KRAFTWERK same UK First Press Vertigo Swirl 6499 268/269 (6641 077)  Beautiful

$

149

Welcome! Here is a superb first UK press of Kraftwerk. This 1972 album represents a UK packaging of the first two Kraftwerk LPs (Kraftwerk and Kraftwerk 2), both of which had been released only in Germany on the Philips label. The discs are individually numbered Vertigo 6499 268 and 6499 269; however, the cover has a combined catalogue number 6641 077.

And we have the swirl labels! Not for long, though – this was the last UK Vertigo album to get the coveted swirls. Anyway, this album offers the experimental sound of the early Kraftwerk, and is in lovely condition throughout, with a laminated gatefold cover and matching Vertigo inner sleeves.

Matrix numbers and mother/stamper codes are:

Disc 6499 268 Side A: 6499268 1Y//1?420 1 1 6 04.

Disc 6499 268 Side B: 6499268 2Y//1?420 1 1 6 04.

Disc 6499 269 Side A: 6499269 1Y//1?420 1 1 4 [no mother/stamper].

Disc 6499 269 Side B: 6499269 2Y//1?420 1 1 2 04.

Using the Record Collector grading system, what do we have here?

Sleeve: All in all, the laminated gatefold sleeve grades Very Good+++. Some people would call it Excellent or even better, but I try to be critical.

There are a few minor laminate wrinkles to the outside; I show these in my photos. There is the beginning of a lift to the laminate to the far right edge on the front. Minor bends to the lower right corner on the front and lower left corner of the gatefold, and very minor corner wear.

The spine is lovely, with clear lettering! The gatefold still makes that nice crinkly sound when you open and close it! The edges around the record opening are in fine condition.

The inside of the gatefold is clean, with very minor wear to areas of the laminate edges near the top. Two inside wrinkles in the interior matte finish do not transfer to the outside laminate.

Vinyl: All four sides of vinyl grade M-. The discs appear almost as new, and the sound quality is spectacular! You would find it hard to upgrade this vinyl.

Labels: All four labels are super-clean, with truly minimal spindle tracking to any of them.

Inner Sleeves: This album has its original matching, plastic-lined Vertigo swirl inner sleeves! Both have much less age discoloration than usual. On the downside, one inner has side splits of 1 inch and 3 inches, and a bottom split of 1.5 inches. The other inner has side splits of 2.5 inches and 1.75 inches, and a bottom split of 1.75 inches. The plastic lining remains firmly secured to both inners.

And, in the end: When this album was released in the UK, some copies had a sticker saying ‘ONLY ?3’. Half a century later, this will cost a bit more. If you do not own early Kraftwerk vinyl, here is your chance! Please email me with any questions or if you would like to see additional images.

A Note on the Photos: As always, any bright spots or glare in my pictures is from my camera’s flash.

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Namaste, everyone!