JETHRO TULL – THIS WAS – MONO-FIRST UK PINK ISLAND PRESSING – 1968

ISLAND MONO ILP 985 the very first PINK ISLAND “EYE” design label

MATRIX NUMBERS – ILP 985 + A   Side One/ ILP 985 + B  Side Two, (The very  first pressing)

The record is visually graded mint minus

The record labels are graded mint minus

The cover is graded excellent plus

 
Superb audio quality

Description

This is the very first mono pressing of “This Was” the debut album from Jethro Tull that appeared on the pink island label

with the “eye”  label logo. Curiously mono issues of This Was can be found on the first and third pink island labels only, it was not

issued on the second pink block design.

Record – Both sides of he record have a beautiful shiny appearance with absolutely no scratches or scuffs

and only very few hairlines seen when viewed under a bright light (Almost none on side one, a

couple more on side two). Side one grades  Mint Minus, side two Excellent Plus

Labels – The famous pink island labels are beautiful and like new with no discernible spindle

lines present, but against a pink background its difficult to be sure. There is no spindle hole wear at all however, and no

label marks or writing.The labels are graded Mint Minus.

Cover – The original first issue gatefold cover is fully laminated and has the huge interior flipbacks

that disappeared on later cover pressings. The cover is graded Excellent Plus with only a slight indent to the wide spine

that stops a higher grade. The cover has no rips, tears, marks, ringwear or writing! (see full details below).

Front Cover – The front cover displays the well known group photo shot. There is no ringwear, writing or unwanted marks

to see of any kind.

Back Cover – The back cover displays the printed island mono logo to the upper right and the original Island Oxford Street

address along the bottom edge. As with the front cover there is no ringwear,writing or marks of any kind.

Interior Gatefold – The gatefold intereior is just about blemish free and looks lovely. Maybe one or two slight wrinkles if you

look hard, but that’s it.

Spine Edge  – The enormous wide spine that was only present on first issues has all text perfectly legible is in excellent condition.

It does have an indent at its mid-point where maybe someone has held it too hard between their thumb and first finger

causing it to squash. This does not detract in any way from the cover as a whole. Without this minor defect the cover

would be a mint minus grade.

Record Entry Edge – Completely straight with no wear at all , and no splits or feathering.

All Top and Bottom Gatefold Edges – Completely straight with no wear, splits or rubbing at all, perfect!

Corners – The two spine corners have tiny wear only and the other four gatefold corners are perfect, completely square

with no wear whatsoever.

Sound Quality- I have play graded the album completely and the sound quality is perfection,with absolutely no crackle,

hiss or distortion anywhere even in the linking grooves. On the closing track on side B, the very short “Round” there is a quiet

sounding tick heard during the track but this is the only comment I would make on what otherwise is a fantastic mint playing album.

This very first mono mix is by far the best “This Was”, easily better than the subdued later stereo mixes heard on the white i 

and palm tree pressings.

Overall – A superb pressing of This Was that would take an unplayed copy to better it  in my opinion.

Jethro Tull in 1968 were:- Ian Anderson, Mick Abrahams, Clive Bunker, and Glen Cornick.

SIDE A : My Sunday Feeling, Some Day The Sun Won`t Shine For you, Beggars Farm, Move On Alone, Serenade To A Cuckoo

SIDE B : Dharma For One, It`s Breaking Me Up, Cat`s Squirrel, A Song For Jeffery, Round

The grading system I use is from Record Collector:- Mint, Excellent, Very Good, with +/- to

distinguish borderline grades.

I treat all vinyl with the greatest respect whether  £5 or £50, so all records are sent out with

plastic covers in professional mailers and two protective stiffeners. I do not post records inside

their covers, to prevent seam splits occurring during shipping.

Please do not bid if you have significant negative feedback unless checking first

Guarantee

I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH VINYL FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS.

I AIM TO PROVIDE TOP QUALITY RECORDS WITH A TROUBLE FREE TRANSACTION.

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OFFER A FULL REFUND MINUS THE POSTAGE COSTS.

PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BIDS!