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Black Sabbath : Master Of Reality 1Y1 / 2Y1 1st Press w/Stunning original Poster!

This very collectable first Vertigo pressing is STUNNING!  It plays to a superb standard with barely any background.  I use the term 'background' because in my opinion there is no actual interference.  S1 is immaculate and S2 has only the bare minimum of light static during 'Solitude' and I do mean minimal!  It plays so clearly with no obvious intrusion and there are certainly no clicks or pops.  Anywhere!  The clarity, depth and power of the audio on both sides is incredible and I cannot overstate just how strong the sonic quality is.  The vinyl is visually very impressive with only a couple of tiny spindle traces on each label (can hardly see them!) and in my opinion has hardly ever been removed from its inner sleeve let alone played.  A high end FINAL UPGRADE time warp classic for sure.  

What makes this album even more collectable is that includes the original 6 panel poster which happens to be in fantastic condition with no wear!  It has the matt texture of course and weighs 39g.  The embossed box cover is in excellent condition also with only light wear and the original inner sleeve (date coded 0671) is definitely one of the cleanest, most impressive I have ever seen.  A stunning 'package' overall!

6360050  1Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 1 1 2

6360050  2Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 2 2 2

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T3 Near Mint)

The embossed box cover is Ex

The original poster is Near Mint

The labels are Mint-

The original swirl inner is Ex+

Visual description

The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has an immaculate glossy sheen and no scratches.  Only when you hold the record at a certain angle under a strong light can you see a faint fade line on the first track of each side and a few minor faint specks but this obviously has no affect on the audio.  I only mention this to be 'complete' in my grading, they are only very minor and can hardly be seen under a more forgiving light.  There is no obvious marking and what is very impressive is that I cannot find any hairlines!  As stated this record has hardly been played and has clearly hardly ever been removed from its inner sleeve!  The Vertigo labels are practically 'as new' and have only a couple of tiny barely visible spindle traces on each side.  This vinyl is a stunning example of its kind!

Play grading  

The intro on 'Sweet Leaf' plays perfectly and that includes the cough also!  Osbourne's opening vocal has no background and it continues to play with that classic deep Sabbath sound and with no intrusion on the audio.  The clarity, power and depth of the audio is 'as new' and Iommi's down-tuned guitar has never sounded better!  The mid instrumental plays with phenomenal quality and the final verse is of the same high end standard.  This is a STUNNING version, I cannot praise it highly enough, and you can turn the volume up to max without fear of distortion.  The fade out has no background either and this is easily a Mint start to this classic album.  It could not play any better, wow!

'After Forever' also plays with sublime quality from the word go - the intro is faultless and Iommi's first riff plays with incredible depth and resonance.  One of the finest riffs ever written in my humble opinion!  The opening two verses have no background and I detected just one mega light tick during the following instrumental section, hardly worth a mention really!  From then on it plays as you would want it to - with outstanding power and no intrusion on the audio.  In a sense this is not surprising when you consider how clean the actual vinyl is and the sonic quality is certainly equal to how it would have been when first pressed.  There is no static distortion on the vocal and the high octane end section also plays with stunning power etc.  Another perfect fade out also.  What. A. Version!  Mint

The very brief 'Embryo' plays with wonderful clarity and only a couple of dust ticks.  Mint

The slow build up intro on 'Children Of The Grave' is perfect and as the volume increases the playback does not falter.  A sublime Mint intro on every level.  Osbourne's opening vocal is faultless and the standard does not drop the more you get into this classic.  Further evidence that this vinyl has hardly been played such is the sonic quality on offer here.  I play my records 'loud' and the playback here does not suffer for it, the clarity of sound is incredible!  I cannot emphasise enough just how STUNNING the audio is - you also might expect some inner groove distortion as you approach the end but the playback is crystal clear even during Iommi's solo.  The very quiet end section plays beautifully with just one obvious static right at the end but overall Mint- is more than deserved.  A superb version!

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S2 begins with a beautiful version of 'Orchid' that has to be up there with one of the best I have ever heard.  There is no obvious static and the clarity is exceptional for such a quiet acoustic number.  Mint- is a fair assessment of the audio.

