FOREST 1st UK 1969 1st Press Harvest EX++ LP

	£		414
	$		548

Artist or Band: FOREST

Album Title: Forest.

Producer(s): Andrew King.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Bad Penny; A Glade Somewhere; Lovemakers’ Ways; While You’re Gone; Syvie (we’d better not pretend); A Fantasy You.

Side 2: Fading Light; Do You Want Some Smoke?; Don’t Want to Go; Nothing Else Will Matter; Mirror of Life; Rain is on My Balcony.

Label/Format: Harvest - original labels format with no EMI and gramophone Co Ltd on the rims. This ultimate first pressing as a rare ‘Factory Sample’ sticker on side one. Totally original, semi-transparent and there since manufacture and that is totally guaranteed. (Please see my label scan).

Label Conditions: Both in stunning condition: very clean and attractive with only tiny and ultra faint spindle traces and no wear around the hole area. This demonstration record was supplied direct to a 60s radio DJ and has barely even been played.

Cat Number: SHVL 760.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 134 grams. [These days, many modern Audiophile reissues are pressed on super-heavyweight 180 gram vinyl. Only a small percentage of ‘vintage vinyl’ was ever pressed this heavy. Records pressed in the 1960s averaged around 135 to 145 grams. Records pressed in the 1970s were usually lighter and averaged more around 115 – 125 grams. Some records pressed around 1973 were very thin and light due an oil crisis and shortage around this time. Some records were even issued on recycled vinyl from this period and sounded poor with crackle and surface noise evident from the very first play. If any record I buy is deemed ‘recycled’, I will never offer it, I have a very simple test to detect these records if I suspect this to be the case other than audible imperfection. Some records from this period were even pressed on other materials the most notable was ‘Dynaflex’, used by RCA around this time. Although inferior to vinyl, this at least mostly sounded reasonably acceptable but pressings on this material were wafer thin and flimsy. Beyond the 70s, many records often became thinner and lighter still but most played fine but were never quite the quality as from the ‘Golden Era’]. (This was based on ‘average’ weights for 50 records from these eras.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: Very Rare and this classic early Harvest album will rarely be seen or offered in such amazing conditions again. The cover goes beyond beautiful, just look at the artwork and the stunning conditions, just a mild small spine stain stops this looking like new, it will prove near impossible to find better these days. The record, apart from a couple of odd paper scuffs (as light as they ever get) and storage traces (yes this is rather old, but totally defies it), is wonderful and plays the same. Clearly the DJ probably played this once and then stored away. I doubt if this has seen daylight for many years. Truly a remarkable copy and just one of several from this amazing collection - please keep watching my Ebays over the next few days/weeks. I do not intend flooding my Ebay site, but will trickle a few on as-and-when possible. These progressive gems and classics are to be treasured, they rarely show up or made available for sale especially like this.

Original Year of Release: 1969

Matrix Nos: SHVL 760 A-1G / SHVL 760 B-1G

Stamper Codes: 1 G / 1 G

Musicians: Martin Welham - 12-string guitar, organ, harmonium, piano, pipes, percussion; Derek Allenby - mandolin, harmonica, pipes, harnonium, percussion; Hadrian Welham - guitar, harmonica, pipes, cello, electric harpsichord, harmonium, percussion, organ, mandolin.

Brief Info: Not strictly ‘progressive’ but one of the earliest and most prized and wonderful albums from the vintage Harvest catalogue, a label noted for its progressive music and one of the most difficult to find. This, like so many I have just acquired were owned by a famous radio DJ of the 1960s/70s, almost certainly hardly even played and amongst the earliest ever issued. This indeed has the earliest matrixes of A-1G / B-1G and a factory sample demo sticker on one label - guaranteed totally genuine and never tampered with at any time. This will be immediately apparent and obvious to any serious collector if they are lucky enough to win this gem. From 1967 the psych wave was drifting into all forms of music from pop to folk and was no exception. Groups like the Incredible String Band (ISB) started the revolution and others like Dr Strangely Strange and now Harvest followed their lead. They made just two albums, both on Harvest and are both extremely rare and difficult to find, they have eluded many collectors for years only selling in very small numbers. Their career was pushed forward by John Peel and eventually they got their chance with the progressive Harvest label, this debut was recorded at the Abbey Road studio, all the songs were original and brilliantly captivating. The stunning artwork was done by Joan Melville. Peel does the comprehensive sleeve notes. Musically haunting, the some strangely-strange melodies and great improvisations. This has long been a connoisseurs prog-folk albums and highly sort after. I have always found this much harder to find than the second album and only ever seen a couple of copies before and none even in the same class or league as this stunning example. Truly a cover for the connoisseur, the small and light spine stain is pretty much the only minor blemish (if you can call it that) and the very clean record plays supremely well with hardly anything unwanted. These acid-folk albums are hard to find like this with nowhere for unwanted sounds to hide amongst the delicate acoustic and vocal music, this gave a fantastic performance throughout. This copy includes the Harvest promotional inner, the only place you can regularly see pictures of this album these days – but seeing is believing – this amazing and quite beautiful cover is truly as wonderful as it looks. The previous owner even put Japanese anti-static inners inside the inners for maximum protection to fully protect the records longevity. This is one that will stick in my mind for sometime long after its gone. Do not let this most prized Harvest classic slip the Net.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: Very High: without any doubt, one of the most eerily beautiful and charismatic covers in the classic Harvest catalogue and this one does it maximum and full justice.

