DONOVAN Cosmic Wheels UK Complete RARE Promo Package EX

	£		29
	$		38

Hi, I am Mike, I am 46 and have been a music collector and enthusiast for over 33 years now. We all wish we could turn back the clock and buy those wonderful brand new records from the 60s and 70s, but alas, this is not possible; so I always try to offer the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. No vinyl/music lover really would choose to buy second-hand, but this is only way now to own these valuable, prized and ellusive items now. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any potential bidder and collector. You may notice I only submit records sparingly on Ebay - on average ONEADAY, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirity, not just bits to guess a grade (on a Rega 3 deck with Ortofon cartridge) - visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story - I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested reader – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean its good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in stunning near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are taken with a digital camera or scanned - they are NOT improved, cleaned-up or made better looking than they are with camera trickery or enhancing with digital programmes. What you see is what you get. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. I am enthusiastic , and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items - bid with confidence - excellence comes as standard and so does Near Mint regularly. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps or sticks or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance. Item wants are always welcome - email me with anything needed, you never know - I may just have a copy in stock. I by quality single items and collections also (Email me please if you have quality items for sale).

Debutant Bidders: Many sellers refuse first time buyers: I do not follow this practice (everybody has to start somewhere), but I would appreciate any first timer letting me know their intentions of their intended payment method and very prompt communication, preferably before any bid or soon after the auctions ends. This gives confidence that their intentions are honourable, and I in return guarantee extra special good feedbacks to get zero rated Ebayers off to a flying start to help them with future transactions. NOTE: I WILL NOT ACCEPT BIDS FROM UNREGISTERED USERS, I will cancel them immediately, and sorry, I cannot give valuations on people’s personal items just for their own curiosity, no item can be accurately valued blindly.

Please read all the information carefully - these adverts take an age to compile properly - so it’s well worth a few minutes of your time to read the details thoroughly. I really cannot take any responsibility if any bidder fails to read any facts that are clearly stated in the advert - Thankyou.

Artist or Band: DONOVAN

Album Title: Cosmic Wheels

Cat Number: S EPC 65450 Stereo.

Label and Condition: Epic custom label one side and yellow format on the other. Near mint examples that show only very light and faint spindle traces. This stunning copy looks hardly played. (I have not scanned these as with the limit of 6 pictures I feel these are just about the least important factors on this special record. They can still be seen on the front and and back cover pictures).

Country of Manufacture: England, UK

What’s in this Package: The original gatefold cover, the original round inner sleeve, the record of course, the illustrated clouds inner, the large round lyric poster, 2 promo Donovan pictures from Epic Records and lastly, but never leastly, two blue ‘Biography’ issue day letter pages from CBS Records Press Office. This is dated March 9th 1973. This was originally March 2nd but is crossed out and changed to 9th, I presume this LP was issued a week later than originally intended. This is a promo copy without any promo stickers or white labels. A superb complete item plus the promo extras. I have pictured the first letter and one of the two Donovan Epic photographs.

Rarity: This has to be rare, maybe unique as a package like this. This was sent to an ex-Radio One DJ.

Original Year of Release: March 9th 1973.

Matrix Nos: S EPC 65450 A4 and B4. A PORKY and PECKO pressing as etched on to the run out grooves.

