Pink Floyd ?– The Dark Side Of The Moon

Hyper rare    (https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/dark-side-of-the-moon-1st-issue-matrix-no-question.405349/)
These issues are well known, but a great mystery. The most reliable sources, including the Pink Floyd Archives, have acknowledged it's existence, but there is little known of it's origin. The thread above discusses this issue, but to no real definitive conclusion. My ears tell me this is an original master, the audio is no different to other UK 1st issues have had... it is not an inferior pressing, but there is very little known about it. The labels are identical in every way, even under the closest scrutiny - The pressing ring, and the raised label edge are identical, the sleeve is original, and the run-out matrices are machine stamped. Everything says this is a UK mastered issue, including the most important part.. the audio quality.
There are several threads and discussions of this issue, and none of them really touch on the most important indicator... the audio ... there are discussions on every aspect of this issue, but the most obvious indicator has to be, what audio quality does it produce?... The audio is exceptional, and to my ears, this is clearly a UK first master.
I hunted for this issue - When I bought this record, I spoke to the original owner, and confirmed the machine stamped matrices before I purchased it... I was specifically hunting this issue down, as I was curious of it's audio and authenticity, I also hunted down a Malaysian issue, that was on UK second issue labels, with A/B matrices as well... again, curious to track these Two early (first 2 masters) export issues down, as there was / is such a mystery behind the Solid Blue versions, when I knew there was a recognised 2nd label, made in Great Britain, with the same A/B matrices, that would have come just weeks, to a couple of months after the original solid Blue issue.
I have handled these solid Blues many times, I am also a Pink Floyd tragic, who collects DSOTM issues, and I seek out the oddities as part of my business combining with my pleasure... I am currently letting a few go, as I currently have 48 different issues, so if you look at my listings, you will see several different and odd issues for sale... these have taken years to collect...there is also a UK second label (Gramophone rim text, Made in Gt Britain, light Blue outlined triangle, and A/B run-outs, just like this One... but the outline triangle issue IS a recognized contract / export issue, but the triangle is NOT solid Blue, but the Solid Blue labels were only used for a few weeks, before the second label was introduced, so the time difference between these Two contract pressings is just a few weeks, to a couple of months.
The Solid Blue version is machine stamped with just SHVL 804 A, and SHVL 804 B, but on the recognised 2nd label pressings, the A/B matrices are hand etched, meaning the Mother plates were not machine stamped when manufactured
That is why this issue is recognized, but there is very little understanding of it's origin To understand the issue, you have to place yourself in 1973, and understand the forces at play... First up, forget the connected world we live in today... that did not exist, nor did global manufacturing, as we know it today...from an Oil crisis (yes, vinyl is a petroleum product) to labour issues, and the overwhelming success of this album, not just in English speaking countries - this album was going "viral" all over the planet, by word of mouth, and ears -  no one was really ready for the numbers that this record was selling, and from all corners of the globe.
The Pink Floyd archives do make reference to these A/B Matrices on the UK 1st issue page, and it says that it is most likely a Danish contract pressing, but if you look in the Danish section of the archive, there is no mention of this issue. There are reasons for this. This issue has yet to be fully understood, they do pop up in the UK and Europe, more often than not, but there are so very few of them, it is very hard to track down.
To me, this issue is the initial response to meeting demand that was unexpected, and from all countries... UK mother plates were being produced, but not stamped in the usual way a UK Mother is stamped, and these mothers were being used to produce contract / export pressings, to meet this unexpected global phenomenon ... the stamps are all done on the Mother plates, and not on the Master / Fathers, so these stamps can exist, but the labels, pressing ring, and raised label edge, do indicate a Hayes UK produced record, from a UK master, that produced UK mothers, that were not stamped for the UK market... it may have been pressed in a different country, but that pressing plant would have to use the identical press that the Hayes UK plant was using, because the pressing ring, and raised label edge is quite specific, as are the machine stamped matrices for the origin of the metal plates.
Original and early UK pressed (for export) solid Blue Triangle, Midnight Blue Gatefold Sleeve, complete with original posters, stickers and Black poly lined inner, with patent numbers.
This is a very rare, and very early UK pressed for Export issue - pressed from Original and early UK stampers, but with no Master, Mother or Stamper codes in the run-outs (this is definitely an A2 / B2 issue, there are just no matrix codes to tell you that, but the audio is very obvious to the ear, with the key giveaways being the audio quality, and the slight distortion in the clocks on "Time"... this would later be fixed on the A3 issues, but is a solid indicator that the masters are 2/2... The timing of this release, and the solid Blue triangle labels, are also pretty obviously A2/B2) The run-out matrices are SHVL 804 A   and   SHVL 804 B  (Machine stamped, & correct Hayes font)

The Midnight Blue Gatefold sleeve is also a collectors item in itself, with the inside of the gatefold being White card, not bare untreated card. (which is the norm) The Gatefold sleeve is the very earliest form of this release, being the earliest of the Midnight  Blues, with White treated card inside the open pocket... they are extremely rare, and this One is in fantastic condition.

