LED ZEPPELIN III 1st PRESS - SUPERB HARDLY PLAYED VINYL

	£		125
	$		166

eachtohisown Store

Please read the Terms and Conditions lower in the listing about payment, postage costs and insurance BEFORE placing a bid. Thank you.

I am happy to answer any questions, but please read the listing carefully before sending a question or placing a bid. I try to provide comprehensive details and information in every listing so the answers to most questions should be found below.

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During nearly six years of trading on ebay, I have received over 1,500 positive feedbacks from around 1,200 individual customers, almost all from the sale of vinyl records.

I take great pride in ensuring that my records are always described accurately and fairly. All my items come with a money-back guarantee - if it's not as described, you can return it for a full refund.

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This is an incredible example of this classic LP.  It was clearly only played a handful of times when new and hardly touched since then. I have played the entire record and it is, without doubt, the best I have ever heard from a first pressing of Led Zep III.  The whole thing looks and sounds pretty much how it would have done when it was new. 

This is a genuine 1st pressing with credits on the labels for Peter Grant as Executive Producer.

This has the following 1st press matrix numbers:

Side 1: 2401002 A-5

Side 2: 2401002 B-5

Inscribed in the run out areas are 'Do what thou wilt' and 'So mote it be'.

Detailed description

Labels: Both labels look superb with absolutely no signs of damage, writing, stickers etc and just very light spindle marking.  Judging by the spindle marks around the centre hole I would estimate that side one has been played about three times and side two maybe about six times.

Vinyl audio: I have played the entire record and it sounds fantastic. It is easily the best audio I have ever heard from a first pressing of Led Zep III and sounds pretty much how it would have sounded when it was new. The only noise anywhere on this record is five swishes in the silent run-in groove only, which stop immediately before 'Immigrant Song' begins.  After this, there is virtually nothing to be heard anywhere. There are no clicks, pops, swishes etc and minimal background noise so that even in the quietest parts there is virtually nothing to be heard, including the songs that usually show up the background noise.  Even 'Since I've been loving you' has only the tiniest bit of background noise in the quietest parts. The silent grooves between tracks are very quiet with the only crackle of any note being on the silent run-out groove at the end of side two. In my opinion, this record sounds pretty much how it would have sounded on the day it was bought. This is a superb example and I think it would be hard to find a better one.

Vinyl visual: The vinyl looks superb. It has clearly been very well cared for and hardly ever played. There is barely a mark to be seen on the playing surfaces.  Under bright light just sleeve removal-type marks and a couple of ultra fine hairlines were visible. There is a mark visible on the silent run-in groove to side one. I do not know what this mark is, but it looks like it may be a chemical reaction or heat related (there is no warp or deformation of the grooves) and I suspect that it has been there since new (my guess is that it may have been caused by a slight overlap of two brand-newly pressed copies at the pressing plant as the mark is exactly the same size and shape as the edge of an LP). I have shown this mark in the penultimate photo. Whatever the cause, this mark does not have any impact at all on the music as it causes just five swishes in the silent run-in only, which stop immediately before track one begins (as mentioned above under the audio description). The only other visible mark on the record is a couple of slightly dull lines which I believe are a result of spending 40 years in the same position in the sleeve. I have tried to show these in the last photo. These have no physical qualities other than their visibility (they are not any form of scuff or mark and cannot be felt or heard, they are simply a slight change in the appearance of the vinyl and as such have no impact whatsoever on the way the record sounds). I'm sure that many people wouldn't even notice them and that most sellers would probably not have mentioned them.

Sleeve: The sleeve is really nice and clean with no damage, writing, splits, tears or stickers etc and minimal signs of use. The wheel is attached and works perfectly. There are just some very minor, light creases around the edges and corners and a few minor marks. The rear shows several horizontal laminate wrinkles which is quite common for these first press sleeves. There is slight discolouration of the white areas, but nothing significant, and far less than most copies I have seen. The only other point needing mention is some indentations on the front cover which can only be seen when tilted into the light. These are the result of someone having traced the 'Led Zeppelin' wording and one or two of the graphics on the cover. However, I confirm that this is only an indentation (no colour and not deep) and is only visible at certain angles.

Edge wear: There is virtually no wear to the laminated edges and just slight wear to the exposed edges. The spine is solid and firm and the text is all 100% readable. There are virtually no signs of use or feathering at the opening and no creasing or signs of use around the thumb tab.

