LED ZEPPELIN IV 4, ULTRA RARE CONTRACT PRESSING WITH AV1/BV1 MATRIX NUMBERS!

LED ZEPPELIN IV 4, ULTRA RARE CONTRACT PRESSING WITH AV1/BV1 MATRIX NUMBERS!

Click images to enlarge

Description

I'm an avid record collector and have been collecting classic 1960s and 70s albums for many years. During this time I have added duplicate copies of quite a few of  my favourite albums to my collection. I've always sought out the very best copies available as I'm very particular about the records that I own. The time has come for me to pass on a few of these choice albums in order to free up some of the limited space available in my record cabinet.

On offer here is a very special copy of  Led Zeppelin's iconic untitled fourth studio album, often referred to as Led Zeppelin IV, Catalogue Number 2401012. It's a 1971 UK first issue on the plum & orange Atlantic record label, with a first issue matt-finish gatefold sleeve. It comes complete with the correct first issue soft card grey lyric/credits inner sleeve. What makes this LP so special is that the matrix numbers are Av1 and Bv1, where v = inverted triangle. I'm sure that most people are aware that the earliest matrix numbers for Led Zeppelin IV are A3/B3 or A3/B4. A little research suggests that this particular record is most likely to be a Philips contract pressing. Back in the early 1970s Philips and Polydor shared a pressing plant in Walthamstow, England. It was not uncommon for batches of pressings to be contracted out to other companies at times of high demand as would have been the case with the Led Zeppelin IV album. Further information on matrix numbers and run-out stampers to support the Philips contract pressing contention can be found at http://www.7tt77.co.uk/matrix_numbers.html
[The sleeve is the earliest possible design with a matt finish. The record matrix numbers and stampers are: Side One - 2401012 Av1  420  1  1  2 and Side Two - 2401012 Bv1  420  1  1. The credits on the record labels are also very unusual in that "Kinney Music Ltd" and "Superhype Music Ltd" are printed one above the other rather than on the same line. The lyric/credits inner sleeve is the first issue with flipback edges. It is made from soft grey card and carries no catalogue number].

The gatefold sleeve is in EX condition with just light signs of wear and a few minor creases. The front and back covers are unmarked with no ringwear and the opening gatefold spread is pristine. The spine is square and solid. It's a lovely example of this iconic sleeve. Please study the supersize photos carefully as they form an important part of the item description.

The top quality mid-weight record retains a nice shine and rotates evenly on the turntable. Visually it is in VG+ condition with only a few superficial sleeve-removal/rub type surface marks evident under bright light which do not have any significant effect on the audio playback. The plum & orange Atlantic labels are unmarked apart from some short spindle traces concentrated near the centres. There is minimal wear to the spindle hole. The audio playback is EX throughout with barely any discernible deterioration in sound quality and a minimum of unwanted noise (just a touch of light surface sound which is never intrusive and only mentioned for complete accuracy).

The soft card lyric/credits inner sleeve is in EX condition with no splits or tears, which is very rare to find.

Overall there is no doubt that this is a genuine Led Zeppelin rarity. In all my years of collecting Led Zeppelin albums I've never come across another one like it. It's likely to be a long time before the opportunity presents itself again!
 

GRADINGS

The records that I offer for sale have been critically play-graded, at loud volume, on a Pioneer PL-L1000 tangential tracking turntable fitted with a Nagaoka MP-300 cartridge. I will only sell records that play to a high standard. My grading is strict and in accordance with the following descriptions:

·         MINT- Record is superb, almost like new, with just a few sleeve removal type surface marks and no deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve is near perfect in all respects.

·         EX Record is a top quality example with just a few very light surface marks and virtually no discernible deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve has slight wear and/or creasing.

·         VG Record has some visual surface marks, but still plays to a high standard without any major deterioration in sound quality – just a few clicks or light surface sound in places. Sleeve has normal wear and tear without any major defects but is still very presentable.

     All records can be expected to rotate sufficiently evenly on the turntable for there to be no effect whatsoever on the audio playback. Minor warps or dishing will not be mentioned as virtually all records display these features to some degree and no record is perfectly flat.

    Vinyl is not a perfect medium and even the finest quality pressings will play with a degree of residual surface sound, however minimal. Where, in my opinion, unwanted noise interferes with the listening enjoyment of the record, it will be mentioned in the item description. It is unrealistic to expect a 40+ year old record to play with a background of complete silence. Please bear this in mind when bidding.

PACKAGING         

LPs are packaged with care and well protected to ensure that they arrive safely in the same condition as they leave me. Records are removed from both inner and outer sleeves in order to prevent seam-splits in transit.

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE

LPs posted outside of the UK will only be sent International Signed-For with insurance at the following cost:   

Europe - £8.50

Worldwide - £11.50