The posters and stickers are original, not from a later issue and are in excellent condition. VG+ to NM        (I have concentrated on the sleeve and record in the 12 pictures, sorry)
The Black, poly lined inner sleeve, with silver patent numbers, is original, and in very nice condition. VG+    (- see pics -)
The labels are in amazing condition, no writing, clean, and with minimal signs of use.  VG+      (- see pics -)
The Gatefold sleeve is in fantastic condition, Midnight Blue, with treated White card inside the pocket, it carries the Purple hype sticker, which is nicely placed.
The sleeve has One mouth open, and One mouth sealed shut (not with a flap)
No writing, no creases, no splits or tears, just some light edge and surface wear.  -  (see the pics)   VG+
The vinyl record is in excellent condition.
Side One - Plays Near Mint, even the run in and heart beat is clean, which is a really important area, and hard to find for this record.
Side Two - Has Two small and light scratches, that are located at the very start of  "Us & Them" (first minute), they cause 12 singular and light tics each, (There is no overlap, so the tics are singular and light - There are perhaps only 3 revolutions that create a moderate click, the rest are very minor)  - The rest plays Near Mint.
So Side One is Excellent, with NM audio.
Side Two is VG++    -    NM audio, other than about a minute of Us And Them, which is VG+

The most important thing to emphasize, after mentioning the audio faults, is that the constant audio quality is astounding - the stereo image is clean and defined, and the audio is crisp, sharp and dynamic...There are some light singular audio imperfections on a small area of Side Two, but the audio quality around them, and throughout this vinyl record, is brilliant.
I guarantee that the audio this vinyl record produces, is at the same audiophile quality that the UK first issue produces.

Label: Harvest ?– SHVL 804, Harvest ?– 1E 064 o 05249 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold Sleeve
Country: UK Released: 24 Mar 1973 Genre: Rock Style: Prog Rock, Psychedelic Rock

Tracklist Hide Credits

A1 Speak To Me
A2 Breathe
A3 On The Run
A4 Time
A5 The Great Gig In The Sky Vocals – Clare Torry
B1 Money Saxophone – Dick Parry
B2 Us And Them Saxophone – Dick Parry
B3 Any Colour You Like
B4 Brain Damage
B5 Eclipse

Companies, etc.

• Record Company – The Gramophone Co. Ltd.
• Recorded At – Abbey Road Studios
• Phonographic Copyright (p) – The Gramophone Co. Ltd.
• Published By – World Copyrights Ltd.
• Pressed By – The Gramophone Co. Ltd.
• Pressed By – EMI Records Ltd.
• Printed By – Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd.

Credits

• Artwork [Sleeve Art, Stickers Art] – George Hardie N.T.A.*
• Backing Vocals – Barry St. John, Doris Troy, Lesley Duncan, Liza Strike
• Bass, Vocals, Synthesizer [VCS3], Effects [Tape] – Roger Waters
• Design [Sleeve], Photography By – Hipgnosis (2)
• Engineer – Alan Parsons
• Engineer [Assistant] – Peter James
• Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer [VCS3] – Richard Wright
• Lyrics By – Roger Waters
• Music By – Pink Floyd
• Percussion, Effects [Tape] – Nick Mason
• Producer – Pink Floyd
• Supervised By [Mixing] – Chris Thomas
• Vocals, Guitar, Synthesizer [Vcs3] – David Gilmour
• Written-By – Gilmour* (tracks: A2 to A4, B3), Mason* (tracks: A1, A4, B3), Wright* (tracks: A2, A4, A5, B2, B3), Waters* (tracks: A2 to A4, B1, B2, B4, B5)

Notes

Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London between June 1972 and January 1973.

? 1973 The Gramophone Co. Ltd.
Made in Gt. Britain

E.M.I Records (The Gramophone Co. Ltd.) Hayes · Middlesex · England
File under POPULAR : Pop Groups

A few words about condition.

Grade & 
score out of 100
                                           GRADING
Mint is a Rigid Band - The next Four Grades are all Narrow Bands, that slightly widen as the condition gradually deteriorates - Good is still Good, but there is a rapid widening of the Grade Bands, as the condition deteriorates over the last Four grades.

MINT
100
The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality.
The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition.
Only graded on records that are sealed or clearly unplayed.
 
NEAR MINT
97 to 99        

EXCELLENT
90 to 96
The record shows virtually no signs of having been played,  there is no lessening in sound quality.
The cover and  packaging might have the slightest of tiny defects.
 
The record shows some slight signs of having been played, but there is very little, (if any) lessening in sound quality.
The cover and  packaging might have very slight wear. 
 
VERY GOOD PLUS
80 to 89

VERY GOOD
69 to 79
The record shows signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality.
The cover and  packaging might have slight wear, light creasing.

The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch.
Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects.
This is an above average used record, that has been well looked after.




GOOD
56 to 68
The record has been played so much that the sound quality has deteriorated, but the record will still play through, and it will not be a completely unpleasant listening experience, even at the bottom of this grade (56).
The cover and contents may suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc. 




FAIR
41 to 55
The record is still playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even stick, skip or jump.. This is starting to be an unpleasant listening experience at the top of the grade (55) and will not be a pleasant listening experience at all by the end of it (41).
The cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced. 
 
POOR
25 to 40
The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc.
The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing. 
 
BAD
0 - 24
The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler.
The Sleeve is non existent (0) or what is left, is only just recognisable.

A few words about postage.

Within Australia, the best value for multiple purchases is a 5KG satchel, where as many as 15 to 20 LPs can be posted for $22.00 registered post. (well packed in a box, inside the satchel)

My Policies on postage are simple.

I post at cost.
The user pays.
I package well.

Any item that you purchase without choosing the option of "Signed for" or "Registered" Post, is at your risk.
I do accept that "signed for" can be expensive, especially internationally, but whether you take the option of this insurance, is entirely up to you.
I do not wish to withdraw the option of standard postage for the cheaper records, but it must be at your risk.