QUEEN II TRUE 1st UK PRESS, ORIGINAL LABEL LAYOUT, RARE UNLAMINATED INSIDE COVER

	£		80
	$		106

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This is a mega-rare true first pressing of Queen II.

Having 4U/4U matrixes for Queen II does not automatically mean it's a first pressing. These matrixes remained in use for a relatively long period of time and it is sad to see the number of 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th .... etc pressings of Queen II being mis-sold as 'first pressings'.

This is a TRUE 1st UK pressing.

Early labels for Queen II have the 'Side White' and 'Side Black' indicators positioned vertically, just below the spindle hole. However, only the very first pressing has the publishing year and Trident publishing credit as text at the top of the label. All subsequent pressings have the publishing year near the bottom of the label, below the Trident logo. Have a look at other copies on ebay and you will see that this original label design is incredibly rare. Queen weren't a big name yet and so the first pressing run of Queen II was relatively low.

Of course this has the first 4U/4U matrixes, but this also has the first mothers and 11th and 19th stampers, as follows:

Side white: YAX 4735-4U               1                     GG

Side black: YAX 4736-4U               1                     GT

So, one of the earliest.

However, a very small number of these first pressings were also issued with a different gatefold cover, which was only laminated on the outside. The inside section is not laminated (apart from a tiny strip at the edge where the lamination overlaps the fold). Copies with this rare, original label layout and unlaminated inner gatefold are almost impossible to find.

Condition

In normal light there is not much to see: the playing surfaces have some small or light marks including a couple of longer surface marks, but there's nothing bad, and under under bright, direct light there are additional sleeve-removal marks, fine hairlines and other small marks, but overall the record looks decent. I have played the whole record and lots of it sounds superb, but other parts are less good. Generally, this is the difference between the quiet songs and the loud ones. Both sides have a handful of places where you get a short-lived repetitive click, but there is nothing that losts longer than a dozen revolutions. Most of the audible issues are in the quietest parts, and the loud parts all sound great with tracks like 'Loser in the End', Funny how Love is' and 'Seven Seas of Rhye', and the loud parts of 'Father and Son', 'March of the Black Queen' etc sound great and would play-grade around Excellent, but the quiet parts of these tracks and the other quiet songs are where you get extraneous noise and crackle, and they grade lower. Taking an overview, and averaging out the Excellent parts and the other parts, leads me to play-grade this overall around Very Good (VG), but acknowledging that there are parts which are better than this and parts which are lower.

The cover has normal signs of age and use including wear around the opening, spine, edges and corners and some small laminate creases and scuffs on the outside and some marks to the unlaminated inside.

The inner sleeve generally looks its age. It has splits to all three seams, including a big one along the bottom (all the way). It has discolouration and small marks (which you can see in the photos) and tears and torn pieces along the opening. In short -  it is generally looking a bit shabby. On a positive point - there are no repairs.

All photographs are of the actual item for sale. Please ask any questions before you bid or buy.

Where gradings are given these are visual gradings and are based on the UK Record Collector Grading System (see below for details).

I use the UK RECORD COLLECTOR GRADING SYSTEM. This grading system differs from some other grading systems, in particular the Goldmine grading system. Please make sure that you are familiar with the UK record collector grading system before you bid.

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, discoloration, etc.

Fair: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for prop­erly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.

Poor: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

Bad: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler.

Plus (+) or Minus (-) are added where items fall between gradings. I only ever use one plus or minus.

P&P costs as follows:

UK:

First LP or 12" record = £4.95, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

First 7" record = £3.95, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

Europe:

First LP or 12" record = £14.95, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £11.95, each additional item = an extra £1.00 P&P charge.

Rest of the world:

First LP or 12" record = £24.95, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £14.95, each additional item = an extra £1.00 P&P charge.