Afghan Wings Gentlemen L.P. ORIG U.K. Blast First Pressing Sub Pop EX/EX+ Cond.

	£		22
	$		29

RARE Original U.K. 1993 Blast First pressing of The Afghan Whigs ‘Gentlemen’ L.P. (Catalogue Reference: Blast First BFFP 90).  This was licensed to Blast First in the U.K. by Sub Pop Records and consists of a vinyl L.P. stored inside a black, poly-lined inner sleeve which is held inside a single card sleeve.  The title-sticker which was once in the top right-hand corner has long since been removed.  I’d be very surprised if this copy has been played more than a couple of times and in the time I’ve owned it I have never bothered playing it (probably a bit of a disgrace really).  The vinyl has been played because there are some light, greasy fingerprints on the playing surface but it has really benefited from being stored in the poly-lined sleeve.  One of the fingerprints on the edge of Side Two has resulted in some wispy, hairline markings.  Grading under an intense light there are only very isolated, odd hairline marks alongside the aforementioned fingerprints (very few of which have left any lasting impression).  The vinyl retains a lovely sheen and is confidently graded as being in EXCELLENT+ condition.  It is immediately obvious that this copy has never seen heavy play.  There are two obvious flaws with the sleeve.  One of the flaws has already been mentioned which is the loss of the title sticker in the top right-hand corner.  As the sleeve has a very thin layer of laminate on it some of this laminate has been lost from beneath the sticker (but not all of it).  This isn’t particularly obvious because the laminate is not thick and can only really be seen when the sleeve is angled under a light.  The other flaw is a dig in the top of the sleeve on the front which should be visible in the attached images.  This damage is not replicated in the corresponding position on the rear of the sleeve.  Who knows what has done this but it has ultimately resulted in a small tear which measures approximately 5 millimetres.  The sleeve really doesn’t look over 20 years old.  There is some creasing to the spine where this has presumably sat in a rack at some point and there are creases to the top right-hand and bottom right-hand corners.  The crease to the bottom right-hand corner is also replicated in the corresponding position on the rear of the sleeve.  The latter is the only flaw to the rear of the sleeve which is definitely ‘tidier’ than the front’.  There are five small creases which run parallel to the opening edge of the sleeve on the front which are characteristic of the sleeve being gripped between the fingertips whilst the vinyl is removed.  All of the corners are still pretty ‘sharp’.  To be honest all these flaws are quite minor and this is still a superior-looking copy which is graded as being in EXCELLENT condition.

Condition

VINYL – EXCELLENT+

SLEEVE – EXCELLENT

Final Remarks

Usually when you find vinyl from this period it tends to be quite tatty as the people that bothered buying it tended to play it to death.  This is definitely not the case here!  Only a tiny fraction of the original sales of this record would have been on vinyl.  Please check my other auctions for a large run of Disco, Funk, Pop, R&B and Rock items in similarly immaculate condition.  Save me as a favourite seller as there is plenty more where this came from!

General Conditions & Information

I have been a collector for in excess of 15 years now and regard myself as a conservative grader.  I know from experience that there is nothing worse than buying an item which is described with superlatives only for it to arrive and look like it has been scrapped along the floor (!).  As a rule I don’t submit anything to auction which I wouldn’t be happy receiving myself.  I endeavour to be accurate with my grading and all items are graded under an intense light.  Please take a look through my feedback as I’d like to think it speaks for itself. 

Returns Policy

If you are not entirely happy with your purchase then please contact me within 7 days of receipt.  The buyer is expected to meet the return postage costs.

Payment Methods

Domestic buyers can pay via Cheque, PayPal or Postal Order.  Overseas buyers are always welcome and are required to pay via PayPal.  Payment is expected within 7 days of auction end unless otherwise agreed.

Postage Costs

I have had to bring my service in-line with changes to Royal Mail Terms and Conditions effective of April 2013.  Previously items sent via standard post were automatically covered up to the value of £46.00 however, standard postage now only covers items up to the value of £20.00.  Items with an opening value >£20.00 will include domestic Signed For postage costs automatically.  Items with an opening value <=£20.00 and which complete with a value <=£20.00 will continue to be dispatched via standard post unless otherwise agreed (i.e. the buyer indicates a preference otherwise).  Items which have an opening value <=£20.00 but whose final value is >£20.00 will be subject to enhanced postage costs in order to cover the extra insurance which is required.  I hope this is as straightforward as I can make it?  Ultimately, please don’t make payment until you’ve received an invoice from me and if you aren’t happy with the invoice you receive then I’m always open to discussion.  Buyers should be aware that both Ebay and PayPal take a % of postage charges (i.e. they are higher than I’d ideally want them to be).

Multiple purchases will be subject to consolidated postage costs.  I will contact you at the end of the auction to confirm these costs.

Proof of postage is always obtained and retained.

Overseas Buyers

As noted above Overseas buyers are welcome.  If you want me to investigate potential postage costs in advance of the auction’s end then please feel free to contact me.