BLACK SABBATH 'Masters Of Reality' VG+/VG con.Box (Howards) cover (1Y/ 2Ymatrix)

	£		38
	$		50

BLACK SABBATH  'Masters Of Reality' Boxed Laminated Embossed cover.Vertigo 6360 050. Released 1971.
Matrix Numbers and lettering in run out groove....
Side A) (The swirl label side) 6360050.  1Y//1-420.    1 2 3.   Then further round on the run out groove above the point where SIDE A is printed on the swirl label are the numbers 04.
Side B) (To be clear this is the black label side ).6360050   2Y//1      - 420   1 2 2 0 . Then further around the run out groove above the swirl are the numbers 04 . (Please also note that I've used the dash symbol -  between the numbers 1 and 4 instead of the small inverted triangle which is actually really there as I am unable to type a triangle using this keyboard.) I think the important thing to note are the 1Y//1 and 2Y//1 numbers and letters .
I refer to the 'Record Collector Rare Record Price Guide' system when grading records and also play check them on a Project Debut 3 turntable .
Vinyl (sound quality) : VG to VG+   The sound quality on both sides is very good . There's just the bare minimum of surface noise which is only really noticeable on some of the very quietest tracks on the LP and in some of the spaces between the tracks ,but it really is unobtrusive. The only exception to this is the track 'Solitude' which though it plays through fine does have a couple of light 'pops' after the lyric ' now they are gone' (for people more familiar with this track ) and 5 or 6 very faint 'ticks' just before the track starts to fade out. 
Vinyl (visual quality): VG   A number of surface marks are apparent on both sides but there certainly isn't an overwhelming amount of them and none which to my ears adversely affects the sound quality.  Perhaps the exception to this is the track 'Solitude' which I've already pointed out does have a very faint series of ticks just before the fade out. There are also numerous 'hairlines'or paper marks on both sides but nothing you mightn't expect for a record of this age.
Box album cover : VG   The embossed (raised lettering) box sleeve/cover does show signs of wear and tear .....There's a piece of sticky tape in the middle of the front covers bottom edge, just under the L of 'Reality' which goes round to the back too and looks like it once had the purpose of keeping the cover closed so the record wouldn't fall out . Similarly on the back there is a small section of tape on the middle of the top edge (which I assume was once used to keep the lid sealed) just above the A of the word ' Black'.Note that the tape doesn't run all along the top or bottom edges , it is only more or less in the middle . For all I know this tape might have been there right from the day the record was purchased originally ,I really have no way of telling. On the back there is also the remains of what was probably a price sticker just to the right of the word 'Black'. The laminate has lifted slightly in a few places,most notably along the bottom of the front of the cover . The box cover has also become a little flattened over the years which has accentuated creasing towards the edges ,front and back. All four corners of the cover show signs of scuffing but I have certainly seen a lot worse. The fold in lids ,top and bottom are both intact with no rips or splits but they do show signs of wear and tear with creases here and there. All four edges of the cover show signs of shelf wear ,mostly creasing rather than scuffing but all the writing on the left hand edge of the cover is perfectly legible. Really the important thing to note about the cover is that it is still intact with no big tears ,splits along the edges , pen or marker marks.
Inner sleeve : VG   Unfortunately the LP doesn't come with the swirl sleeve and is simply a plain white paper one , a little aged but still intact.
Labels :  VG+   Both labels appear to be in very good condition and are nice and clean with no pen marks or sticker residue. Both labels show sign of spindle wear around the centre hole when they are angled to the light but nothing exceptional! 
I've tried to be quite conservative in my grading and other people might grade this record more highly but I think it's better to err on the safe side as grading is such a subjective thing .I can only conclude that if I was purchasing this record and it had been graded as VG+ as per 'Record Collector' then I certainly wouldn't be disappointed.
I hope that my photographs prove to be of assistance.As you can see I've tried to show the matrix number in the final photo but I've also written it down (see above ) in case you can't read it from the photo.
UK bidders only please.
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