RARE Velvet Underground & Nico early US Stereo Peeled Banana Torso cover VG+/EX
  £   908
  $   1,203

 


£ 908 Sold For
Oct 12, 2025 Sold Date
Oct 2, 2025 Start Date
36   Number Of Bids
  Great Britain Country Of Seller
eBay Auctioned at
 
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Description

I am selling a number of classic or rare 60s and 70s albums, early pressings mostly, listing several more everyday for the next few weeks, and happy to stockpile to economise on posstage.

Great copy of this 1967 early US issue Verve Stereo LP wiht first state sleeve, EX vinyl, superb playback. Has the rare first issue cover with Eric Emerson torso and face visible on the back (not stickered over or airbrushed), but sadly the banana has been peeled, in VG condition overall.   


PLEASE NOTE - you are bidding on original 1960s vinyl - this will not have completely silent surfaces, even when in unplayed condition - but the sound and recording quality is generally excellent.  If you are looking for absolutely perfect blemish-free reproduction, please bear this in mind.


130g vinyl appears VG+ good glossy surface, flat and unwarped, some minor and very faint sleeve removal hairlines uvisible under bright light, none feelable and they do not affect playback.
Labels NM-, just a moderate number of spindle trails, otherwise no problems
Playback:  Fully auditioned on a Linn LP12 system.  EX overall.  Plays excellently, generally decent surfaces, with some low-level background/surface noise audible between tracks, but not disturbing (as common on US pressings of this date).  Otherwise no problems, no major ticks or clicks, no wear or distortion. 
Shallow groove in label and Sides A and B, not 1 and 2 (West coast pressing?)
Label: I'll be your Mirror has timing 2.01, not 2.10 as on later labels, and Black Angel's Death Song is 3.01 not 3.10 (as on inner). 
Matrices (handwritten) : V6-5008 Side 1  MGS-558-REV   V6-5008 Side 2 MGS-559
Sleeve:  Gatefold unlaminated heavtweight card "first state" sleeve with the Emerson torso/face and peeled banana is VG+ overall, all intact, no tears or splits, slight signs of wear but no major damage anywhere on front (some slight bubbling where the bananas was), back has some ringwear but not too bad, inner gatefold undamaged.
Original paper Verve inner sleeve, all intact
                                 ______________________________________________________

These LPs are all from my personal collection, which has grown much too large, and so I am thinning down, as I won't be able to listen to all of them in one lifetime.  


The description will state if the LPs have been fully auditioned (for rarer material, or when the visual grading is unclear), spot-auditioned, or if not otherwise stated, just visually graded.

For listening tests, stereo LPs are played either on LP12/Ekos/Dynavector Karat17D2 or Garrard 301/SME 3009/Denon DL103R, while monos are tested on Thorens TD160/SME 3009/Denon DL102,  Visual grading is under tungsten-halogen spotlight or direct sunlight (when available in England!)

A few LPs will have been professionally cleaned, and this will be stated in the description.  In my experience, most used LPs will benefit from professional cleaning which reduces background surface noise and often removes many of the pops and clicks, especially when these are due to debris, grease etc on the surface.

 

GRADING  (obviously slightly subjective and often dependent on original pressing and vinyl quality) - see description of each LP for more detail. 

Mint  Only used for sealed and unopened records (which may of course have pressing defects which are not visible until unsealed).

NM     Visually perfect, no scuffs or other marks, and plays without any problems, and barely audible surface noise (depending on date and pressing).  No spindle trails on label. Jacket (sleeve) or box will be almost perfect.

EX+    The occasional extremely light mark, fingernail scuffs etc that should not make any difference to the sound, possibly a few spindle trails on the label. Playback should be similar to NM.  Jacket or box may have very minor defects such as slight creases, or ring-wear but these will be not very noticeable

EX     Only one or two very minor marks that might give the occasional low level pop or click but no serious scuffs or scratches and the record should play without any distortion or serious problems. Surface noise may be slightly more apparent than NM but still not at all distracting.  Jacket or box may have some minor defects, slight distortions or edge knocks, small amount of discolouration or slight laminate peel etc.

 VG+    Minor surface marks that will give occasional background noise or a few repeating click and pops for a short period, or more noticeable surface noise, but on the whole the record should play without serious problems, and will still be enjoyable to listen to.  Sleeve or box may have noticeable defects (laminate peel or loss, small edge splits or repaired tears, staining or discoloration, slight sticker damage etc), but no major tears, losses, or bends.

VG:   There are marks that will cause some deterioration in the sound, such as repeating clicks from shallow scratches, or higher levels of background noise but this will not be serious enough to cause a major distraction to the listener.  Very slight inner groove or "side-end" distortion may be present on loud passages. Sleeve or box might have splits (repaired or otherwise), pronounced ring-wear, tears, sticker damage, writing,or noticeable creases or bends. 

Only very rare records will be offered for sale in less than VG condition; the description will give details of all the defects in such cases.

  

Postal charges:                      

Calculated by weight, including packaging

UK:  Royal Mail "signed-for" 1st class (insured up to £50)

up to 2kg (normally 4-7 LPs)                       £5.50 (Second class £4.50)

Over 2kg, Parcelforce Express 48 prices (insured up to £100):

Up to 5kg                                                       £13

Up to 10kg                                                     £16

Additional insurance can be purchased, please ask for a quote.

Europe signed and tracked postage (insured up to £50):

1 LP £12.00 

2 LP  £13,00

3 LP  £14.00

4 LP £15.00

5 LP £16.00

Rest of the World (except USA and Australia) signed, and tracked if available, air mail (insured up to £50):

1 LP  £17.00 

2 LP  £20.00

3 LP  £23.00

4 LP  £25.00

5 LP  £27.00

Tracked and signed-for postage to the USA and Australia has unfortunately recently become more expensive:

1 LP  £19.00 

2 LP  £22.00 

3 LP  £25.00 

4 LP  £28.00 

5 LP  £31.00 

 ·         Larger quantities, please ask for a quote. 

 ·         Boxed sets - the box generally adds the weight of one extra LP.  Please remember that earlier pressings will usually weigh more than later ones (some early mono LPs are more than 200g).

 ·         For all packages insurance is required and I can provide a quote for higher value packages (over £50).  I will always retain proof of postage.

 ·         LPs will be well packed, with extra stiffeners, and with the LP removed from the outer sleeve to prevent seam splits.  High value items will be double-boxed.

 ·         Honest mistakes in grading can occur occasionally, so if the LP is not as described, please contact me within 14 days to arrange return and refund (buyer pays return postage)

  


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