LED ZEPPELIN II FIRST UK VINYL PRESS A/B MATRICES PRE-DATES 'WRECK'

	£		94
	$		125

This is an ULTRA RARE original UK FIRST Pressing of the classic 1969 Led Zeppelin LP - Led Zeppelin II   On Atlantic, Plum label, ref ATLANTIC 588 198 - Stereo   Matrices are 588-198-A (with a KT at 1 o clock and an 'R' at 11 o clock) and  (originally) 589-198-B ....but the 9 on the 589 has been scratched out, corrected matrices and replaced with a 588  KT is at 5 o clock and 'C' is at 3 o clock   Note, NO NUMBERS after the A and B matrices!!!! - Made in Gt. Britain - this is EARLIER!!! than the A2/B2 Living Loving Wreck version and is the VERY first pressing.   Also note all matrices are ETCHED not stamped like an A2/B2 - also corrected matrices (see above).   The vinyl is NOTABLY thicker than other pressings I've seen - you have to dig around to actually find much literature on-line on this one so feel free to have a browse.    I have checked with the previous owner and he did indeed PRE ORDER this copy after being blown away by Led Zeppelin I - hence this is one of the first off the press.   Incidentally, the Led Zeppelin 1 I have for sale from the same collection is a Turqoise sleeve edition!!!!! (Watch this space for that one, coming soon)   Record is VG - test played using decent stereo equipment....findings below ...   Side 1: Very Good + ...some light surface marks but nothing serious. Has a bit of crackle to the start of Whole Lotta Love but his abates by the time the middle instrumental section kicks in.  Elsewhere a little light crackle but only here and there.  The quiet spells are mainly crackle free too, of which there are quite a few on Side 1 - no pops, no jumps, couple of light clicks on the outro of Thank you.   Side 2: Very Good  - again some surface marks but plays well...see below Again some light crackle to the start and there's a light mark on Heartbreaker which will cause light clicks for a few bars. Other than that,  slight crackle on outro of Ramble on...about 4 pops on Moby Dick with some crackle in very quiet bongo part Audio is just Brilliant :D (above excepted)   Labels are clean and free from writing / marks though do have a little spindle wear    Sleeve is a VG, Correct lighter brown colour, a few light hairline creases and some very light ring wear.Front sleeve has a couple of sticker tears (see pictures). Normal shelf wear to top and bottom spines and side spine has a few  small creases and is slightly rounded but writing still very readable.  Credits The Lemon Song as opposed to Killing Floor  - Printed by E.J.Day & Co London Produced by Jimmy Page (label and inner gate-fold sleeve) Executive Producer Peter Grant (inner gate-fold sleeve only)   Inner Sleeve is a poly Lined white with a centre cut-out (patent 1072844 Foreign Patents Pending....VG+ if it matters    Tracks are as follows:   Whole Lotta Love What is an What should never be  The Lemon Song Thank You   Heartbreaker Livin Lovin Maid (She's a Woman) Ramble On Moby Dick Bring It On Home    One the finest LP releases of the 1960s - along with the first album, their best work.....they come no earlier!   PLEASE NOTE - Postage is based on UK Recorded Delivery Overseas postage on this will have to be insured and signed for (Royal Mail) - Please note there are some countries I do not post to.
I use the Record Collector Grading Criteria which is as follows:   Mint: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as sealed or unplayed should be Mint.   Excellent: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear and / or creasing.   Very Good: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.   Good: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc.