I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid / decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay generally collect at point of sale.  No shipping to Russia currently.

Black Sabbath : Black Sabbath 1Y1 / 2Y1 1st Press 'A Philips Record Product' Vertigo 1970

This first / very early Vertigo pressing plays with a clarity and definition you so rarely find today.  There is a maximum of 12 seconds background in total and I cannot emphasise enough just how stunning the audio quality is!  So there is 3/4 seconds of very light dull crackle at the start of the 'Black Sabbath' intro and the rest of S1 is incredible!  'Sleeping Village' on S2 has a small number of ticks at the start of the opening vocal but aside from that the playback is again outstanding.  The epic 'Warning' is a real stand-out.  Quite simply it plays with stunning precision - there is no background and I am 100% confident in my Mint grading.  I listened to every track in full (sometimes twice!) in order to give a 'complete' grade and I do not think I have heard a PHILIPS press play with a sonic quality as STUNNING as this.  The clarity, depth and power of the audio, aside from the two brief moments of intrusion' is second to none.  One issue for perhaps some potential bidders is the vinyl does have a fair amount of 'bag-rash' but if you do not mind this and just want a PHILIPS pressing that is not far off perfect then you will be more than happy with this record.

The iconic Keef cover is in very good condition but does have some wear on the edges and spine.  The good news is that the majority of the wear is indeed restricted to these areas and the actual front and back cover and the inside are in excellent order overall.  The original Vertigo inner is in excellent condition with only minimal wear.

This edition has the first press matrix and the PHILIPS credit below VERTIGO on the S2 label.  Inside the gatefold the production and composition credits are in capital letters, the composition and publishing credits are missing.  It has the misspelling Ozzie Osborne but this edition does have 'Copyright subsists in all Vertigo recordings'.  The very first cover incorrectly had ... in all Stereo recordings'.  In my opinion this does not make this version a second pressing because the vinyl itself is still a genuine first press with the PHILIPS credit.  It just means they realised their error and soon corrected the cover.

VO 6  1Y*1  420  1 9  4

VO 6  2Y*1  420  1 9  8

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 intro Ex for 3/4 seconds)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T2 opening section Ex- for a few seconds)

The gatefold is VG

The Vertigo inner sleeve is Ex

The Vertigo labels are Near Mint

Visual description

The vinyl itself is in excellent condition but as stated there is a quite a lot faint 'bag-rash' which you often find.  When you look at it on the turntable it looks pristine and it's only when you hold the vinyl under a bright light light that you can see the faint 'contours'.  Obviously the good news is that this bag-rash is 100% superficial as it has zero affect on the superb audio.  So 'underneath' it the vinyl is very clean with no marks or scratches, no groove or surface wear, and there are not many hairlines either.  The Vertigo labels are in superb shape with not very much spindle wear.

Play grading

The tolling bell / thunderstorm intro on 'Black Sabbath' has a little dull crackle for the first 3/4 seconds and then plays with perfect clarity.  Iommi's first piece is deep and strong with no intrusion and the following quieter section plays with stunning clarity also.  Ozzy's opening vocal section is nigh on perfect with only a handful of barely audible statics and the instrumental bridge can only be described 'as new'.  The next quieter section again has only a couple of minor statics that are totally non-intrusive.  This truly is incredible audio for this very first pressing!  As the pace and volume pick up the sonic quality is phenomenal and it continues in the same precise way.  The depth, power and resonance of the audio is STUNNING and the classic end sequence just could not play any better.  The brief pause at the end is totally silent and if the intro is Ex then the rest has to grade as Mint- at the very least.  A remarkable start to the album!

The on / off harmonica intro on 'The Wizard' plays with stunning precision as does the next instrumental section.  Already the rhythm section of Butler and Ward are showing how vital they are to the classic Sabbath sound!  The opening vocal section has literally no intrusion and from then onwards there is no let up in quality and again I cannot overstate just how immaculate the audio is.  There is no 'muddiness' to the sound and no distortion either - the playback is so clean and precise.  The mid instrumental is perfect and the final vocal / instrumental is of the same high end standard.  From start to finish there is not so much as a dust tick so I am confident in saying a Mint grade is deserved here.  Even the fade out has no background and following that... complete silence in the dead wax.  Wow!

The entire intro on 'Behind The Wall Of Sleep' is sonically as strong as it ever was and the first two verses are on a par with that.  The first instrumental bridge has no background and the Turns your body to a corpse vocal section again plays with perfect clarity and definition.  The next instrumental / vocal section again defies the age of the album with 10/10 clarity and Ward's closing percussive section is outstanding with zero background.  This is without doubt another Mint track.

