LED ZEPPELIN PHYSICAL GRAFFITI 1st PRESS NrMINT UPGRADE

	£		82
	$		109

eachtohisown Store

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.

******************************************

During nearly six years of trading on ebay, I have received over 1,500 positive feedbacks from around 1,200 individual customers, almost all from the sale of vinyl records.

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

******************************************

The records I'm currently selling have all come from the same owner. Generally, they are in immaculate condition and each one would be a worthy addition to any collection. More LPs will be added over the next couple of weeks. Please have a look at the rest of my listings to see other superb records from this collection.

******************************************

Before describing the outstanding condition of this item (which is easily the best I've seen) I’d like to try to explain its extreme rarity.

It is widely accepted by Led Zep collectors that first pressings of Physical Graffiti have matrix numbers ending A1/B4/C1/D1 (and labels which have no WEA logos) and that the second pressing has matrixes ending A1/B5/C1/D1. The A1 matrix was still being used long after the original side two matrix (B4) was changed and the WEA logos were added and so it is common to find the A1/B5/C1/D1 matrixes both with and without WEA logos.

The copy for sale here has no WEA logos on the labels and so is clearly a very early copy. Sides three and four have the expected C1 and D1 matrixes and side two has the rarer B4 matrix only found on first pressings. However, side one has an A3 matrix!!!!! 

The lack of WEA logos and the B4 matrix show that this has to be a very early copy, yet it has an apparently later (and obviously very scarce) side one matrix. Not only have I never seen this before, but I cannot think of an obvious explanation for it.

So, will say no more, other than to state that I believe that this is an extremely rare, and very early pressing of ‘Physical Graffiti’.

The vinyl sounds superb and condition of the cover and inserts is exceptional.

This has the following stamped matrix numbers:

Side 1: SSK 89400 A3

Side 2: SSK 89400 B4

Side 3: SSK 89400 C1

Detailed description

Outer cover: The die-cut outer cover is virtually perfect. It has no damage, writing, splits, tears or stickers etc and minimal signs of use.

Edge wear: top opening/left spine/right spine/bottom: minimal/none/none/minimal. There is virtually no wear to the bottom edge, the spines are both unworn, solid and firm and the text is all 100% readable. There are just very light signs of use at the top-opening.

Corner wear: There is just light storage wear at the corners. It is very minor and there are no tears or damage etc

Gatefolded track list and credits: This is virtually perfect with just a hint of discolouration along the top edge. It has the factory folded square bottom 'spine' only found on the very first copies. Later copies simply have a single fold and so do not have the 'square' spine shape. I have shown the shape of the spine in the photos.

Inner sleeves: Both are near perfect with no tears or splits and virtually no signs that the disks were ever inside them. Neither has any wear to the edges and just very slight wear at the corners. These are as good as it gets.

Labels: All four labels are perfect with absolutely minimal spindle marking, suggesting that the records have barely been played.

Vinyl: The vinyl has clearly been well cared for and rarely played. The second disk has just a handful of the finest hairlines and sleeve removal marks. The first disk has a couple of longer, fine hairlines visible on each side and side one also has a couple of more prominent scuffs but these are entirely superficial and have no impact on the sound. I have played all four sides all the way through and it sounds fantastic. There is some very soft background noise which can be heard in the run-ins/outs and the fades, silent grooves and intros and there are a handful of places where you might get a very soft click or swish for two or three revolutions but there is absolutely nothing loud or persistent anywhere. The only noises which persisted for more than a few revolutions were some very soft swishes in the long drone intro to 'In the light' on side three and a very quiet, intermittently audible soft click (only in the right channel and only intermittently audible) during parts of 'Sick again' on side four. These points are mentioned purely for the sake of accuracy and completeness as there is nothing loud or intrusive anywhere and the whole album was a pleasure to listen to. I have no hesitation in grading disk one as near mint and disk two as excellent (on account of the minor issues mentioned above.)

Detracting features not covered above:  None. Regardless of the fact that this has the rarest matrixes, it is easily one of the best-preserved copies that you will ever find.

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

******************************************

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. I will not usually play records which appear to be in excellent or NM condition.

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, but it will not detect 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.

******************************************

I have some very simple terms and conditions. Please read them before bidding. If you do not agree with them, please don't bid. Thank you.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

• Your bid is binding, so please make sure you have READ and UNDERSTOOD the WHOLE LISTING before you bid.
• My items are fully guaranteed - if it is not as described you can return it for a full refund. However, I do not operate an 'approval' service - your bid is binding unless I have made an error or omission in the listing. I will not accept returns where the buyer has not read or not understood something which is stated in the listing. 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. Please do not bid unless you agree with this.
• 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.

******************************************

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.

******************************************

P&P charges

I need to cover the cost of postage, packing materials, time and fees 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 £41. 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 Fully insured service - Any order valued over £41 will be sent fully insured using Royal Mail Special Delivery and the total cost of this will be £7.50.  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.


UK Economy service - If the value of your order is below £10 you can request a new invoice to have your item sent by standard second class post (unrecorded). However, please be aware that this service can take up to a week to reach you and in the event of a claim for loss or damage, Royal Mail will not reimburse the full value of your order. The cost for this is as follows:

First LP or 12" = £3.00, each additional LP or 12" add £0.70

First 7" or CD = £1.10, each additional 7" or CD add £0.45

******************************************

Airmail (uninsured) to any country OUTSIDE the UK

Europe

First LP or 12" = £5.00, each additional LP or 12" add £2.00.

First 7" or CD = £1.90, each additional 7" or CD add £0.60.

Rest of the world (anywhere outside Europe)

First LP or 12" = £8.50, each additional LP or 12" add £3.50.

First 7" or CD = £3.20, each additional 7" or CD add £0.90.

Insurance

For overseas orders, I include insurance on all invoices. This is additional to the costs above. If your order is valued under £10 you can request a new invoice without insurance (but in the event of a claim for loss or damage, Royal Mail will not reimburse the full value). Overseas orders valued over £10 will ONLY be sent fully insured.

Insurance is charged at cost as follows:

• Overseas orders valued up to £41 will be insured for an additional £4.95
• Overseas orders valued between £41 and £500 will be insured for an additional £7.45
• Overseas orders valued over £500, please contact me.

Overseas orders weighing more than 2kg will 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.

******************************************

Please do not bid if you don't agree to these terms. If you have any queries please email BEFORE you bid.

Thanks for your interest in this listing and for taking the time to read these details.