Brief Artist & Album Info: The UKs legendary folk singer’s first album on Epic Records, which makes this package extra special. A fine folk/psych album that is simply beautifully packaged and rarely seen complete. The promo extras make this one extra special and rare. Rather than long lists I will simply grade the contents simply. The large round poster: EX++, unmounted, clean and untorn. One light creases only that stops this being Mint. Lyrics printed one side and a nude Donovan on the other. Round paper inner (near mint, clean and untorn with perfect die cut roundel. The ‘clouds’ inner: RX+, clean and untorn and not coloured in. Minor ruffling only and very clean. The two promo pictures: One is EX++, other is EX (small corner crease). A great item to have with this set. The Epic logo is printed on both - totally genuine pieces. Both are clean and untorn Faint traces of toning and minor ageing only. The ‘Biography’ letter, this is typed on quite thin blue paper. Its dated and corrected by hand. I would very much doubt if many, if any more of these actually exist or survive. The robustly pressed record has only a couple of surface marks/hairlines. The fragile cover, that actually states ‘Get out your cosmic crayons, kids and colour in’, is NOT coloured in and in EX condition. Some minor edgewear only, the weight of the contents had put some pressure on the spine which has frayed along its top edge, this is relatively neat and unobtrusive. Any Donovan fan should adore this rare and complete item.

Cover Grade and Format: EX, gatefold, very lightly textured, The inner gatefold has a ‘pouch’ that holds all the conents.

Cover Lamination: None.

Cover Front: Clean and attractive with little wear. No creasing either which is unusual as this front is only single ply card. Minimal rubbing and not ringwear.

Cover Back: One of the very best examples I have ever seen for this back, this always seems to attract ringwear and rubbing but this one is close to perfect and its very clean too.

Cover Gatefold Inner: Just about perfect including that pouch, this often splits but not this one, totally uncoloured in - almost like new.

Top Edge: Little wear.

Bottom Edge: Same again.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with little wear. Record and contents enters and stored inside the gatefold pouch.

Spine and Text: This has fairly light wear on the top edge of the spine, all the text remains perfect and unworn.

Corners: All four show a little minor wear, mostly on the very tips. All still nicely shaped.

Cover Summary: A fine all round example of this fragile early 70’s cover, one that could prove hard to find much better. This strong item should please most collectors.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EX/Mint(-) A superb copy with just two or three light marks on side two, side one looks virtually unmarked. The light marks are pretty much superficial with little to no sounds. Super clean and shiny, and jet black. A copy with minimal plays on all the evidence, probably 2 or 3 most. Visually a very nice record that should please most collectors again.

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This super record plays up to its high visual grading with little to fault. Strong, undistorted sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear. Few if any pops or ticks from memory and a fine pressing, any surface sounds are minimal indeed. Both channels are clean and clear, I feel very sure this record has been played little and has been generally well stored and looked after, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Little, if anything spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this gem. This unique copy will prove pretty hard to find significantly better.

Mono vs Stereo, an overview: Always a matter of opinion which is better or more important. For any serious collector where there is a choice e.g. Beatles, Stones, Hendrix etc. both are essential. True Stereo albums give great imagery and presence whereas mono albums usually are more dynamic, louder and present the detail more clearly. Mono albums are far harder to find in genuinely top playing condition. Most were heavily played, particularly the truly great bands and artists, often covered in mark and scratches, many severe and labels that were a mass of spindle marks. The majority were played on vintage and unsubtle decks with heavy tonearms and thick styli (often sapphire, not diamond, that chipped more easily) that rendered heavy wear in a very short time to many a fine classic record. Wear to the delicate groove walls, particularly the innermost tracks to the labels were most vulnerable where the tracking angle became more severe and the backdrag actually stripped the delicate groove walls. This resulted in surface noise and mild/moderate distortion or worse. These old decks tracked by sheer weight and little of any refined engineering. Next time you see such a deck at a local record fayre, feel the weight of the arm, it almost makes you wonder how any records survived at all. The point of this paragraph is emphasise that when a truly clean, lightly played and great sounding 60s mono album (or stereo come to that) is offered, treasure it, because for sure they are truly getting vary rare and precious - beware - demand only play-graded records. As a general guide to rarity, mono was the far more common format from 61–65; Around 66–67 the balance was roughly equal, then from 68-69 the balance swung more to stereo, making monos from these dates far scarcer, even rare - this guide is important and effects values greatly.

