I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale.  No shipping to Russia currently.

The Sundays : Reading, Writing & Arithmetic A1 / B1 1st Press 1990

This collectable first pressing plays with 'as new' audio on both sides and that is no exaggeration.  As always I have listened to every track in full and that is how I am to provide the 'complete' grading.  No guessing the audio here!  The playback is so clean and precise and there is no background of any kind.  A FINAL UPGRADE archive classic in every sense.  I suspect this was purchased just to be in a collection not to be played because the vinyl is visually in superb condition and labels have no spindle wear either.

The cover has also been preserved beautifully!  There is no obvious wear and I wouldn't blame someone grading it as Mint!  It has retained its shape and structure perfectly and clearly has hardly ever been handled.  The original inner sleeve is also in superb condition.

Rough 148 // MPO ROUGH 148 A1 TY1 / B1 TY1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-)

The cover is Near Mint

The inner sleeve is Mint-

The labels are Mint

Visual description

The vinyl is visually stunning with an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen and has no scratches.  Under a bright light I can only detect 3/4 very faint sleeve removal hairlines and one very small faint scuff on the first track of S2 which has no impact on the audio at all.  Like I say it is very faint.  The labels are perfect with no marking and no spindle wear.

Play grading

The run in on S1 has no background and then the intro on 'Skin & Bones' has crystal clear audio with not even a dust tick.  The opening vocal can also be described 'as new' and it continues in exactly the same way with no interference.  Wheeler's vocal is sublime and the audio is as 'fresh' and precise as it would have been when first pressed.  This is Mint in every sense of the word.  Perfect!

'Here's Where The Story Ends' plays to the same high end standard with literally no intrusion.  I cannot emphasise enough just how pristine the audio is - from the acoustic intro through every vocal and instrumental section this is pure unadulterated Mint audio and that includes the fade out.  A little classic from the early 90s.

The intro on 'Can't Be Sure' plays to perfection as does the rest of the track!  With not so much as a dust tick this is Mint from start to finish.  Again showcasing Wheeler's talents this could not play any better.

The percussive / bass intro on 'I Won' is faultless and from then on plays with a clarity and warmth we have now come to expect now.  As stated this vinyl may never have been played before and the audio certainly suggests that.  The vocal is quite powerful here and yet there is no distortion at all.  Mint

'Hideous Towns' ends the side with sublime clarity and no interference.  One barely audible dust tick that you could easily miss.  Immaculate sound once again and Mint is 100% deserved.

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The intro on 'You're Not The Only One I Know' keeps up this fine standard and plays with 'as new' audio through every section.  No need to elaborate - perfect Mint audio all the way through.

Having listened to S2 in its entirety there is no need to grade each track individually.  You will not be surprised to hear that the four remaining tracks, 'A Certain Someone', 'I Kicked A Boy', 'My Finest Hour' and 'Joy' all play with stunning precision with no sign of any interference.  It's not often I grade every track on an album as Mint without even a single minus but they all deserve it!

In summary this very first pressing plays to the highest standard possible with no intrusion of any kind.  It has that clean aesthetic quality you find on CDs but of course with added depth and warmth that you only find with vinyl.  There is also complete silence in the dead wax between every track and in essence the album plays like it was pressed only yesterday not 33 years ago although I can't believe it's that long ago!

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The cover is in fantastic condition and has been preserved incredibly well down the years.  It is practically 'as new' that's how good it is!  The top edge is perfect and the bottom edge only has a minor touch of barely visible rubbing, I had to look very closely in order to see it.  The spine is also in superb shape with only a couple of tiny rubs and the opening edge is pristine.  The corners have next to no wear and the front and back cover are immaculate without any marking or creasing.  I've just noticed that the date 17/1/90 has been written in small letters inside the cover if you look inside the opening edge.  Kind of authenticates it I guess!  A stunning example that would be hard to beat.

The die-cut black poly-lined inner looks untouched and has no marking or side splits.

Play tested on my Rega P2 with Rega Carbon Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

The record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

Rough 148 // MPO ROUGH 148 A1 TY1 / B1 TY1

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 NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE MAY BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD).  AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN.  HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING.  PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH.  MANY THANKS.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO 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.

I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!

UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £15.95 then £2.00 per extra

USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra

I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS!  IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT.  I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!