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

This genuine first press has immaculate audio and in all my years of selling it is up there with the best of them.  It is absolutely stunning and plays with sublime clarity and precision and next to no interference.  The iconic gatefold is also extremely well preserved and the picture inner has only the slightest of wear.

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 // GAH 1 & GDO 4

The audio on S1 is Mint-

The audio on S2 is Mint-

The picture inner is Ex++

The 

labels are Mint-

Visual grading

  This vinyl is immaculate to say the least.  It is absolutely pristine and it is so rare to find a first pressing as clean as this with such an incredible glossy sheen.  It looks as good as new, that's how good it is!  There is some spindle wear but it has been so carefully handled by its previous owner that the quality of the audio hasn't decreased in any way.  It plays with superb quality as detailed below.  Under a bright light there are no hairlines or scratches to be seen, it is just perfect!  The run out grooves are also in immaculate condition.

Play grading  

There is no need to detail every single track on S1 as the audio throughout is quite simply of an immaculate standard and rarely have I heard such 'high end' quality on a 2/2 first pressing.  There is hardly any static on the 'Death on Two Legs' intro and the audio from there onwards plays with breathtaking clarity and depth and I have no hesitation in grading this side as Mint- as the quality is just incredible.  There are so many stunning highlights I can't not list them!  The opening track itself plays so powerfully and with no distortion which is a mega rarity on a first press.  'I'm In Love With My Car' is just absolutely stunning in its range and 'You're My Best Friend' and '39' are just Mint but like I say that goes for every track on this side.  I always go on about clarity but here it is just so obvious, the music plays so clearly and with fantastic sonic quality.  I am running out of superlatives for the audio on this side!  There is no static, crackle, clicks or pops and even 'Seaside Rendezvous' plays with only a little of the distortion that is so synonymous with this track as any Queen collector knows.

Now this is a real test of how good the audio is on this album i.e. the acoustic intro on 'The Prophet's Song'.  I am pleased to say it plays with stunning clarity and no interference whatsoever!  The rest of this classic track is equal to that standard and is one of the best versions I have ever heard.  There is a minor amount of static during the 'now I know' section but I repeat, it is minor to say the least and not intrusive in any way.  It still plays superbly well with no clicks or pops and perhaps is not even worthy of a mention.  'Love of my Life' is undoubtedly the greatest version I have heard on a 2/2 press in a long time.  From the acoustic intro right through to the end the clarity and depth of the song is just sublime and plays as near to Mint as is possible.  This 'high end' audio continues with 'Good Company' playing like new also and as for 'Bohemian Rhapsody'?  Absolutely stunning in every way!  This ultimate classic displays audio of a sublime standard as if it was just pressed yesterday.  The clarity again is first class and the only interference is a touch of light static right at the end.  What a fantastic version!  'God Save The Queen' ends this classic LP with no interference.

In summary this album is a final upgrade, museum copy for certain.  I have not heard such power and definition on any 'A Night At The Opera' album for a long time and this is a 2/2 first pressing!  There is barely any interference and for a 42 year old vinyl to play with such Near Mint / Mint audio is a mega rarity.

Gatefold cover

Perhaps not unsurprisingly the embossed G & L gatefold has also been very well preserved.  The edges and spine have no shelf wear and the predominantly white cover is beautifully clean aside from a couple of specks.  It has retained its original colour extremely well and it is most definitely one of the cleanest I have ever seen.  There is one small sticker removal mark on the top right corner but that is the only 'negative' worth mentioning really.  The inside is immaculate and the opening edge has barely any handling wear.  This is a superb example of this iconic gatefold.

Picture inner

This has the three cut corners as per the first/early pressings and remains in great condition.  There is just one tiny split at the bottom but apart from that is not far off being perfect.  It is better than so many as the majority you see today have large splits but that certainly isn't the case here.

Labels

They are both mega clean with no writing or marking, just some spindle wear but not an excessive amount at all.

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

EMTC 103 // YAX 5063 - 2 / YAX 5064 - 2 // GAH 1 & GDO 4

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

Recent Feedback

Very happy with this item, and special thanks for perfect packing!

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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 £6.00. 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.

COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN MORE THAN ONE ITEM IS WON.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PLACED IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE THE COVER IN ORDER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST. EVERYTHING IS THEN PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

UK Postage Rates (Second Class)

LPs/12" singles : £4.95 (recorded) then £0.75 per extra item 

7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

EUROPE 

LPs/12" singles : £7.95 then £1.25 per extra 

7" singles / CDs : £4.95 then £0.95 per extra 

REST OF WORLD  

LPs/12" singles : £11.95 then £1.75 per extra

7" singles / CDs : £5.95 then £0.95 per extra

I WILL LEAVE FEEDBACK ONCE IT HAS BEEN LEFT FOR ME. THIS IS SO I KNOW THE ITEM HAS BEEN RECEIVED SAFELY AND THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH IT. IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  I WILL ALSO PAY THE RETURN POSTAGE COST IF I AM AT FAULT - yes this can happen as I am only human!!

In the coming weeks and months I will be selling plenty of Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Genesis and Marillion items so please keep a look out!  Many thanks.  Please look at my other items on now!