'Lord Of This World' plays with awesome (!) power from the get go.  The intro is faultless as is the first vocal and it continues in the same precise way.  Every note is so clean and the depth and resonance of the music is so impressive.  The mid instrumental is 'as new' and 'chorus' section is just as strong.  The next vocal passage has no intrusion and the remainder is of the same high end standard.  Another track that delivers on so many levels although there is one very brief static sound on the fade out.  A STUNNING Mint- version for sure.

'Solitude' is of course such a quiet track and yet the clarity throughout can hardly be faulted.  The long intro plays with 100% perfect clarity and Osbourne's first 'untypical' delicate vocal has no background other than a couple of barely audible dust ticks.  The next instrumental piece has only 2/3 light static ticks but again you are struck by the clarity of sound here.  The next vocal is nigh on perfect with only a couple of mega quiet ticks and thereafter plays with great quality and no interference.  Ok a handful of light background ticks but I only mention this to be 100% 'complete' with my grading, this is vinyl!  They are so quiet and the clarity of sound is hugely impressive - every note can be heard so clearly and nothing is lost in the mix.  Superb sonic quality!  The long fade out plays beautifully with just one light tick.  Overall this track deserves to be graded as Near Mint is my opinion.

The entire intro on 'Into The Void' plays like it has never been played before!  The opening vocal is equally as strong and it continues to defy the passage of time!  For this final track to play with such quality is a rarity - there is no inner groove distortion, no interference at all and again it pays testament to how well this vinyl has been preserved over the decades.  The lack of distortion is remarkable actually and it would be nigh on impossible to find a more 'complete' version than this.  You can turn it up to max the sound just envelops the room!  I'm going to have to repeat myself as the power and depth of the audio is just off the scale AMAZING!  This is exactly why the first pressings are so collectable.  The final vocal and the long instrumental end section just could not play with any greater precision.  This is MINT every day of the week!

In summary this Vertigo first pressing plays with unbelievable quality on both sides and has been so well looked after down the years and clearly has hardly ever been hardly played.  There are no clicks or pops and barely any static either and the very quiet 'Solitude' is a prime example of that.  It has only the bare minimum of light static which is not intrusive in any way and the other quiet tracks play with exceptional clarity also.  The more typical Sabbath tracks play with a sonic quality that is handpicked straight from '71!  You cannot fault them - the power, depth, resonance and warmth of audio is second to none and 'as new' sums it up perfectly.  And a reminder no distortion which is a rarity.  In my opinion this is a FINAL UPGRADE time-warp classic and in conjunction with a very strong cover and a PRISTINE original poster this would add to any high end collection.  A genuine collectors' item.

The Box Cover, Poster & Swirl Inner

The embossed box cover remains in excellent condition with only minimal shelf wear and there is certainly nothing that stands out.  It has kept its shape pretty well and the left / right spines are only slightly angled as a result of some compression.  There is now some cardboard inside which obviously helps.  The actual spines are very clean overall - the bottom spine just has one small 'rub' and the right one just has minimal faint wear in the centre and towards the bottom corner.  The 'main' spine is in great shape and is still 100% legible and all of the corners have hardly any rubbing / wear.  The front cover is very clean without any marking and just has some of the usual laminate lift that you so often find on the left side.  The back cover is so clean and has no laminate 'wear' and only a couple of tiny creases around the edges.  A very strong example overall.

The original 6 panel poster is without doubt the most STUNNING one I have ever seen!  Weighing in at 39g (I have found all originals weigh either 38g or 39g) it is incredibly clean with no marking or pinholes and has retained its original 'shape' so well with barely any creasing.  The reverse side has no marking either!  All of the folds are in in superb shape and of course as this is an original poster it has a matt texture and not the glossy one that the repros have.  It goes without saying that the first pressings often do not include the poster these days and they are hardly ever found as IMMACULATE as this!

The original poly-lined swirl inner (date coded 0671 in the lower left corner) has also been so well preserved with no side splits and only a couple of tiny (barely visible) 'nicks' on a couple of edges.  It has very little creasing and only minimal age related fading around the edges.  A stunner!

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

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

6360050  1Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 1 1 2

6360050  2Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 2 2 2

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!