Cover Grade and Format: Probably even undergraded at Mint(-). An unlaminated gatefold format. Printed and made in England and including the Harvest lined promotional inner.

Cover Front: Connoisseur and practically reference standard, this front is simply spell-binding and I have to stop typing regularly just to have another look. An incredible example, this front has barely anything to fault and appears almost totally unaged or blemished. Remember, this and many others I have coming soon from the same owner never went into shops and the covers have avoided the perils of price stickers that ruined so many of these classic covers. With close scrutiny I can see (just) one ultra faint surface scuff on the white moon but honestly, there is nothing else to fault, I simply can hardly believe myself. There is not even a single hairline crease, even on the edges!, this cover has been protected in a heavy-duty cover since its earliest days and has probably never been removed until I took my pictures. IMMACULATE, truly IMMACULATE, this front has not aged a single day since manufacture and will never be beaten I feel certain.

Cover Back: The back is even more revealing but is pretty much the same again, yes true. Any traces of discolour or rubbing barely even register, the odd tiny mark if you look right up close but little more. The lack of grubbiness or ringwear and creasing is astonishing to say the very least. World Class and absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. Please see my close-up shots of the details, how many covers this great age, now forty, could withstand such close scrutiny?

Cover Inner Gatefold: Both faces are also practically as new with no wear or ageing.

Top Edges: Both unworn up to the corner tips, both very straight also.

Bottom Edges: Ultra light and fine surface rubs, probably from entering into and out the plastic cover, but look hard to see them.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with barely any traces of wear, no feathering. Record enters on this back edge.

Spine and Text: The spine was the only part of this cover exposed to daylight inside its protective cover. Hence it has darkened slightly and there is a light stain towards the bottom but of only small significance to the absolutely perfectionist. This is solid, very straight, uncompressed and square, both right edges meet up perfectly together and parallel. All text is perfect and unworn.

Corners: Tiny tips rubs but nothing more, the spine pair have barely anything at all and all retain superb shape and great neat definition.

Cover Summary: Up there with the very best covers I have seen or offered, Few will ever survive like this and the owner took great pride in keep his prized records and covers in the finest conditions he possibly could. This beautiful item should please all collectors, even the connoisseurs reading this.

The Inner: No wear, the only clues to its great age is the gum browning on the seam areas, other than this natural ageing, little else to fault. The lining is still attached, minimal creasing and no edge splits. Nice to see all those classic album covers from the late 60s, the only place they can be regularly found these days and most, including this title, only selling in small numbers.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EX+/EX++ but in real terms much better, this record has without any doubt hardly ever been played. A few mild paper rubs on side one and a couple of side two - totally superficial and non-sounding handling blemishes that has no impact on sound at all. A superb visual copy that is super clean, shiny, intense black and heavily pressed. Visually a super record that should please most collectors again.

Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippetts or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing B&W speakers that include the legendary tweeter from their awesome Nautilus range that reveals every blemish or miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This beautiful and rare record plays up to, and even exceeds its high visual grading with practically nothing to fault. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any surface sounds are minimal and this being a very delicate album, no pops or clicks were noted and this is an exceptional clean pressing. The early Harvest titles are the crown jewels within the famous catalogue, prized and elusive and rarely will this be seen or heard better from the ultimate first pressing. Both channels are clean, sharp and focused, I am certain this record has been played very lightly and has been clearly well stored and carefully handled, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Nothing of note spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record. This copy will prove very difficult to find significantly better and can be strongly recommended.

End Piece: Stunning, almost jaw-drop cover, lovely clean record and undamaged inner, this is a premier-league piece for the serious collector. Just holding this incredible cover will give pleasure before even playing the record. Quality from a bygone era of inventiveness and originality, can such days ever return? - I doubt it. These classics of yester-year are rarely seen like this nowadays and when they surface and go on offer they are to be snapped-up and cherished, one of the best Harvest albums I had the privilege of offering for sale. DO NOT lose this fantastic piece.

