Animals A2/B2 (1st Press)

This stunning first press has hardly been played and has superb audio throughout.  This album only has mother numbers and no stamper letters on the run out grooves which makes it a rare pressing.

 SHVL 815 // A - 2U / B - 2U // 7 & 9

The audio on S1 is Mint-

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Ex+ in a couple of areas)

The cover is Ex+

The lyric sleeve is Ex++

The labels are Mint

This vinyl is visually stunning and has been so well cared for down the decades.  Only lightly played there is very little spindle wear and the incredible audio pays testament to that.  There are only a couple of very faint wispy hairlines on each side that I can detect under a strong bright light.  It also retains a lovely glossy sheen with no marking on the run out grooves either.  It is without doubt the cleanest A2/B2 press I have seen in a long time.

Play grading  

'Pigs On The Wing P1' plays with absolutely stunning audio and there is no 'background' whatsoever.  For the first few grooves to play as cleanly as this on a 40 year old first pressing is so incredibly rare and especially for such a quiet opening track.  It is perfect start and 'Dogs' more than equals this quality and the playback again is of an immaculate standard.  It is no exaggeration to say that this track, as well as the first, plays as if was pressed yesterday.  The depth and warmth throughout is just breathtaking and even the quiet sections, and there are many of them, play with a sublime clarity and no intrusive interference at all.  I heard only a handful of mega light dust ticks that you find on any vinyl and they are so much in the background as to be negligible.  This is audio of the highest standard and this may be the most impressive A2/B2 pressings I have ever heard.  The louder end section has a little distortion on the top end but this is always the case with the early pressings, ask any Floyd aficionado!  I am confident in grading this side as Mint- as the quality is just superb.  No clicks, pops, static or crackle - an audio dream!

'Pigs (Three Different One)' has no lead in static which again is so rare.  The intro then plays superbly well with just a hint of very light background static in a couple of places, it is not intrusive in any way and most sellers would not even mention it.  Thereafter it plays with great clarity and again there are no clicks, pops or worse.  Yes there is a minimal amount of static here and there but your ears have to be up close to the speakers in order to hear it!  The audio is still of an extremely high standard that would be very difficult to improve upon.  'Sheep' has one click at the start and light intermittent static but still plays very clearly for such a long quiet intro.  Once the vocal begins the audio is stunning with no distortion on the top end.  There is one click mid way through but this is the only interference of any note.  The rest of the track plays with breathtaking quality and the louder end section is so impressive.  Turn it up loud, it played fantastically!  'Pigs on The Wing P2' ends the LP in sublime style with perfect audio i.e. no 'background' at all - wow!  Rarely have I heard this very quiet track play so clearly and with such finesse.  An stunning finale to an often underrated album.

Cover

The G & L gatefold is in great condition with only minor shelf wear.  The edges and wide spine have a minimal amount of rubbing the most obvious of which is on the top edge of the front cover.  In saying that it is much 'cleaner' than so many you see today.  This heavy card material is notoriously difficult to maintain but this one has been very well cared for.  The front, back and inside of the gatefold are particularly impressive and are in immaculate condition.  The opening edge has almost no handling wear confirming how little the vinyl has been played.

Lyric sleeve

This has the rounded corners as per the first/early pressings and has no splits which is very rare today.  There are a few minor rub marks around the edges but overall this is one of cleanest inners I have seen in a long time.  There is no marking or creasing.

The labels

They are in perfect condition with no marking/writing and a minimal amount of spindle wear only.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

SHVL 815 // A - 2U / B - 2U // 7 & 9

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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Postage & Packaging

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SHIPPING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £6.00. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE. WHEN ITEMS EXCEED A SALE PRICE OF £50.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT INTERNATIONALLY INSURANCE IS NECESSARY AND COSTS AN EXTRA £2.50.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN MORE THAN ONE ITEM IS WON.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PLACED IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE THE COVER IN ORDER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST. EVERYTHING IS THEN PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.  

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7" singles / CDs : £4.95 then £0.95 per extra 

REST OF WORLD  

LPs/12" singles : £11.95 then £1.75 per extra

7" singles / CDs : £5.95 then £0.95 per extra

I WILL LEAVE FEEDBACK ONCE I HAVE RECEIVED IT.  THIS IS SO I KNOW THE ITEM HAS BEEN RECEIVED SAFELY AND THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH IT. IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  I WILL ALSO PAY THE RETURN POSTAGE COST IF I AM AT FAULT - yes this can happen as I am only human!!

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