A Night At The Opera 2/2 (First Pressing)

This genuine first press has a 'Factory Sample - Not For Sale' sticker on the S1 label and is therefore a highly collectable LP today.  It also has a "G" stamper on S1 denoting it as one of the very first off the manufacturing line which is perhaps why it was only used as Factory Sample/Promo vinyl.

The iconic gatefold remains in excellent condition and the picture inner has no splits!

The vinyl has the famous 'Blair's', not 'Blair's cut' etched into the dead wax as per the first and early pressings.

EMTC 103 // YAX 5063 - 2 / YAX 5064 - 2 // GT 4 & RA 1

The audio on S1 is Ex+ (Near Mint in many sections)

The audio on S2 varies between VG+ and Ex+

The picture inner is Near Mint-

The 

labels are Mint

Visual grading

  S1 is in pristine condition with only a couple of very faint hairlines, no scratches or marks at all, and only two barely visible spindle lines.  S2 does have two very short faint scratches but aside from that is very clean and again there is hardly any spindle wear.  It has only been very lightly played perhaps due to it being a 'Factory Sample' 2/2 press.

Play grading  

The intro to 'Death on Two Legs' has a little static and then plays with great clarity and hardly any 'background', just the odd dust tick.  A stunning start.  'Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon' also impresses with wonderful quality and audio that plays 'as new'.  An underrated classic 'I'm In Love With My Car' is of the same quality.  Rarely have I heard a 2/2 press sound as good as this.  I always go on about clarity but here it is of supreme quality, the music plays so clearly and without distortion.  Without fear of being repetitive the remaining tracks more than equal this high standard.  There is a very minor amount of background static in a handful of places but it is not intrusive in any shape or form.  The majority grades as Near Mint such if the quality on offer here.  I will just say that 'Seaside Rendezvous' is one of best versions I have heard but as is always the case it does have a little distortion.  This is a well known 'fact' on the first/early pressings where the grooves were pressed closer together so as to fit the final track onto the side.

The acoustic intro to 'The Prophet's Song' has light static and a couple of clicks but thereafter plays very well with only very sporadic interference.  I played every second and the first few louder verses play with stunning power and clarity.  There are some clicks during the 'now I know' section due to a very faint scratch but stop by the time the guitar begins again.  The remainder plays with excellent quality and only faint static.  'Love of my Life' has about 5 seconds of crackle at the start and then plays in exemplary fashion with only a handful of light dust ticks and one pop in the middle.  However, for a 2/2 press it remains an excellent listen.  'Good Company' has excellent audio with only light static in the background here and there but no clicks or pops.  'Bohemian Rhapsody' plays very clearly with again just some ubiquitous intermittent static and a couple of clicks.  It does not detract from what remains an excellent listen.  'God Save The Queen' ends this classic LP with just a minor amount of static.

Gatefold cover

The embossed G & L gatefold is in excellent condition with only minor shelf wear.  The edges and spine are extremely clean with hardly any rubbing.  The predominantly white cover is very hard to keep clean but this one has retained its original colour extremely well with only one small mark near the bottom edge on the front cover.  The back cover has a couple of small marks also but overall this very 'white' iconic gatefold remains in great condition for its 42 years.  The inside is in superb condition and looks almost as new and the opening edge has no handling wear at all.

Picture inner

This has the three cut corners as per the first/early pressings and is one of the cleanest I have seen in a long time.  It only has a minimal amount of rubbing on the bottom edge and no splits which is a mega rarity!

Labels

They are both in superb condition with no marks etc.  As stated the 'Factory Sample - Not For Sale'  sticker is on the S1 label.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

EMTC 103 // YAX 5063 - 2 / YAX 5064 - 2 // GT 4 & RA 1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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Postage & Packaging

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SHIPPING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE. WHEN ITEMS EXCEED A SALE PRICE OF £50.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT INTERNATIONALLY EXTRA INSURANCE IS NECESSARY AND COSTS AN EXTRA £2.50.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

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