BOWIE Philips Orig N/M LP/ EX cover

	£		320
	$		424

Hi, I am Mike, I have been a music collector for over 30 years now. I always still try to offer the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find - I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any interested collector. You may notice I only submit one or two items a day for Ebay; time rarely allows more as I Play-Grade every record I offer (on a Rega 3 deck with Ortofon cartridge) - visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story - I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested collector. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean its good. A ten pounds record that plays close to new is as important to the collector as a 250 pound record that plays less well. All the pictures I use for your guidance are taken with a digital camera or scanned - they are NOT improved, cleaned-up or made better looking than they are with camera trickery or enhancing with digital programmes. What you see is what you get. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. Good luck.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance. Item wants are always welcome - email me with anything needed, you never know - I may just have a copy in stock. I by quality single items and collections also (Email me please).

Debutant Bidders: Many sellers refuse first time buyers: I do not follow this practice (everybody has to start somewhere), but I would appreciate any first timer letting me know their intentions of payment method and very prompt communication, preferably before any bid or soon after the auctions ends. This gives confidence that their intentions are honourable, and I in return guarantee extra special good feedbacks to get zero rated Ebayers off to a flying start to help them with future transactions.

Please read all the information carefully - these adverts take an age to compile properly - so it’s well worth a few minutes of your time to read the details thoroughly. I really cannot take any responsibility if any bidder fails to read any facts that are clearly stated in the advert.

Artist or Band: DAVID BOWIE

Album Title: David Bowie (later reissued to be Space Oddity)

Cat Number: SBL 7912 Stereo.

Label and Condition: Philips. Supreme examples of this very rare record. Matt black and silver versions in quite astonishiing clean condition with only very light spindle traces. I would estimate this record has been played only 3 to 4 times maximum, once by me for the play-grade. Unless an unplayed example of this record exists I cannot imagine finding these labels in more ‘New’ looking condition - remarkable. (Please see label scans for all information needed).

Country of Manufacture: England, UK

Rarity: Very rare and without any doubt one of the rarest items I have ever owned on record. This was issued on Philips for a relatively short time before then being reissued a second time on RCA Victor when his career then took off. Of course this very famous rare album has a totally different cover to the more widely known and common RCA version. This cover makes this magnificent rarity extra special, the back especially is gorgeous with wonderful artwork, known as ‘The Depth of a Circle’. (please see the back cover picture). Not only that, this original issue has an extra short song that follows track two. Its known as ‘Dont Sit Down’ and lasts approximately 40 seconds, it was dropped from the RCA version for some reason, so yet another reason this original is so sort after. This ‘extra’ gets no mention on label or sleeve. This album simply flopped big time. So this can justifiably be called rare, because thats simply what it is, and with the actual record in this condition, makes it a copy that goes beyond even rare. Everybody of course knows the classic single from this, ‘Space Oddity’, all the other songs are magnificent too, great vocals and lyrics (all reproduced inside). Bowie plays 12 string guitar, stylophone, kalimba, rosedale electric chord organ. It was produced by Tony Visconti.

Original Year of Release: 1969.

Matrix Nos: 852146 1Y 2 11 and 2Y 11

Genre Type: Acoustic/Electric / Vocals

Brief Artist & Album Info: First can I make it quite clear this is NOT the same copy I offered a couple of weeks ago on Ebay, this one came along a week later from a friend’s collection. This one again is in fine condition, the cover is slightly inferior to the last copy, but the record is at least equal, maybe even very slightly better. Little needs to be said about this man that anyone interested will not already know, suffice to say one of the great icons in music ever (and still is). I have detailed this albums great scarcity already. The condition of this copy on offer is very nice: a very respectable cover with just lightish wear and a record that is as clean as almost possible. A wonderful chance for any Bowie collector needing this hugely ellusive original.

Cover Condition and Details: EX, gatefold, non-laminated. A fine example that should excite and please most Bowie collectors out there. Not only near impossible to find now, finding one that looks attractive with just some light rubbing, bearing in mind the lack of laminate, is a fine opportunity.

Cover Lamination: None

Cover Front: Clean and neat, but does have some mildish rubbing towards to very bottom and traces at the top. This cover is very prone to this and this is really not excessive. A few faitn hairline type creases near the left edge, but little else. No ringwear and few marks. This still looks fine.

Cover Back: Simply sensational, and so important for this ultra important back - this is definitely close to Mint(-), again no ringwear or marks and super clean - connoisseur territory this one and stunning artwork.

Cover Gatefold Inner: This has some mainly light rub traces, this can happen on very dark inks on non-laminates when faces are together as in old gatefold covers. This is pretty light, but present. The inner includes all details and lyrics. No creasing or ringwear.

Cover Edges/Corners: Top: rubbed. Bottom: rubbed, both moderate, nothing is even close to going through. Record entry edge (right): clean and sharp for both edges, faint feathering if being hyper-critical. Spine: Has some light+/moderate wear, text is mostly fine with some faint rubbing. Corners: All four show light to moderate rubs, not serious. Summary: This is a very delicate item, rarely will it be seen without any forms of wear, this has some but still retains a high attractiveness. Its so hard to find at all, the previous copy I had was maybe once in a lifetime, this cover, although inferior, is still very nice indeed - the important back is superb.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: Mint(-), clean and shiny and pressed on heavy vinyl. There is a faint hairline on side two which just shows under bright angled light, bar that hardly any marks at all, this is a incredible record that has hardly ever been played. This record matches, or even is slightly superior to the other copy I sold recently.

