MIKE OLDFIELD TUBULAR BELLS - PRE-EMI GENUINE 1ST PRESS - LAMINATED - B/W LABELS

	£		38
	$		50

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 more than six years of trading on ebay, I have received around 2,000 positive feedbacks from over 1,600 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.

Bidders outside the UK please note: I send all items tracked and insured. Depending on the value of your order, the cost is an extra £4.95 or £7.45 on top of the standard airmail rate. I do not make a profit on this service - I only charge what Royal Mail charges me. For further information please click on the icon and see below for full P&P and insurance details.

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The history of how Richard Branson began his Virgin empire with the release of Tubular Bells is well-known and Tubular Bells is probably one of the most famous LPs ever made. But despite this - or perhaps because of it? - sellers frequently claim later pressings as first issues (and, unfortunately, unsuspecting buyers have often parted with large sums of money for what are simply early second pressings).

The commonly claimed '1st pressing' is an EMI-pressed record with 2U/2U matrixes in a laminated E.J. Day cover. That is, in fact, a second pressing.

The first pressing was not even pressed by EMI and came in a laminated cover printed by Robor which has a 'pinched' spine top and bottom. It was organised by Branson at the Lyntone pressing plant in Holloway, North London. (Although Lyntone is often associated with flexi-discs it was a well-established record pressing plant specialising in short-runs). These original pressings do not have the familiar stamped matrixes, mothers and stampers associated with EMI-pressed records. They have a simple, hand etched matrix number with no number suffix (and no mother or stamper information).

I have read that these were used as promotional copies and that Virgin attempted to retrieve all the Lyntone copies once the EMI copies were available because the EMI pressing was better. I do not know whether this is true [although I do think that the EMI pressing sounds better] but I do believe that only a very small number of these genuine first pressings exist.

This has the following 1st press matrix numbers which are etched, not stamped:

Side 1: V-2001-A

Side 2: V-2001-B

Detailed description
Vinyl: The vinyl looks great and has retained its original high sheen. It has clearly been very well cared for. Under bright light, just a few hairlines and fine scuffs were visible, but nothing significant. I have played the entire record and it sounds excellent. There is some soft background noise and crackle in the quiet parts which increases slightly as each side goes on and I noticed a slight swish at the beginning of side one and some occasional quiet tics in the background for a few seconds and a few places where you get a very soft click for three or four revolutions. But there is absolutely nothing loud or intrusive anywhere and no loud, persistent clicks. This is a superb example and was a real pleasure to listen to. Much of this LP is very quiet and I doubt that it is possible to find an original copy that genuinely plays mint all the way through and, although the quality of the pressing cannot match the EMI pressing, I would play-grade both sides around Excellent (Ex).
Labels: Both labels look superb with absolutely no signs of damage, writing, stickers etc, just light spindle marking.
Cover: The Robor cover is really nice and clean with no damage, writing, splits, tears or stickers etc and just very light signs of use. There are some small, light creases around the edges and corners and a couple of small laminate bubbles near the spine, but no flaking, splitting or peeling etc. This is a superb example of  a very rare cover
Edge wear: There is no wear to the laminated edges and just very slight wear to the exposed parts. The spine is solid and firm and the text is all 100% readable. There are just a few dents and light signs of use at the opening.
Corner wear: minimal
Inner sleeve: Plain

Detracting features not covered above:  None. This is a superb example of a rare and genuine first pressing.

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

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Information about descriptions.
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.

Play-graded vinyl: I play grade records where possible but I don't have time to play them all. I always state in the listing if I have played a record prior to describing it.

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. I always do my best to give a fair assessment of any visible marks on the playing surface, but a visual grading will not identify 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. Please see Terms and Conditions below for my refunds policy for visually graded records.

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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. 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 and packing materials, 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 £46. 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 Special Delivery - Any order valued over £46 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.

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Airmail (with tracking and insurance) to any country OUTSIDE the UK

Europe

First LP or 12" = £9.95, each additional LP or 12" add £2.00.

First 7" or CD = £6.85, each additional 7" or CD add £0.60.

Rest of the world (anywhere outside Europe)

First LP or 12" = £13.45, each additional LP or 12" add £3.50.

First 7" or CD = £8.15, each additional 7" or CD add £0.90.

Overseas orders weighing more than 2kg or valued over £500 may 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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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.