DAVID BOWIE ZIGGY STARDUST - SUPERB LAMINATED GATEFOLD COVER, GERMAN 1st PRESS

	£		150
	$		199

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In my opinion the German first pressing of Ziggy Stardust is THE pressing to own. Everything about it breathes 'quality', from the beautiful, laminated gatefold cover to the outstanding Telefunken Decca pressing.

Germany was the only country to get a gatefold cover for the original release of Ziggy Stardust (everywhere else would have to wait nearly two decades before they got one) and they continued to produce them throughout the 1970s. However, this cover is one of the original copies which has:

• only the LSP-4702 catalogue number (later copies have other numbers),

• a laminated outside and unlaminated inner gatefold (the lamination was stopped for later copies)

• left aligned manufacturing credits on the rear cover with 'Made in Germany by TELDEC' (later ones have them in a single line along the bottom and the manufacturer credit says 'RCA Schallplatten GmbH').

So far so good - the best original 1970s Ziggy Stardust cover.

However, the TELDEC (Telefunken Decca) pressing is well worth seeking out for its pure audio brilliance. Unlike the UK 1st pressing which used a revised master (with a different mix of 'Starman' and some other sound 'tweaks'), the German pressing (like the USA pressing) used the original master.  But where the poor-quality USA pressings let the music down with a lack of dynamism and indistinct sound, the German pressing delivers the album in a way that has never been matched (in my opinion).

Although I acknowledged that there are some issues with the original master, most notably a momentary drop-out in one channel during 'Suffragette City' (although you'd probably only notice this is you're listening through headphones and giving it your undivided attention), the quality of the TELDEC pressing more-than makes up for this through what you gain/discover elsewhere. If you play a UK first pressing, side by side with a German first pressing, they are totally different experiences. Generally, the TELDEC pressing produces a fuller, deeper, warm bass sound coupled with crisp, clear high notes and superb separation, but there are also several tracks where the difference is startling. In particular, the orchestration during 'Moonage Daydream', the backing vocals in 'Star', the horn section in 'Rock 'n' Roll Suicide' all sound far superior on the German pressing, and produce an overall sound quality that has never been equalled. To me, this is the definitive pressing of Ziggy Stardust.

Vinyl: The vinyl has retained its original sheen with no bad marks, although both sides (especially side two) have quite a lot of fine hairlines, brush-lines, sleeve-removal marks etc (especially under bright, direct light). However, these are superficial, surface marks with minimal impact on the audio. I have played the whole record and there is very little to report. There is slight background noise in some of the fades, silent grooves and intros, and a few places where you get the occasional random click or crackle, and a few tiny repetitive tics here and there, but there is nothing loud or intrusive anywhere.  I would play-grade the album overall as Excellent (Ex). A visual grading would be slightly lower.

Cover: This is the original front laminated gatefold cover with TELDEC credit. It is in exceptional condition and looks virtually flawless, with the only issue being a small tippex mark on the white background in the border next to Trevor Bolder's photo, but this is very, very minor and is only mentioned because it is the only issue on an otherwise near-perfect cover.

Inner sleeve: Plain.

Detracting features not covered above:  None. This is a really nice example of (in my opinion) the best version of Ziggy Stardust ever released.

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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I have some very simple terms and conditions. Please read them and ensure that you understand them before bidding. Thank you.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

• My items are fully guaranteed - if it is not as described you can return it for a full refund, including postage. Refunds for visually graded records which are returned based upon the buyer's assessment of the record's playgrade, will not include postage costs in either direction.
• Your bid is binding, so please make sure you have READ and UNDERSTOOD the WHOLE LISTING before you bid. I will not accept returns where the buyer has not read or not understood something which is stated/shown in the listing.
  
• I accept Paypal and postal orders (in UK Sterling GBP) for all purchases.  I also accept cheques (in UK Sterling GBP) on orders OVER £50.
• Please pay for your item within three days of the auction closing. If you are intending to bid on other items and wish to pay when they have closed, please contact me to let me know. I reserve the right to cancel any transactions and offer the item to the second highest bidder if no contact or payment is made within three days.

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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 - Items valued up to £20 are sent using either Hermes courier or Royal Mail Second class. Usually delivered within 3-5 days of despatch.

For items or combined purchases valued above £20 I use the following service, so please wait for my invoice:

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

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.

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.