Sound Quality: This fine record plays as good as it looks, very little unwanted, no pops or ticks. Surface sounds were as light and very few at all. This record has clearly avoided any abuse from old heavy 60s decks. An album with several quiet songs, a quality, little played record is essential - well you could have a long wait to find this one better. Few, if any, records like this will play CD quiet, but this is as close as can be resonably expected - if silence is demanded, stick to the remastered CD version - but will that give the pleasure of owning the real thing? This has great sound and Bowie’s voice is pin sharp, no distortion or sound degrading at all. The mix did sound different to me, I had not heard this vintage Philips version before. ‘Space Oddity’ has a very strange stereo mix - distinctive and clear and very defined - spooky even. This piece of vinyl is special - very special for Bowie enthusiasts, it should please most collectors again I feel sure. Just holding this gives pleasure.

Mono vs Stereo: Always a matter of opinion. For any serious collector where there is a choice e.g. Beatles, Stones, Hendrix etc. both are essential. True Stereo albums give great imagery and presence whereas mono albums usually are more dynamic, louder and present the detail more clearly. Mono albums are far harder to find in genuinely top playing condition. Most were heavily played, particularly the truly great bands and artists, often covered in mark and scratches, many severe and labels that were a mass of spindle marks. The majority were played on vintage and unsubtle decks with heavy tonearms and thick styli (often sapphire, not diamond, that chipped more easily) that rendered heavy wear in a very short time to many a fine classic record. Wear to the delicate groove walls, particularly the innermost tracks to the labels were most vulnerable where the tracking angle became more severe and the backdrag actually stripped the delicate groove walls. This resulted in surface noise and mild/moderate distortion or worse. These old decks tracked by sheer weight and little of any refined engineering. Next time you see such a deck at a local record fayre, feel the weight of the arm, it almost makes you wonder how any records survived at all. The point of this paragraph is emphasise that when a truly clean, lightly played and great sounding 60s mono album (or stereo come to that) is offered, treasure it, because for sure thery are truly getting vary rare and precious - beware - demand only play-graded records.

Track Listing:Space Oddity; Unwashed and somewhat slightly dazed (Don’t Sit Down); Letter to Hermione; Cygnet committee; Janine; An occasional dream; Wild eyed boy from freecloud; God knows I’m good; Memory of a free festival.

Album Played For Grading: Yes.

Final Summary: Bowie’s wonderful original Philips album, I can hardly believe this flopped on issue, but how many classics or near classics do that, only to be adored in future years. This was Bowie’s only album on Philips and how many were pressed I do not know, but pretty few I would imagine. The book price for this gem is soaring into space too, this is a true investment record, its better than cash in the bank these days. I start the bidding at a very reasonable level for this copy because the cover does have some (mainly light) wear. The record will not be bettered easily, how many copies exist so lightly played would be few (very few) A great item, man and record - treasure it forever. – Mike.

Final Summary: .

Payment Details please read carefully:

Buyer pays: (UK) £2.50 P&P , for first-class delivery with standard £28 insurance. Items that sell over £80 will be sent via Special Delivery as standard at no extra cost which are insured for £250.

Europe: £4. This is covered up to £28 insurance and would be sent 1st-class airmail. A recorded airmail service is now in place for Europe too: this means any item will be fully insured to its true value, No customs sticker is needed for Europe, so this is a worthwhile investment. This costs extra £5, the item is tracked and the item has to be signed for - I will use this service to Europe as standard for very expensive rare items e.g. records over £125 at no extra cost.

USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and other Far Eastern countries etc: £5.50. This is covered up to £28 insurance and would be sent 1st-class airmail. Please note I do not profit on postage (my packing standards are high and the package weighs a little more).

Extra insurance with recorded delivery is available too for non-Europe countries but will cost an extra £5 also, the item will be covered for up to £250 or even £500 insurance for some detinations - customs label prices will be kept low.

I accept cash for payments worldwide in UK Pounds Sterling, Euros or US Dollars - but this at the senders own risk. Please send registered and insured if this method is chosen. I cannot accept responsibility if any cash payments do not turn up. This system is very reliable and rarely goes astray. The same goes for any shipped uninsured item, I can only try to claim for any undelivered or damaged article at basic insurance levels if no enhanced insurance is requested and paid for (unless the value threshold is high enough for me insure as standard, see above) PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT use surface mail, its too slow, with a higher risk of loss and damage.

Overseas bidders please note conversion rates for Pounds to Dollars and Pounds to Euros will be charged at 1.7 to cover PayPal or cash conversion costs.

PLEASE NOTE: Any PayPal user can now pay me with UK Sterling if they wish with no need to convert to US dollars (although they still can if they wish to). Any instant PayPal transaction from anywhere in the world will mean the item will be sent immediately - it makes deals fast and very efficient.

Mailing Details: All records are sent in plastic covers with the record taken out of the sleeve and sent in professional mailers with FOUR stiffners for extra protection (if space allows). More expensive items are also inserted into a de-luxe heavy duty padded bag AS WELL to give that extra protection. I truly want ALL my items to arrive to their destination in the same condition they leave me.

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. I now only accept PayPal, International money orders or cash from overseas bidders (UK Sterling, US dollars or Euros). Cash, cheques, postal orders and PayPal are fine from the UK. I allow maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if this does not happen I will relist the item and may send negative feedback unless an explanation is given. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask. Please keep watch on my Ebays, I have other intesting items coming very soon. Thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: As listening to every single record I offer all the way through is difficult timewise, can I make it clear if any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund minus the Posting and All Ebay costs as long as the item detail has been read and understood. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer. I still endeavour to play all the items in their entirity for grading if at all possible and is usually the case.