Jethro Tull This Was UK LP ILPS-9085 2nd Pink Black Block i Label NM- Vinyl RARE

$

35

                                                                      This Was
                                                                    Jethro Tull
                                                  Stereo LP Island ILPS-9085 2nd Press
                                 Clarifoil Laminated Front and Back Jacket Covers
                                 Gatefold with "flip back" overlapped glue tab at top
                                                                   Wide Spine

                                                                   Item Details
                                                   Manufactured in: United Kingdom
                   Pressing: 2nd, with "pink black block eye" label (based on Discogs identifiers)
                                 Recorded: June, 1968 at Sound Techniques, Chelsea, UK
                                                                  Issued: 1968
                                                   Label: Island Records ILPS 9085
                                                  Runout Deadwax Matrix Numbers:
                                              Side 1: (all stamped:) ILPS + 9085 + A
                                              Side 2: (all stamped:) ILPS + 9085 + B

Was bought new by this seller many years ago and now offered from his private collection (you 
have absolutely known provenance). Has had very limited plays only on an expertly setup
high-end audiophile turntable, arm, and cartridge. Has never been exposed to heat or tobacco smoke 
and always stored vertically in a specially designed record cabinet (Rackit) to prevent warpage.

Was cleaned after photos taken on a VPI HW 16 with Audio Intelligent solutions and ultra-pure
water rinse (50X purer than distilled water) before my pre-sale sound check.

Very sensitive play testing was performed straight off my Ayre P-5xe fully balanced phono preamp 
over Sennheiser HD 600 headphones thru a Schiit Audio Valhalla 2 tube headphone amp fitted with 
Voskhod Soviet matched tubes (see last photo).

I have to thank my cousin Tony for introducing me to Jethro Tull. He played "Song For Jeffrey" and
that hooked me. The band moved on from this style but their succeeding albums were even more
appealing to me so I played those instead.

Track list
1: My Sunday Feeling, Some Day The Sun Won't Shine For You, Beggar's Farm, Move On Alone, 
Serenade To A Cuckoo.

2: Dharma For One, It's Breaking Me Up, Cat's Squirrel, A Song For Jeffrey, Round.

I never take "distant" photos nor the so-prevalent type with the LP sticking halfway out of the jacket.
I take close-ups under photo lamps so you can see nearly everything I describe in the jacket grading.

Grading 
Note: record grading by text characters is subjective and does not fully describe quality 
levels. Please see photos and my detailed descriptions below.

Outer Jacket: VG++ (Very Good Plus Plus) There are some creases at the sleeve opening corners
on the gatefold front side with a little bit of de-lamination on each (as can be seen in the photograph).
There is a crease/bend at the right front sleeve opening from about the center down about 4" long and
1/4" into the cover. The de-lamination along that crease edge is only 1/16" wide. The two spine corners have
slight rubbing wear with a small crease/bend at the bottom spine corner. Otherwise, the remaining front
and back laminated surfaces are NM because they have retained their full gloss and are free of abrasions.
The clarifoil graphics have beautiful color and depth. The glued flip-back tabs inside the gatefold are still
firmly attached. The inside gatefold graphics are smooth and bright. No seam splits.
Not too bad for a 51 year-old record!

Vinyl: NM- (Near Mint Minus) Side one has some very light sleeving marks and traces that could only be
seen under high intensity halogen light by careful tilting  Side 2 looked nearly perfect with only a few short
and tiny traces. I play tested the beginning and end of each track plus all the silent grooves, especially
listening all the way through areas with feint traces. The only repetitive clicks I could assign to a trace was
at the beginning of the very short S2/T5 ("Round"). Overall the disc plays really strong and clear. Martin's
guitar has great body and clarity. I could hear some low vinyl level noise between tracks on my headphones 
that I attribute to the initial pressing quality. This was easily masked once the music started, even on the quieter
tracks. "Dharma For One" and "Song For Jeffrey" really sounded great and I enjoyed hearing them again after
all this time. I think one would have a hard time finding another 51 year-old copy as well preserved as this one.

Packaging
Record will be placed outside the jacket to protect against seam splitting.
Original inner sleeve is included separately.
Record has been placed into a new "rice paper" sleeve, as the original, even if plastic lined, 
may be holding onto some dust. This will keep vinyl surface clean during shipping and ultimate 
buyer usage.
Outer jacket is contained in a new clear polyethylene protective sleeve.
Sent in good quality record mailer with cardboard stiffeners.

Shipping
Shipping will be via USPS Media Mail for a flat charge of $3.98 per single album sale. You can save a lot 
on high shipping costs and delays from an offshore UK seller!
A combined shipping discount is available on multiple sales completed within 5 business days 
($3.98 plus $0.50 for each additional LP). If you intend to buy more than one LP do not pay immediately
but wait for my all-combined invoice. A discount for the combined items will show on that invoice. 
Then, once payment is received, the items will ship.