:

Side 1: TPSA 7504 A-1U              1             GM

Side 2: TPSA 7504 B-1U              1             GH

Detailed description
Vinyl: The heavy (151 gram) vinyl has retained its original high sheen, although under bright light, various hairlines and fine marks were visible, but there is absolutely nothing significant anywhere. I have played the entire record and it sounds fantastic. There is some soft background noise and crackle which can be heard in the quiet parts and the run-ins/outs, fades, silent grooves and intros and the occasional random click. But there is absolutely nothing loud or intrusive anywhere and almost all the music on both sides sounds Near Mint. I was listening carefully through headphones and the only exceptions were 'Maybe I'm a Leo' (which had some barely audible tics at the beginning) and 'Never Before' (which has some slight fuzzy background noise near the end). Side one also had a very soft swish in the silent groove before 'Pictures of Home'. Side two played almost flawlessly, with just some inevitable minor background noise in the intro to 'Lazy' (but I don't think I've ever heard an original copy that doesn't). This is a superb example and was a real pleasure to listen to. I'm fairly sure that most peole would grade this album (and especially side two) as Near Mint, but because of the very minor points mentioned above I would grade both sides as Excellent plus (Ex+), although most of it sounds Near Mint.
Labels: The labels have no damage, stickers, writing etc although both have some signs of handling and use (fingerprints which show up if you tilt it in the light).
Sleeve: The sleeve is really nice and clean with no writing, splits, tears or stickers etc and just very light signs of use. At some point the top right corner has been bashed and this has led to some creasing in that corner, but this is the only noteable blemish. Other than this there are just some light creases around the edges and spine. For the sake of complete accuracy I would mention that there is some 'speckling' in the lamination (which you can see if you use the 'zoom' facility on the photos), but this is how the sleeve was made and is not a flaw or sign of use.
Edge wear: There is virtually no wear to the laminated edges and spine. If you run your fingertips along them you can feel some slight roughness in places but there is nothing visible apart from at the tips of the corners. The spine is solid and firm and the text is all 100% readable. There are just light signs of use at the opening.
Corner wear: Light
Insert: The original lyric poster has some signs of handling, slight wear at the folds and a soft crease in one corner, but it has no tears or damage and no significant issues.
Inner sleeve: Plain

Detracting features not covered above:  None.

Please check out my other items and take advantage of reduced postage costs for multiple buys.

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Information about descriptions.
My items are always described accurately and fairly. I always do my best to point out any blemishes which might detract from the item and all photographs are of the actual item you will get.

Play-graded vinyl: I play grade records where possible but I don't have time to play them all. I always state in the listing if I have played a record prior to describing it.

Visually-graded vinyl: Unless specifically stated in the listing, vinyl is visually graded.  A visual grading will identify physical flaws (such as scratches) and can help determine whether a record has been cared-for properly. I always do my best to give a fair assessment of any visible marks on the playing surface, but a visual grading will not identify noise or crackle caused by non-visible sources. Most of the records I sell are between thirty and fifty years old and so it is likely that there may be some background noise even if they look perfect. Please see Terms and Conditions below for my refunds policy for visually graded records.

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I have some very simple terms and conditions. Please read them and ensure that you understand them before bidding. Thank you.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

• My items are fully guaranteed - if it is not as described you can return it for a full refund, including postage. Refunds for visually graded records which are returned based upon the buyer's assessment of the record's playgrade, will not include postage costs in either direction.
• Your bid is binding, so please make sure you have READ and UNDERSTOOD the WHOLE LISTING before you bid. I will not accept returns where the buyer has not read or not understood something which is stated/shown in the listing.
  
• I accept Paypal and postal orders (in UK Sterling GBP) for all purchases.  I also accept cheques (in UK Sterling GBP) on orders OVER £50.
• Please pay for your item within three days of the auction closing. If you are intending to bid on other items and wish to pay when they have closed, please contact me to let me know. I reserve the right to cancel any transactions and offer the item to the second highest bidder if no contact or payment is made within three days.

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POSTAGE & PACKING

I care about the records I sell and believe that they need to be carefully and securely packaged to ensure that they survive their journey through the post. Vinyl is removed from the sleeve for posting and the contents will be protected with rigid cardboard stiffeners. All packages are labelled "Do not bend" and securely sealed with "FRAGILE" parcel tape.

I support the use of recycled materials and so I may send some items in packaging which has been previously used or which has been made from other cardboard packaging. If you wish your item to be sent in entirely new packaging please let me know before paying for it. Thanks.

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P&P charges

I need to cover the cost of postage and packing materials, but I try not to charge more for packing and posting your item than it actually costs me. I do not view P&P costs as a means of making money.

However, to quote an exact cost for every LP is difficult because of the wide variance in weight (e.g. Abbey Road weighs around 230 grams whereas Led Zeppelin III weighs around 390 grams). But the majority of single LPs, when packed, will weigh around 500-550 grams and I have based my P&P rates on this.

Occasionally, you may end up paying a few pence more than it actually costs me and occasionally you may end up paying a few pence less than it actually costs me. If there is a significant discrepancy in your favour I will refund the difference.

Double LPs will be charged as two LPs, triple LPs will be charged as three LPs. Box sets etc will be charged according to weight.

UK P&P costs

UK Standard service - items are sent quickly and securely using first class recorded post, which includes insurance up to £46. The cost for this is as follows:

First LP or 12" = £3.80, each additional LP or 12" add £0.80

First 7" or CD = £1.90, each additional 7" or CD add £0.50


UK Special Delivery - Any order valued over £46 will be sent fully insured using Royal Mail Special Delivery and the total cost of this will be £7.55.  Multiple-item orders weighing more than 1kg or items valued over £500 will cost slightly more to insure, so please wait for my invoice before paying.

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Airmail (with tracking and insurance) to any country OUTSIDE the UK

Europe

First LP or 12" = £10.95, each additional LP or 12" add £2.00.

First 7" or CD = £6.85, each additional 7" or CD add £0.60.

Rest of the world (anywhere outside Europe)

First LP or 12" = £14.45, each additional LP or 12" add £3.50.

First 7" or CD = £8.15, each additional 7" or CD add £0.90.

Overseas orders weighing more than 2kg or valued over £500 may be split into two or more packages as appropriate so they can be sent using Royal Mail's Small Packet Rate, so please wait for my invoice on larger multiple purchases.

Customs declaration for overseas orders: Please note that for overseas orders outside the EU I need to complete a customs declaration and must enter the value of the package on the declaration.

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 If you have any queries please email BEFORE you bid.