Butler's classic bass intro on 'N.I.B.' is as close to perfect that you will find and I am sure many would say it is perfect.  I heard only a couple of very quiet statics - not ticks!  Iommi's first introduction is faultless and Ozzy's opening vocal is just as strong and clear.  The instrumental bridge has no background and the next vocal is equal to that.  The vocal combined with tambourine (!) again has no background and from that point on it plays with sublime precision.  Iommi's mid solo section for example plays with a clarity and power that is out of this world.  Rarely there is no inner groove distortion and the end vocal section / closing instrumental play with STUNNING clarity, definition and power.  I've just listened to the end solo again and to say it is mind-blowing is an understatement!  It has to grade as Mint- such is the quality - this is easily one of the most 'complete' S1s I have ever listened to and to think it is on a Philips pressing!  If not for the first 3/4 seconds the entire side would be graded as Mint- to Mint!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The intro on 'Evil Woman...' has no background and the depth is again as deep as anything!  The first verse and chorus play with impeccable quality and the next vocal section is equally as strong and clear.  I know I always go on about depth of sound but Butler's deep bass really makes this track.  It has a depth and resonance that is as strong as it would have been back in '70 - exceptional sonic quality!  To the end it plays without fault and Mint is again correct.

The quiet intro on 'Sleeping Village' has only a couple of very quiet statics, the clarity is stunning.  The opening vocal plays very clearly but with a small number of light ticks and 4/5 more obvious ones in the instrumental right after.  Iommi's downtuned section is 'as new' and the next instrumental is more or less on the same level.  Each note is so clean and distinct and the only background - a hint of barely audible static on that long final Iommi note!  I will grade the opening section as Ex- and from then onwards Mint-

The 'heavy' bass intro on 'Warning' is flawless as is the opening vocal section.  The instrumental bridge keeps up the standard and the next vocal section is as strong as the first.  As you would expect Butler and Ward add their usual magic during the next instrumental not forgetting Iommi I guess!  The clarity and depth is 100% and not a shade below.  The next vocal section is perfect and the following instrumental with Ward leading it at the beginning is PHENOMENAL!  As it descends into near silence there is no background at all, STUNNING clarity for a vinyl of this age!  It continues in exactly the same way and already I am running out of superlatives.  The sound of Iommi's guitar is so clean and clinical and his next stand alone section is just as impressive.  The next pause is... 100% silent and it continues to play with breath-taking quality.  This is unequivocally 'as new' I can pay it no higher compliment and it plays as if it has never been played before!  There is not even a dust tick for company let alone anything worse and the long meandering Iommi note near the end is perfect with zero intrusion.  As the volume increase soon followed by Ward and Butler there is no decrease in quality and Ozzy's final vocal rounds this classic off in fine style with no background.  The brief concluding instrumental has no background not even the fade out.  In all my years selling on eBay I have not found many Mint versions of this classic so to find one on a Philips first press is a genuine rarity.  I am 100% confident in that grade by the way, no guessing here.

The Gatefold & Vertigo Inner Sleeve

The matt textured cover is in very good condition with some wear but not an extensive amount.  There is some rubbing on the edges but there are no splits.  The same applies to the spine - notably some wear in the centre and some rubbing on the corners.  The right hand corners also have some wear but the opening edge is in great condition.  The front cover is very clean with only a couple of minor 'fade' lines in the centre and the back cover is in similar condition.  Yes you can see some of the rubbing / wear on the edges but overall the front and back are quite impressive.  The inside of the gatefold has only minimal marking / surface rub mainly around the edges and is in better shape than many I have seen.  A respectable example shall we say.

The original poly-lined inner sleeve is in excellent condition with no side splits or tears and very little marking.  It just has a little surface rub around the edges and minimal glue residue showing through from underneath along the top edges.  There is not very much creasing also.

VO 6  1Y*1  420  1 9  4

VO 6  2Y*1  420  1 9  8

Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT-VM95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on my Pro-Ject VC-S machine

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

Recent Feedback

Postage & Packaging

I will only send items items worldwide via tracked shipping.  This provides 'peace of mind' in case of loss or damage.  The shipping costs are shown below and combined shipping is always offered.  Any over-payment will always be refunded.

The Royal Mail only insure up to a value of £250 so if an item sells for more it may be wise to use a courier service (e.g. Parcelforce or DPD).  An extra insurance premium will be required but I will not know the exact amount until the final sale price is known.  Because of this I will sometimes have to estimate the cost and this will be shown in the listing.  Please wait for the invoice before making payment and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.  Many thanks.

All vinyls are packaged in strong over-sized custom made mailers with plenty of extra cardboard protection.  They are placed inside separate poly-lined inners outside the cover so as to avoid seam splits in transit and then placed inside a PVC sleeve to provide even more protection.  I pride myself on my high quality packaging as my feed confirms and if any customer has any specific requirements I am more than happy to help.

The mailers I use cost £1.00 each and I will use anything between 3-5 cardboard stiffeners which cost approx £0.18 each.  There is also the cost of the poly-lined inner and PVC sleeve to consider, it all adds up!  Not forgetting that eBay take 10% of the shipping fee also!!

UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £6.50 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £13.95 then £2.00 per extra

USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £20.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £19.95 then £2.50 per extra

If you are not entirely happy with your purchase please contact me before leaving feedback and I will always resolve any issue, 100% guaranteed.  If you would prefer to send the item back I will also pay the return shipping cost if I am at fault, I am only human after all!!