Now one of the most established sellers on Ebay and still offering the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. 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, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, not just bits to guess a grade - 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 collector – 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 and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert and vice-versa. 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, sticks, warps or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Deck: Linn LP12 with Ittok Mk IV arm and Ortofon Samba Moving Coil cartridge (tracks at 1.8 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Moth vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too.

First-time, zero-rated bidders, who do not ask permission to bid, will be cancelled immediately and blocked – NO exceptions. For winning bidders who I consider excessively slow to make contact or submit payment, I will use my right to block future bids. If any bidder who wins in the final seconds is present to do so, surely they can at least email me to inform of intention and payment method? If swift or promp payment is a problem, please do not bid.

POSTING & PACKING: What You Get: I now offer the fastest possible posting, mostly the very next day after payment is received or within 48 hours maximum. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT mailers) with the record(s) REMOVED from their main cover to avoid edge splits and placed within a brand new polylined inner. The record’s original inner will be included if available. The boxes are then reinforced with TWO thick stiffners for even extra protection. The cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW heavy duty soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my Moth Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. Printed address labels are used for clarity and well as sender label. You will NOT get tired, dull looking, dust infested records inside worn and foggy covers with tatty inners from this seller and that’s a promise and guarantee. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but NOT surface mail abroad. I never make profit on posting and offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends, with the total costs including ‘standard’ or ‘optional extra insurance’ P&P – ALL UK and Russian packets go out non-negotiable Recorded Delivery. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than 0.1 per percent based on over 4,000+ items sold in over 7 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional.

PLEASE NOTE: I will now only send packets to Russia with Recorded Delivery at a cost of £7 per single LP. If this is unacceptable to Russian collectors, please do not bid. I only want my records to arrive safely and this gives packets a better chance to do so. Also ALL UK packets will be sent with either Recorded or Special Delivery as standard (both have to be signed for). All shipping costs and rules can be found after my description. If they are not acceptable, please do not bid.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: I will cancel ALL first-time bidders with no feedbacks or excessive negatives who do not ask me if its OK to bid first – NO EXCEPTIONS.

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 unless prior notice of any delay is given beforehand. 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 – it’s always worth asking.

SHIPPING COSTS & OPTIONS:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (First Class Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4 (OPTIONAL).

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7 (OPTIONAL).

Posting & Packing: ALL EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA (NOT RUSSIA, see below) (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet Standard with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) = £5.

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with included Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, £500* Maximum) = £9 (OPTIONAL).

Posting & Packing: RUSSIA (Recorded Only, if this is unacceptable, please do not bid):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ only £7) = £9 (OPTIONAL extra insurance as above).

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (any part); Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet Standard with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) = £8.

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with included Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, £500* Maximum) = £13 (OPTIONAL).

* If Rules allow for that country.

PLEASE NOTE: I always get a Royal Mail ‘Proof-of-Posting’ receipt for ALL packets that are sent out and I am happy to prove this to any customer who wishes to see it via email.

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders.

The customer can choose their method of shipping with the exception of second class or surface mail overseas – these I will NOT use. 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 (£35).

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. A maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask and thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: 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. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help.

SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO WEAR AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

My Use of Description Terminology: Surface Marks = Superficial, usually light marks, hairlines or light scuffs that rarely sound. Scratch = a needle mark that goes below the record’s surface, some will sound, some will not, my play-grade will inform. Original = a record that has been pressed with the first label design which does NOT neccessarily mean a very first pressed record. First Pressing = A record that I believe or know to be a genuine very first pressed record. I do not claim to always know for sure, and that’s why I state the stamper and matrix numbers if at all possible, for those who claim to know what they all mean, the information is there for the collector to decide. I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure. Surface Sound = Mild, light sound, usually light crackle or similar. Distortion = Break up of the actual sound caused by groove wear or damage from a chipped stylus – the most undesirable form of unwanted sound, vintage mono records were the most prone to this happening but not exclusively so. The symptoms of distortion are high frequency clipping, moderate constant crackle or an echo type sound quality. Violin, piano and vocals are most prone to groove-wear distortion. Feathering = Fraying or softening of the entry edge of a cover. Covers with feathered entrance edges are more likely to have had the actual record inserted and removed more than a non-feathered, sharp-edged cover which are always far more attractive. Set Off, actually a printer’s term for dark ink leaving mild residue on pale or white ink when rested upon. e.g. when a gatefold cover has black ink closed against white, this can leave some black residue on the pale area – this is mostly unavoidable or course.

The Argument for Vinyl Original sound and mix (mono mixes are rarely available on CD), high quality sound on clean copies (played on a hi-end dedicated analogue system – breathtaking sound!), beautiful, large format covers, artwork, inserts and even full size posters etc; huge investment potential, and the pleasure of owning ‘the real thing’.