BLACK SABBATH 1st UK PRESS VERTIGO SWIRL, PHILIPS CREDIT, NM/EX+ VINYL and AUDIO

	£		1,150
	$		1,524

All my items have a full money-back guarantee - if it's not as described you can return it for a full refund.

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

This is an original 1st pressing of Black Sabbath's self-titled debut album. It is complete and 100% original throughout with the Philips credit on the label, the error in the copyright warning inside the gatefold and the original undated swirl inner sleeve. This is an absolute original bought in the UK at the time of first release. It is not a reissue.

Not only is this 100% original throughout, it is also in outstanding condition, with the vinyl being easily the best example I've ever come across.

This has the following 1st press matrix numbers:

Side one:  VO6  1Y * 1          420    1 2 1

Side two:  VO6  2Y * 1          420    1 2 2

Description
Disc: The vinyl has retained its original sheen with very little to see. In normal light the playing surfaces look virtually flawless and even under bright, direct light there are just some ultra-fine hairlines and sleeve-removal marks, but there is absolutely nothing significant anywhere. I would VISUALLY grade the vinyl as a VERY SAFE Excellent, or Excellent Plus (Ex+). I have played the whole record in full from start to finish and the audio is every bit as good as it looks. For the sake of completeness I would mention some minor background noise in the run-ins/outs, fades, silent grooves and intros and the occasional random, solitary click, but there are NO REPETITIVE CLICKS anywhere.  All the music sounds superb - it plays crisp and clear and would probably play-grade as Near Mint (NM), especially on side one, with just some minor background noise, as mentioned, in the linking grooves detracting from the overall play-grade. This is easily the best example I've heard of this rare first press. Much of it play-grades as Near Mint (NM) but to account for some minor issues as mentioned, I would play-grade both sides as Excellent Plus (Ex+).

Labels: No tears, stickers, writing etc, just some light spindle marking suggesting that the record wasn't played that much.

Sleeve: The sleeve has no seam splits, tears, writing, stickers etc, just some normal signs of age or use, including a couple  of small corner-creases and wear to the edges and corners, particularly the spine, although the spine-text is still mostly legible (see photo). These original first press sleeves are hard to find in any condition and this is much better than most I've seen..

Inner sleeve: The original undated Vertigo swirl inner sleeve, has no splits or tears and no major issues.

Detracting features not covered above:  None. This is a complete, original example that I think would be very hard to improve on.

All photographs are of the actual item for sale. Please ask any questions before you bid or buy.

Where gradings are given these are based on the UK Record Collector grading system (see below) and are visual gradings only, unless the listing specifically states that it is a play-grading.

I use the UK RECORD COLLECTOR GRADING SYSTEM. This grading system differs from some other grading systems, in particular the Goldmine grading system. Please make sure that you are familiar with the UK record collector grading system before you bid.

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 Unplayed 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.

Plus (+) or Minus (-) are added where items fall between gradings. I only ever use one plus or minus.

P&P costs as follows:

UK:

First LP or 12" record = £5.50, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

First 7" record = £3.95, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

Europe:

First LP or 12" record = £18.95, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £13.95, each additional item = an extra £1.40 P&P charge.

Rest of the world:

First LP or 12" record = £29.50, each additional item = an extra £3.10 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £18.95, each additional item = an extra £1.80 P&P charge.