Taj Mahal Maestro American Ltd Edition 180 Gram DBL LP Jack Johnson UNPLAYED?

	£		16
	$		21

2008 American Limited Edition 180 gram 2-LP Gatefold Sleeve set of Taj Mahal’s ‘Maestro’ album on Heads Up International (Catalogue Reference: Heads Up International HULP8164).  The album is apparently ‘celebrating 40 years’ and features contributions from Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Angelique Kidjo, Los Lobos, Ziggy Marley and the Phantom Blues Band amongst others.  This is a really attractive heavy duty item.  The vinyl is stored in poly-lined inners and in my opinion it is a high quality pressing (which isn’t something which can be said of a lot of modern vinyl pressings).  While this copy isn’t sealed I don’t believe this has ever been played.  I can say this with relative confidence as it is my personal copy and I know for certain that I have never played it (although it was purchased unsealed).  I believe this is UNPLAYED and grading under an intense light the vinyl is as immaculate as the day it was pressed.  There is no indication that a spindle has ever gone near the labels nor a needle near the run-in groove.  The vinyl is graded as being in NEAR MINT condition.  The sleeve displays a little more wear than the vinyl however, it is a still more than respectable looking copy.  All of the corners have received knocks and some of these knocks have been substantial enough to have creased the sleeve in the respective corners.  I believe this damage has been sustained during transit (if you know what I mean).  The knock to the top left-hand corner has resulted in creasing in this corner evident on both the front and back of the sleeve and the knock to the bottom left-hand corner while not so evident on the front of the sleeve has resulted in a crease to the rear of the sleeve corresponding to the position of the vinyl in the cover.  There is also a crease on the front of the sleeve in the bottom right-hand corner which isn’t a product of the corner being knocked but which also corresponds to the position of the vinyl stored inside the sleeve.  This damage is demonstrated in the attached images and it should be noted that it doesn’t have too detrimental an impact upon the appearance of the item which has clearly not been handled much.  The cover still looks pretty fresh and displays no other evidence of handling or shelf-wear.  The sleeve is graded as being in EXCELLENT condition.

Condition

VINYL – NEAR MINT / UNPLAYED

SLEEVE – EXCELLENT

Final Remarks

My personal copy and I don’t believe it has ever been played!  Please check my other auctions for further Pop, R&B, Rock and Soul collectables from the same source in similarly immaculate condition.  Save me as a favourite seller as there is plenty more where this came from!

General Conditions & Information

I have been a collector for in excess of 15 years now and regard myself as a conservative grader.  I know from experience that there is nothing worse than buying an item which is described with superlatives only for it to arrive and look like it has been scrapped along the floor (!).  As a rule I don’t submit anything to auction which I wouldn’t be happy receiving myself.  I endeavour to be accurate with my grading and all items are graded under an intense light.  Please take a look through my feedback as I’d like to think it speaks for itself. 

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If you are not entirely happy with your purchase then please contact me within 7 days of receipt.  The buyer is expected to meet the return postage costs.

Payment Methods

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Postage Costs

I have had to bring my service in-line with changes to Royal Mail Terms and Conditions effective of April 2013.  Previously items sent via standard post were automatically covered up to the value of £46.00 however, standard postage now only covers items up to the value of £20.00.  Items with an opening value >£20.00 will include domestic Signed For postage costs automatically.  Items with an opening value <=£20.00 and which complete with a value <=£20.00 will continue to be dispatched via standard post unless otherwise agreed (i.e. the buyer indicates a preference otherwise).  Items which have an opening value <=£20.00 but whose final value is >£20.00 will be subject to enhanced postage costs in order to cover the extra insurance which is required.  I hope this is as straightforward as I can make it?  Ultimately, please don’t make payment until you’ve received an invoice from me and if you aren’t happy with the invoice you receive then I’m always open to discussion.  Buyers should be aware that both Ebay and PayPal take a % of postage charges (i.e. they are higher than I’d ideally want them to be).

Multiple purchases will be subject to consolidated postage costs.  I will contact you at the end of the auction to confirm these costs.

Proof of postage is always obtained and retained.

Overseas Buyers

As noted above Overseas buyers are welcome.  If you want me to investigate potential postage costs in advance of the auction’s end then please feel free to contact me.