LED ZEPPELIN IV “ZOSO” WHITE LABEL PROMO (WLP) LP, Atla

$

57

LED ZEPPELIN IV “ZOSO” WHITE LABEL PROMO (WLP) LP, Atlantic SD 7208.  This copy is more of a collector’s item than a listening copy.  If the winning bidder wishes and is willing to pay the extra shipping charge, I can include a VG+ original pressing as a listening copy.

Vinyl Conditon:  VG; under a normal light one side looks VG+ and the other side has a couple of scratches, appearing about VG; under a strong light, however, there are numerous lighter scuffs.  The record plays with continual clicks, ticks and pops, and I play grade it VG at best.  Because I never knowingly buy a record that looks less than Excellent, I really don't know how to grade a record that plays less than VG+.  It certainly isn't G, which is given to a thrashed record with many scratches, but I am not sure what a VG record plays like either.  Basically, if clicks and pops bother you, this record should not be purchased as your listening copy.  The other original pressing (with the Broadway address at the bottom of the label) looks and plays much much better -- it probably looks Excellent and plays VG+ with some ticks here and there (like a typical Atlantic record of the early 70's), a nice listening copy.  Some of you may know me from posting dead wax information on the Steve Hoffman Forums (e.g., Led Zeppelin II, Pink Floyd Dark Side Of The Moon, The Who Who's Next, etc.)  For this Led Zeppelin IV vinyl, the very first U.S. pressing (with "Pecko Duck", "Pecko", "Porky" or similar etchings PLUS the earliest dead wax matrices -- e.g., "CCC-1", "FFF-1" "DDD-1", with the second and third letters and the "-1" being much lighter than the first letter) sounds noticeably "fresher" than the second pressing (i.e., large "75 Rockefeller" address at the bottom of the label) and even more so than later pressing (i.e., small Rockefeller address plus the Warner logo).  Between the UK "plum/red" label first pressings and the U.S. first, I would have to say that the UK sounds a bit warmer but the US sounds cleaner, especially in the bass.  Other than those differences, they are pretty similar overall.  I am not a big fan of the EQ'd Classic reissue, and in my humble opinion, the US or UK first pressings are the way to listen to this great album. 

Cover Condition:  Excellent.  The cover has the typical promo sticker and the black track list sticker and shows bits of corner wear, but overall it is solid and clean and grades Excellent.  It is very difficult to find a clean and crisp FIRST U.S. PRESSING cover of this album, as they seem to be vulnerable to much edge wear (especially at the top and spine) and ring wear (especially on the back).  For whatever reason, the later U.S. pressings' covers of this album were more resistant to wear.  The cover of this promo copy is better than 90% of the first U.S. pressing covers I have seen over the years (and I probably have seen at least a hundred copies).  It is certainly not NM, or even NM- (in my book), but it is very clean for this record.  (The cover of the regular 1st pressing copy is not nearly as good and I would grade that cover VG or VG+).  

I reserve the right to refuse to honor bids by buyers from countries where shipment routinely gets lost, damaged or delayed and buyers who have a pattern of nonpayment or negative feedback.  Please contact me before bidding should you have any concerns.  I also reserve the right to end the listing early if there is no bid on the item, in accordance with eBay policies.

GRADING POLICY FOR LPS:  Grading is for the cover/box and for the record.  The record may have two grades, one for visual grade and another for play grade.  I have never played some of these records and some records may only be visually graded.  The grading for the record will be relative to a mint record of the period manufactured by the same record company.  Therefore, the standards will not be the same between, for example, a Japanese Pioneer/Holland Philips/German Teldec pressing of the early 80’s (which are on super quiet vinyl) and a U.S. ABC/MCA pressing of the late 70’s (which are typically noisier).  A Near Mint graded late 70’s U.S. ABC or MCA record will play with considerably more background noise caused by cheaper vinyl material than a Near Mint graded early 80’s Japanese Pioneer, Holland Philips or German Teldec record. 

SHIPPING POLICY:  All records have been cleaned on my VPI 16.5 record cleaning machine and will be placed in a poly-lined or rice paper sleeves, unless the records are sealed.  The LP will be packed in a cardboard box LP mailer manufactured by ULINE.  The record will be placed outside of the LP outer jacket so that it will not damage the cover during transit. 

For U.S. destinations, the shipping cost for 1 record delivered via US Postal Service Parcel Post will be $6 if your State touches the Pacific Ocean, $8 if your State or Commonwealth touches the Atlantic Ocean, and $7 if your State touches neither Ocean.  For each additional record, add $1 for each for up to 6 records.  (Each LP mailer will fit up to about 6 records.)  For example, for a boxed set containing 3 records, please just add $2 to the shipping cost of the first record.  If you would like your item shipped using a different option offered by the US Post Office (e.g., Priority Mail or Express Mail) or a private courier service (e.g., FedEx or UPS), please contact me.

For destinations outside of the U.S., below are the prices for US Postal Service First Class Mail and Priority Mail.  Please contact me regarding the cost if you would like your item shipped using a different option offered by the US Post Office or a private courier service (e.g., FedEx or DHL). 

I will NOT be responsible for UNINSURED items lost, damaged or delayed during transit.  If you would like to pay for insurance, please contact me regarding the cost.   

Cost of international shipping via USPS First Class Mail, which usually takes about 2 weeks but may take as much as 4 weeks: 

Canada

Asia

Europe

1 record

$7

$13.50

$13.50

2 records

$10

$20.50

$20.50

3 records

$12

$23

$23

4 records

$14

$26

$26

5 records (assuming less than 4 lbs.)

$16

$29

$29

Cost of international shipping via USPS Priority Mail, which usually takes about 1 week: 

Canada

Asia

Europe

1 to 2 records

$23

$31

$31

3 to 4 records

$25

$34

$34

4 to 5 records

$27

$38

$37

6 records

$29

$41

$39

PAYMENT POLICY:  I accept PayPal and U.S.-negotiable cashier’s check.  Payment must be made within five (5) business days after the bidding for the item ends.  If that timing does not work for you (because, for example, you will be on vacation, etc.), please contact me BEFORE bidding.