Black Sabbath - Paranoid

A Black Sabbath Holy Grail - An amazing relic of musical history, this is very special.
An original 1970 Vertigo UK pre-release White Label Test Pressing, with the earliest prototype / sample cover.
Earliest Mother and Stamper codes.
6360011 1Y//1 420   1 2 1
6360011 2Y//1 420   1 1 2
Identification and Authentication The most obvious sign that identifies this vinyl record as a UK 1st issue, is the absence of a break between the tracks "Hand of Doom" and "Rat Salad" on the B side, which is unique to the UK first Master.
The B side looks like it has only 3 tracks, but there are actually 4,

The run-out stamps
The stamps are identical to the UK first issue stamps, not just the earliest Mother / Stamper codes, but identical font, font spacing, all fade and indentation characteristics of the stamps are absolutely spot on.
These are 2 of the earliest matrix codes that you will ever see, and this was pressed at the start of the stamper's life, not towards the end of it.
1st masters - 1st mothers - 1st and 2nd Stampers.
2 is the first mother for the A side, because the first A side Mother failed, and was never used.

The Sample Cover The inclusion of the sample cover, (along with the earliest run-out matrices) indicate that this Test Pressing is a pre-release test pressing, to finalise, and sign off on the issue. The sample cover is identifiable as a first issue sleeve, even without the inside of the gatefold, and the Big Bear credits.
The absolute kicker for the sleeve is the Vertigo swirl on the front top left of the cover. The logo print is slightly out of register with the rest of the sleeve, leaving a small amount of the base white card showing through the Vertigo swirl.

This slight printing error is like a fingerprint from the original manufacturers print, and this printing error is particular to the earliest sleeves released, as the error to the company logo had been missed in the final check... (most likely this actual package - and perhaps understandable, as I think that the printing error does make the Swirl logo look better...But it is an error)
If you check the historical sales and images for the UK first press with the Big Bear credit, then you will see that only some (the earliest) Big Bear sleeves have this slight, but visible registry error in the printing of the swirl, and the VO Price code, on the back of the cover.
The cover has a 4 written with marker pen on the front, suggesting there were more of these, and this is the 4th copy - they would be going to band members, sound engineers and the important people behind the production of this record.
There is no inside to the cover, and no flaps or evidence of joins to anything, the edges are clearly original, and this was never a complete sleeve. The construction of the official 1st released sleeve is all done in one part, this is clearly a prototype, not a cut down sleeve, the edges are old, they are perfect, and they are perfectly straight.

I purchased this from a second hand / op shop, in Brighton (UK) about 4 months ago. (March 2021)
That is as much as I know of it's origin, but there are several authentication markers on both the vinyl record, and the cover. I have been examining, and researching it for a few weeks now, and I have no doubt that it is authentic, and it's authenticity can be proved beyond any doubt, by the run-out matrices, the surface banding of the B side vinyl, and also in the printing of the cover sleeve.
I am not certain of it's value, as it has never been seen or sold before, nor anything close to this sort of pedigree, so I am open to serious offers, otherwise it will go up for auction on eBay, sometime in October 2021, and I will use the interim time to gain exposure.
Use this time to ask questions, and satisfy yourself before you send me an offer, or before the bidding starts.
This is a one off item, beyond rare, and of  the highest pedigree for any record collector, Black Sabbath fan, or Vertigo collector, and perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a significant relic like this. I have unearthed, and discovered some wonderful items in my time with vinyl records, but nothing quite like this.
The audio quality is astounding, but the surfaces are not perfect, with some low level pops, nothing ugly or loud, and still a really good listen, from the beginning to the end. You can tell that it is just a hair away from the original master when you listen to it, as although it has some small pips and pops, it is still the best quality audio I have ever heard for this 1st release, and it is also the main reason that I am certain that this was pressed at the start of the stampers life, and not toward the end of it.

I will add to this listing should any more information become available.
Label: Vertigo ?– 6360 011 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, before the inside of the gatefold even had the Big Bear Management Credits!!
Country: UK Manufactured: Before the 22 Sep 1970 Genre: Rock Style: Hard Rock, Heavy Metal

Tracklist

A1 War Pigs
A2 Paranoid
A3 Planet Caravan
A4 Iron Man
B1 Electric Funeral
B2 Hand Of Doom
B3 Rat Salad
B4 Fairies Wear Boots

Companies, etc.

• Published By – Essex Music International Ltd.
• Produced For – Tony Hall Enterprises
• Recorded At – Regent Sound Studios
• Recorded At – Island Studios
• Lacquer Cut At – Phonodisc Ltd.

Credits

• Bass Guitar – Terry "Geezer" Butler*
• Design, Photography By – Keef (4)
• Drums – Bill Ward
• Engineer – Brian Humphries, Tony Allom*
• Lead Guitar – Tony Iommi
• Management [Big Bear, Birmingham] – Jim Simpson
• Producer – Rodger Bain
• Vocals – Ozzy Osbourne
• Written By – Iommi / Osbourne / Butler / Ward
• Written-By – Ward*, Osbourne*, Butler*, Iommi*

?1970

Note:
There is no break in between the tracks "Hand of Doom" and "Rat Salad"  i.e. looks as though there are only three tracks on the B side of the record when there are actually four.

Barcode and Other Identifiers

• Matrix / Runout (B-side label): 6360 011 2
• Price Code (Rear of sleeve boxed below Cat.No.): VO PRICE CODE
• Matrix / Runout (A-side runout stamped): 6360011 1Y//1 420 1 2 1
• Matrix / Runout (B-side runout stamped): 6360011 2Y//1 420 1 1 2