BLACK SABBATH MASTER OF REALITY NrMINT 1st UK PRESS VERTIGO SWIRL GENUINE POSTER

	£		399
	$		529

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

(see below for details)

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Please read the description carefully and look at all of the photos before bidding or buying. Thank you.

Here is an outstanding example of the original 1st UK press of Black Sabbath's classic third album. It is complete and genuine throughout, including the original 1st press poster.

The whole item is in stunning condition and easily one of the best I’ve seen. The vinyl appears to have rarely been played and the audio is superb. This is a complete and original first UK press throughout and incredibly hard to find as good as this.

This has the following 1st press matrix numbers:

Side 1: 6360050 1Y//1

Side 2: 6360050 2Y//1

The disk, the embossed box cover, the Vertigo swirl inner sleeve and the poster are all genuine 1st press originals. If you look at other listings on ebay which include the poster most of them say somewhere (buried deep in the words of the listing!) that the poster isn't original. A few are selling posters which are obviously Ukrainian reproductions but without saying anything about it!! A couple are even lying - saying their poster is real when it obviously isn't. MY POSTER IS GUARANTEED 100% GENUINE AND ORIGINAL.

Detailed description

Labels: No damage, writing, stickers etc. Just some minor, light spindle marking suggesting that the record was rarely played.

Vinyl: The vinyl has retained its original high sheen with barely a mark to be seen. In normal light the playing surfaces look immaculate and even under bright, direct light I could see just some wispy sleeve-removal marks, but there is nothing significant anywhere. I have played the entire record and it sounds amazing with nothing to report. There are several quiet parts on Master of Reality that are hard to find with perfect audio (the two instrumentals, the soft 'spooky' end-section of 'Children of the Grave' and 'Solitude' on side two). However, on this copy all these parts sounded incredible with absolutely nothing of any concern.  This is a truly remarkable audio performance and I would have no hesitation to play-grade the whole album as a VERY SAFE Near Mint (NM).  This was a total pleasure to listen to and very hard to find like this.

Box cover: The embossed box cover is in stunning condition, with just a few, very light creases, minimal wear at the corners, minimal laminate lift and no flaking.  This is easily one of the very best I’ve seen.

Inner sleeve: Original poly-lined Vertigo swirl inner sleeve, date-coded 0671. Has some slight age-related discolouration and some small edge creases, but there are no tears or splits and no significant issues. This is a very presentable example with little to fault.

Poster: This is an original UK Vertigo first press poster. It is NOT from a re-issue or non-UK release, and it is NOT a reproduction. It is an original UK Vertigo first press poster. It has six panels and measures approx 27" x 18" (inches) and weighs around 38 grams. It has never been displayed and so there are no pin-holes, sellotape etc and no tears. It has some minor wear on the folds and slight foxing on the rear, but it still looks superb.

Detracting features not covered above:  None. This is in outstanding condition throughout.

Please check out my other items and take advantage of reduced postage costs for multiple buys.

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Information about descriptions and gradings.
My items are always described accurately and fairly. I always do my best to point out any blemishes which might detract from the item and all photographs are of the actual item you will get. I am aware that different grading systems have different definitions and so I try as much as possible to describe items in plain English, rather than simply using gradings. Where gradings are given these are based on 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.

Visually-graded vinyl vs play-graded vinyl: Many people collect vinyl and never play it, whereas other people collect records because they want to play them. A visual grading will identify physical flaws (such as scratches) and can help determine whether a record has been cared-for properly, but it will not identify noise or crackle caused by non-visible sources. Most vintage records are likely to have some background noise even if they look perfect. I believe that records are for playing and so I try to play-grade records whenever possible. I always state in the listing if I have played a record prior to listing it. If I have play-graded the record I will usually only give a brief description of how the record looks (i.e. not a visual grading). The grading in the listing will be a play-grading and may be slightly different from the grading that the record would receive from a purely visual inspection. Most vintage records are not 100% perfectly flat and so I will only mention this aspect if it is very significant or has an impact on the way the record sounds. If I haven't play-graded the record, it will be given a visual grading.

