JETHRO TULL, THIS WAS, MINT- 1968 UK PINK ISLAND 1st PRESS

	£		171
	$		227

It is my pleasure to offer for auction an exceptional MINT- example of the debut studio blues/progressive album by JETHRO TULL titled "THIS WAS", Catalogue Number ILPS 9085. This is an ORIGINAL 1968 UK STEREO 1st PRESSING on the PINK ISLAND RECORD LABEL (WITH BLACK & ORANGE ‘CIRCLE’ LOGO) with a 1st ISSUE LAMINATED ‘WIDE-SPINE’ GATEFOLD SLEEVE. It comes complete with the original plain white inner sleeve. [The sleeve is the earliest possible design with flipbacks inside the opening gatefold along the top edges. The spine is a full 8mm wide. The record labels have a pronounced rough-textured finish. The matrix numbers are the earliest ILPS+9085+A and ILPS 9085+B].

The sleeve is in MINT- condition with virtually no signs of wear. It’s a near perfect sleeve which will be almost impossible to improve upon. I have included plenty of photos which hopefully show the magnificent condition.

The heavyweight 160g record is in MINT- condition. The textured Pink Island labels are like new with only a few faint spindle traces each side. There is virtually no wear to the spindle hole. I can confirm that the record has only received a few careful plays on a high quality turntable. Both sides play MINT- throughout with no deterioration in sound quality and barely any unwanted noise at all. The small amount of residual surface sound present is both random and transient – in my opinion it was present in the pressing from new. Virtually all Island pressings of the period were pressed with a small amount of residual surface sound. I have never come across a copy of this album that plays totally silently and I doubt very much that any exist. The record offered here is the finest-playing copy that I have listened to in years. I think that it will be almost impossible to match.

The plain white inner sleeve is in unmarked EX condition with no splits or tears – just a couple of creases. 

Overall this is a rare opportunity to acquire a stunning MINT- copy of Tull’s highly accomplished debut blues/progressive studio 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 Sony PS-X600 turntable fitted with an AT-30E MC 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 up to £50 value - £11.70

Europe over £50 value - £14.30

Worldwide up to £50 value - £15.20

Worldwide over £50 value - £17.80