QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE - Happy Trails LP 1969 - 1st Capitol BLACK label

	£		28
	$		36

QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE - Happy Trails LP 1969 - 1st Capitol BLACK label 

These records are all from my personal collection built up over almost 50 years. Some were bought new, others pre-owned so condition will vary. Please do read and understand the detailed description which is my honest personal assessment - you can always check how good or bad that is by checking my feedback. My attempt at grading is based on the commonly used Record Collector grading system (as detailed below) except I won't use Mint. Questions are welcome if anything is unclear. Happy bidding.

This listing is for a nice copy of this great 1969 album

Quicksilver Messenger Service
Happy Trails
UK Capitol label
1969
Cat Number: E-ST 120 dead wax matrix H11/H11 mothers/stampers 1R/1R
Mode: Stereo

The Album:
Quicksilver's brilliant 1969 album, most of it recorded live. This is the first UK pressing with the limited issue first black label - 1R/1R mother/stamper combination place this copy among the first 500 or so to be pressed. I have seen a subsequent 1A/1A black label copy but also a 1A/1/M green label copy which suggests that the blacks are found on only around 750-1000 copies in total. 

Condition:
Cover: Single front-laminated sleeve is again the very first issue with the flipbacks. It is in acceptable condition with a fair bit of creasing, a 2" slice to the bottom edge centre and some grubbiness to the unlaminated rear. It is still strong with a good spine having all text clearly legible.
Labels: Capitol black labels are clean and bright, a number of visible spindle marks visible, no writing or stickers.
Vinyl: Vinyl has the customary and expected light paper scrapes. A very short but feelable hairline at the start of side 2 causes a few pops on the lead in to 'Mona', there's a bit of background crackling in the middle of that side, otherwise it plays very well throughout

Overall:
A nice early copy of this album. I'd guess it must grade at (sleeve / vinyls)  VG / VG

Terms:
Please note that I try to test-play at least part of each record before listing. I played quite a lot of this one, but if you do discover a problem which I might have missed, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will do all I can to rectify the situation.

Postage: I always make a loss on postage. Ebay now surcharge sellers 10% of postage costs for which there can be no justification - I refuse to pass this levy on to buyers, so you only pay post and packing, they get to rip me off, not you.

Current UK internal weight ranges allow two or three LPs to be posted first class for the same cost as one. Second class charges can currently cover 5 or 6 albums but for 4-6 I'll use a second mailer. Approximate prices for normal postage with new custom packaging -

UK £3-74 first class for up to 1kg (1,2 or 3 average weight LPs), £3-24 second class for 1 - 3 or £3-63 for 4 - 6 LP's. Double LP's count as two

Rest of world £8.15 + £2.70 each additional item

These amounts include estimated actual Royal Mail cost for first class or air mail, plus 39p for cost of packaging material (a brand new custom mailer with stiffener).

International bidders welcome, but postage to some locations will be handled by the eBay global shipping program - unfortunately I have no control over the onward shipping cost, just the UK leg which will cost as above.

I'm happy to hold records for a short while if you wish to bid on more and combine shipment, but it helps if you can let me know particularly when bidding on items separated by a few days.

The time has come to sell my whole vinyl collection as I know it won't be appreciated by my daughter or grandchildren, so I'm shifting it myself and hope I find good homes for it. Listed items are selected at random so there should be a decent if not particularly logical mix coming up over the next few months if you keep an eye on my other items now and in the future.

GRADING: UK Record Collector Grading system:
(I try to grade along the same lines as professional sellers might. However, I don’t use Mint or NM for any LP’s of significant vintage as most will as a minimum have paper scuffs and dust / static build up however good they look .. so EX+ is as good as I will go. I don't have any of the lower 3 grades which are there for reference only. Most records in my own collection are VG+ and EX, the sleeves will tend to be VG and VG+)

MINT: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as sealed or un-played should be Mint.

EXCELLENT: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear and / or creasing.

VERY GOOD: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

GOOD: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration, etc.

FAIR: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and / or defaced.

POOR: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

BAD: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler.