DAVID BOWIE SELF TITLED 1969 PHILIPS SBL 7912 1st UK PRESS SUPERB AUDIO

	£		995
	$		1,318

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

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This is an original 1st pressing bought in the UK at the time of first release. It is not a modern reissue.

Please note that this IS the true first UK pressing: I've seen a lot of inaccurate information written by people selling the so-called 'unassigned credits' version, claiming that it is the first pressing because the publishing credits for most of the songs hadn't yet been assigned to Essex Music. This is complete nonsense because Essex Music only ever owned the publishing rights to three of the songs on this album. The 'unassigned credits' version is a repressing which came out in 1970 - we can tell this because it has the revised THIN Philips logo labels which weren't introduced until 1970. The first pressing (the one listed here) has the wide Philips logo, but the labels have an error which shows the publishing for all titles assigned to Essex Music Int.  However, at the time, Bowie retained the publishing rights (copyright control) for all but two of the tracks. This mistake on the labels was corrected with the 1970 repressing to show the correct publishing information. Incidentally, the rights for all the remaining tracks except 'Memory of a Free Festival' WERE assigned the following year, but to Titanic Music/Chrysalis, NOT to Essex Music!

The vinyl is perfectly flat and has retained its shine. In normal daylight I could see just a handful of small or fine marks on the playing surfaces and under bright, direct light I could see more fine surface hairlines and sleeve removal marks etc, but there's nothing bad anywhere and the record plays to a very high standard. The labels have no tears, stickers, writing etc, but have spindle marking around the centre hole indicating that the record was relatively well-played, but it still sounds fantastic. I have played the whole album in full from start to finish and it sounds great with very little to report. For the sake of completeness I would mention a little minor background noise in some of the fades, silent grooves and intros and the occasional random click, but there is nothing loud or intrusive anywhere. I heard some small clicks for two or three revolutions in the run-in and very quiet intro to the opening track as the acoustic guitar fades in and elsewhere I heard a handful of small tics in 'An Occasional Dream' and a few more in the quiet intro to 'Cygnet Committee', but these are all quiet parts of the record and there was very little else, and lots of this record plays flawlessly. Most of the silent grooves play really quietly and the whole album was a pleasure to listen to. I think that much of it would play-grade as Near Mint (NM), but to account for the minor issues mentioned above I am going to play-grade this as a SAFE Excellent (Ex). This play-grading is higher than you might expect from looking at the record, so a visual grading would be a bit lower.

The gatefold sleeve has no seam splits, tears, writing, stickers etc, just some normal signs of age or use. There is wear to the edges and spine, but much of the spine-text is still legible (see photos). There are a few scuffs to the printed surface of the rear, but the front and back panels still look vibrant with very little fading of the colours, despite being 56 years old. I would say that this is a well-above-average example. It will be sent in the high-quality PVC gatefold cover shown in several of the photographs as this protects the sleeve and presents it at its best.

Detracting features not covered above:  None.

All photographs are of the actual item for sale. Please look at the photos and 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.