Play-grading MONO records: Mono records and stereo records have different grooves. A stereo record produces a stereo sound via both lateral and vertical groove modulation whereas a mono record is not intended to produce any sound from vertical modulation. Playing a mono record with a stereo cartridge will create distortion because it is trying to pick-up the vertical (stereo) part of the signal, whereas this is not intended to be heard on a mono record and so is just noise.  Using a pre-amp with a mono switch will eliminate the noise caused by vertical modulation leaving just the lateral groove signal which is how the record was intended to be heard. Based on the assumption that most people choosing to listen to a mono record will have the right equipment to listen to it, I play all mono records via a pre-amp with a mono switch.  My play-grading is based on how the record sounds when played through a mono switch. If you do not have a mono switch on your amp or pre-amp you will be reproducing the noise from the vertical part of the signal and so the record will not sound as good. This is not any fault of the record, it is inherent to playing any mono record through a system that it was not designed for.

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RETURNS

• Please do not use ebay's automated returns system (which over-complicates a simple process). Please simply contact me through ebay messages. All my items are fully guaranteed - if it is not as described you can return the item for a full refund, including postage.  Refunds for visually graded records which are returned based upon the buyer's assessment of the record's play-grade, will not include postage costs in either direction.

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POSTAGE & PACKING

I care about the records I sell and believe that they need to be carefully and securely packaged to ensure that they survive their journey through the post. Vinyl is removed from the sleeve for posting and the contents will be protected with rigid cardboard stiffeners. Packages are labelled "Do not bend" and securely sealed with "FRAGILE" parcel tape.

I support the use of recycled materials and so I may sometimes use recycled packaging. If you wish your item to be sent in entirely new packaging please let me know before paying for it. Thanks.

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P&P charges

My P&P charges are 'totally transparent'. Please read below and if you have any questions about P&P costs please contact me BEFORE you bid. Thank you.

Sending items costs more than just the stamps on the package, but I try not to charge more for packing and posting your item than it actually costs me to do so. I need to cover the cost of packing materials, plastic sleeves, new inner sleeves (where applicable), transportation, fees and charges associated with sending the item (including fees incurred to receive the cost of postage and, where applicable, currency exchange) etc. To cover some of these expenses I add a nominal figure to the basic cost charged at the post office athough the actual cost to me is always higher than this. I do not view P&P costs as a means of making money.

To quote an exact cost for every LP is difficult because of the wide variance in weight (e.g. Abbey Road weighs around 230 grams whereas Led Zeppelin III weighs around 390 grams). But the majority of single LPs, when packed, will weigh around 550 grams and I have based my P&P rates on this.

Double LPs will be charged as two LPs, triple LPs will be charged as three LPs. Box sets etc will be charged according to weight.

If, when you receive your item, there is a significant discrepancy in your favour, please contact me and I will refund the difference.

UK P&P costs

I offer three UK services. I DO NOT offer 'click and collect', 'collection in person' or FREE postage, so please do not select these options if they appear in the invoice.

UK Standard service - sent using either Hermes courier or Royal Mail 2nd class. One to three LPs = £3.45. Usually delivered within 3-5 days of despatch.

For more than three LPs please enquire before bidding.

UK First class recorded post. The cost for one to three LPs is £5.20. Usually delivered within one day of despatch.

For more than three LPs please enquire before bidding.

UK Special Delivery - Any order valued over £80 will be sent fully insured using Royal Mail Special Delivery (next day delivery guarantee) and the total cost of this will be £9.35 for one to four LPs and £12.00 for five or more LPs . Please wait for my invoice before paying.

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Airmail (tracked and/or signed) to any country OUTSIDE the UK

Overseas orders will ONLY be sent tracked and/or signed.

Europe

First LP or 12" = £13.60, each additional LP or 12" add £2.20.

Rest of the world (anywhere outside Europe)

First LP or 12" = £17.50, each additional LP or 12" add £3.80.

Overseas orders valued over £80 will be insured for an additional £2.90.

Overseas orders weighing more than 2kg or high-value orders may be split into two or more packages as appropriate so they can be sent using Royal Mail's Small Packet Rate, so please wait for my invoice on larger multiple purchases.

Please note that overseas orders outside the EU need a customs declaration with the value of the package.

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 If you have any queries please email BEFORE you bid.

Thanks for your interest in this listing and for taking the time to read these details.