David Bowie : Space Oddity 2E / 1E Very Early Press RCA inc Lyric Insert & Poster 1972

This first press variation on the RCA Victor label plays with STUNNING audio on both sides with no interference of any kind.  The clarity of sound is out of this world if you'll forgive the pun!  It plays like it has never seen a turntable before and the vinyl itself is visually stunning with no spindle wear either.  Perhaps it was purchased just to have in the collection and not to be played?  So yes the clarity and depth of the audio is 'as new' and the power cannot be faulted either, there is no distortion anywhere.  A FINAL UPGRADE archive pressing in every sense.

The cover is in superb condition with only the bare minimum of shelf wear and the lyric inner just has some light creasing.  The original poster which is so often missing remains in perfect condition.

The first pressing on the RCA label had a 1E / 1E matrix and this one is known as the first, first press variation.  This edition has Mainman credits on the labels but no Mainman logo on the back cover.

LSP 4813 // BPRS 4501 - 2E   A2M (all etched) // BPRS 4502 - 1E  (stamped)   A5K (etched)

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-)

The cover is Ex++

The lyric inner is Ex

The poster is Mint

The labels are Ex+

Visual description

The vinyl is in beautiful condition and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  Even when I look under a strong bright light I can only detect a couple of ultra faint hairlines on each side and they are not easy to find!  The run out grooves are super clean and the orange RCA Victor labels have no marking or spindle wear.

Play grading

The classic 'Space Oddity' begins superbly.  The acoustic intro only has a handful of barely audible dust ticks at the start and then the opening vocal plays with no background at all.  The chorus is equally as clean and from then on plays to the same high level.  The sonic quality is so impressive and you can hear each subtle nuance in the music i.e. you miss nothing, every note is just so clean and precise and even the fade out is perfect with not even a single dust tick, that is a measure of the clarity on offer here.  A sensational Mint start to this classic album.

Next up is 'Unwashed And Somewhat Slightly Dazed' and I am pleased to say it plays to same high end standard.  Throughout the entire 6 minutes you cannot fault the audio - the clarity and depth is stunning and there is no distortion on Bowie's vocal.  The long instrumental is just phenomenal, I've never heard it play as well as this.  Another Mint track.  Seriously has this record been played before?!

'Letter To Hermione' keeps up the good work and plays perfectly with no background.  An acoustic number of course and yet the clarity is 10/10.  Mint

The intro on 'Cygnet Committee' is 'as new' and the opening vocal is just the same.  It continues to play with breath-taking quality - I'm up to 5 minutes already and so far not even a dust tick let alone anything more!  As it progresses you cannot help but be amazed by the sonic quality on offer - Bowie's vocal is at its most powerful and yet there is no inner groove distortion and the high octane final section is a case in point - wow!  There is literally no inner groove distortion from start to finish and I cannot overstate just how strong and clear the audio is.  This is unequivocally a Mint version.

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The acoustic intro on 'Janine' is perfect and the clarity of sound is superb throughout.  I think I picked up a couple of very light ticks but I could be wrong!  They are so quiet, could easily be missed, and I will grade as Mint- accordingly.

'An Occasional Dream' plays beautifully with no interference.  A relatively quiet track and yet the clarity and warmth of the audio is STUNNING.  The playback is so clean and fresh and easily deserves to be graded as Mint

The acoustic intro 'The Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud' once again shows how well this vinyl has been preserved - it plays to perfection as does the first vocal.  It continues in the same way with no ticks, clicks, pops or static and I only noticed a couple of barely audible dust ticks.  Mint

'God Knows I'm Good' plays with sublime audio from the get go.  The acoustic intro is 'as new' and the first verse and chorus are of the same standard.  This quality is prevalent right to the end and again you cannot help but marvel at the audio here.  It is so rich and clean (see what I did there!!) and Mint is again deserved.

The entire intro on 'Memory Of A Free Festival' plays with stunning quality, just one mega light static tick, and the opening vocal section has no background whatsoever.  This section is pretty quiet and the clarity is just INCREDIBLE!  You can't even hear the stylus running through the grooves and of course there are no dust ticks, ticks, clicks etc.  The brief instrumental is perfect and then 'The Sun Machine...' section plays with clarity and depth that is second to none.  No negatives just pure unadulterated Mint audio.  And that applies to the entire track!  What. An. Album!

In summary this first press variation on the RCA label plays to the highest standard possible.  A bold statement to make I know but having played every track in full I am 100% confident in my grading.  The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is exceptional and there is no interference on either side.  As stated this vinyl may never have been played before and that is certainly reflected in the sonic quality on offer here.  Now over 50 years old it doesn't get any better than this!  This will sit perfectly in any high end collection for sure.

The Cover, Lyric Sleeve and Poster

The cover is in lovely condition and the only wear really is one small mark and a little rubbing on the bottom edge.  The top edge and spine are super clean and the corners have barely any wear either.  The opening edge looks untouched and the front cover is near perfect aside from one tiny 'speck' near the bottom edge.  The back cover is unmarked and remains in superb condition.  I was going to grade as Near Mint- but perhaps Ex++ is a little nearer the mark.  A stunning example anyway.

The lyric inner has been preserved very well and has no side splits, tears or marking just some creasing here and there.  The original and often elusive glossy poster is 'as new' with no marking or creasing.

Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

LSP 4813 // BPRS 4501 - 2E   A2M (all etched) // BPRS 4502 - 1E  (stamped)   A5K (etched)

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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Postage & Packaging

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