Track Listing: Cosmic wheels; Earth sign man; Sleep; Marta magenta; Wild whitch lady; The music makers; The intergalactic laxative; I like you; Only the blues; Appearances.

Album Played For Grading: Yes.

Final Summary: One of the man’s best albums with full backing including: Chris Spedding, Alan white; Cosy Powell, Rabbit; Bobby Keys and even guest vocals from Susie Quatro. The song ‘Intergalactic Laxative’ has to be one of the most bizarre songs from this gifted songwriter ever. This total package is a small piece of recording history, I cannot imagine this will have be seen before with all these original archive pieces included in the complete album. So a fine opportunity for Donovan collectors. A strong set, not quite perfect but even this is over 30 years old, so dont lose this one - its a one-off item. – Mike.

Payment Details please read carefully:

UK First Class: = £2.50; Recorded Delivery (Recommended) = £4.00 Special Delivery (Next day, insured up to £250), the best service available = £6.00

Europe Air Mail: = £4 Insured: £8.00

Overseas, non-Europe e.g. USA, Japan, Australia etc. Airmail:= £7; Insured with recorded delivery (where available) = £11.00

Singles: (Packed to the high standards of the LPs)

UK First class: = £2.00 Insured: £4

Europe Air Mail = £3.00 Insured: £5.50

Overseas, non-Europe (as above) Airmail £3.50 Insured: £6.00

Doubles add extra £1, triples add extra £2. Box sets add extra £3 (£4 overseas and Europe)

Any item that sells for over £85 will be sent Special Delivery in the UK at no extra cost. Items over £125 get the same service Overseas. This is gives peace of mind for the winning bidder and myself for valuable items. Reduced postage of course for multiple items.

The winner bidder chooses his/her posting method and if uninsured is chosen, its their decision and they have to stick with it, I can accept no responsibility if an item is lost in the post. I can only try to claim at standard levels if no enhancement is chosen (£28). PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT use surface mail, its too slow, with a higher risk of loss and damage.

Mailing Details: Please note I do not profit on postage (my packing standards are high and the package weighs a little more. All records are sent in plastic covers with the record taken out of the sleeve and sent in professional mailers with FOUR professional stiffners for extra protection (if space allows), I do NOT use old cardboard boxes or cereal packets for protection. More expensive items are also inserted into a de-luxe heavy duty padded bag AS WELL to give that extra protection. I truly want ALL my items to arrive to their destination in the same condition they leave me. I will also include in most cases a brand new lined inner, but will include the original inner if available and in a condition to be given.

I accept cash for payments worldwide in UK Pounds Sterling, Euros or US Dollars - but this at the senders own risk. Please send registered and insured if this method is chosen. I cannot accept responsibility if any cash payments do not turn up. This system is very reliable and rarely goes astray. The same goes for any shipped uninsured item, I can only try to claim for any undelivered or damaged article at basic insurance levels if no enhanced insurance is requested and paid for (unless the value threshold is high enough for me insure as standard, see above)

Overseas bidders please note conversion rates for Pounds to Dollars and Pounds to Euros will be charged at 1.7 to cover PayPal or cash conversion costs.

PLEASE NOTE: Any PayPal user can now pay me with UK Sterling if they wish with no need to convert to US dollars (although they still can if they wish to). Any instant PayPal transaction from anywhere in the world will mean the item will be sent immediately - it makes deals fast and very efficient.

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. I now only accept PayPal, International money orders or cash from overseas bidders (UK Sterling, US dollars or Euros). Cash, cheques, postal orders and PayPal are fine from the UK. I allow maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if this does not happen I will relist the item and may send negative feedback unless an explanation is given. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask. Please keep watch on my Ebays, I have other interesting items coming very soon. Thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: As listening to every single record I offer all the way through is difficult timewise, can I make it clear if any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund minus the Posting and All Ebay costs as long as the item detail has been read and understood. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer. I still endeavour to play all the items in their entirity for grading if at all possible and is usually the case.