Corner wear: moderate

Inner sleeve: Original plain 'Paper bags can be dangerous' inner sleeve.

Detracting features not covered above:  None. This is the best example of this that I have ever come across.

Please check out my other items and take advantage of reduced postage costs for multiple buys.

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Play-graded vinyl: I play grade records where possible but I don't have time to play them all. I will not usually play records which appear to be in excellent or NM condition. I always state in the listing if I have played a record prior to describing it. When I play a record I listen to it carefully through headphones, taking notes of any noise, clicks, distortion etc and play it all the way through, unless stated otherwise.

Visually-graded vinyl: Unless specifically stated in the listing, vinyl is visually graded. 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 detect noise or crackle caused by non-visible sources. Most of the records I sell are between thirty and fifty years old and so it is likely that there may be some background noise even if they look perfect.

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I have some very simple terms and conditions. Please read them before bidding. If you do not agree with them, please don't bid. Thank you.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

• Your bid is binding, so please make sure you have READ and UNDERSTOOD the WHOLE LISTING before you bid. I will not accept returns of items where the buyer has not read or not understood something which is stated in the listing.
• My items are fully guaranteed - if it is not as described you can return it for a full refund. However, I do not operate an 'approval' service - your bid is binding unless I have made an error or omission 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. All packages are labelled "Do not bend" and securely sealed with "FRAGILE" parcel tape.

I support the use of recycled materials and so I may send some items in packaging which has been previously used or which has been made from other cardboard 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

I need to cover the cost of postage, packing materials, time and fees but I try not to charge more for packing and posting your item than it actually costs me. I do not view P&P costs as a means of making money.

However, 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 500-550 grams and I have based my P&P rates on this.

Occasionally, you may end up paying a few pence more than it actually costs me and occasionally you may end up paying a few pence less than it actually costs me. If there is a significant discrepancy in your favour I will refund the difference.

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.

UK P&P costs

UK Standard service - items are sent quickly and securely using first class recorded post, which includes insurance up to £41. The cost for this is as follows:

First LP or 12" = £3.80, each additional LP or 12" add £0.80

First 7" or CD = £1.90, each additional 7" or CD add £0.50


UK Fully insured service - Any order valued over £41 will be sent fully insured using Royal Mail Special Delivery and the total cost of this will be £7.50.  Multiple-item orders weighing more than 1kg or items valued over £500 will cost slightly more to insure, so please wait for my invoice before paying.


UK Economy service - If the value of your order is below £10 you can request a new invoice to have your item sent by standard second class post (unrecorded). However, please be aware that this service can take up to a week to reach you and in the event of a claim for loss or damage, Royal Mail will not reimburse the full value of your order. The cost for this is as follows:

First LP or 12" = £3.00, each additional LP or 12" add £0.70

First 7" or CD = £1.10, each additional 7" or CD add £0.45

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Airmail (uninsured) to any country OUTSIDE the UK

Europe

First LP or 12" = £5.00, each additional LP or 12" add £2.00.

First 7" or CD = £1.90, each additional 7" or CD add £0.60.

Rest of the world (anywhere outside Europe)

First LP or 12" = £8.50, each additional LP or 12" add £3.50.

First 7" or CD = £3.20, each additional 7" or CD add £0.90.

Insurance

For overseas orders, I include insurance on all invoices. This is additional to the costs above. If your order is valued under £10 you can request a new invoice without insurance (but in the event of a claim for loss or damage, Royal Mail will not reimburse the full value). Overseas orders valued over £10 will ONLY be sent fully insured.

Insurance is charged at cost as follows:

• Overseas orders valued up to £41 will be insured for an additional £4.95
• Overseas orders valued between £41 and £500 will be insured for an additional £7.45
• Overseas orders valued over £500, please contact me.

Overseas orders weighing more than 2kg will be split into two or more packages as appropriate so they can be sent using Royal Mail's Small Packet Rate, so please wait for my invoice on larger multiple purchases.

Customs declaration for overseas orders: Please note that for overseas orders outside the EU I need to complete a customs declaration and must enter the value of the package on the declaration.

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Please do not bid if you don't agree to these terms. If you have any queries please email BEFORE you bid.

Thanks for your interest in this listing and for taking the time to read these details.