LED ZEPPELIN, HOUSES OF THE HOLY, MINT- 1973 UK ATLANTIC 1st PRESS
£
67
$
89
Favourite Auctions
To save auctions to your favourites, please login
If you don't have an account, please register
Description
It is my pleasure to offer for auction an exceptional MINT- example of the fifth studio album by LED ZEPPELIN titled "HOUSES OF THE HOLY", Catalogue Number K 50014. This is an ORIGINAL 1973 UK STEREO 1st PRESSING on the ORANGE & GREEN ATLANTIC RECORD LABEL with a 1st ISSUE HIPGNOSIS DESIGNED MATT-FINISH GATEFOLD SLEEVE. It comes complete with the original MacNeill Press Ltd. thick card lyric/credits inner sleeve. [The record labels have a textured finish to the inner portions and Warner "W" logos at the 2 o' clock position. The matrix numbers are the earliest K 50014 A2 and K 50014 B2. "STERLING RL" is stamped in the run-outs of both sides, indicating the work of the renowned cutting engineer Robert Ludwig at New York's Sterling Sound Studios. It is believed that only a small batch of A2/B2 stamped first pressings had Warner "W" logos on the labels. They are certainly very rare - I've never come across one before and I have owned many copies of HOTH over the years].
The sleeve is in EX+ condition with only the lightest signs of wear and a couple of tiny creases. It's a stunning example of this iconic Hipgnosis designed sleeve.
The solidly-pressed 145g record is in MINT- condition. The orange & green Atlantic 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 excellently throughout with no deterioration in sound quality and barely any unwanted noise at all. The sound quality is particularly loud-cut and vibrant. There were definitely pressing quality issues with many copies of HOTH, with most pressings inherently being affected by excessive pops, crackles and generally lots of unwanted surface sound. It is therefore very difficult to find a relatively clean-playing copy. The copy offered here, although not totally silent, plays to a very high standard indeed, with minimal residual surface sound which is only noticeable during the music breaks and a few of the near silent passages. I honestly don't think that you will find a cleaner-playing one.
The lyric/credits inner sleeve has a touch of light foxing but is otherwise unmarked.
Overall this is a wonderful opportunity to acquire an ultra rare A2/B2 Warner "W" labelled 1st press copy of Zeppelin's iconic fifth studio album.
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 - £10.95
Worldwide - £14.80
price rating
