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 3rd / 4th Press Vertigo 1971

This early Vertigo pressing plays to the highest standard possible.  A bold claim to make I know but it has been so well preserved and has no background not even a minor static tick.  The clarity, depth and power of the audio is on another level and even the quieter sections play so clearly with zero intrusion, it is the definitive version you could say.  Sonically it is as strong as ever and has clearly only been very lightly played.  I cannot emphasise enough just how immaculate the audio is and the vinyl is visually stunning also.  This easily qualifies as a FINAL UPGRADE version, it has the wow factor!

The iconic Keef cover is one of the finest examples I have ever seen and for once it has retained its original shape and structure perfectly.  It has only the bare minimum of wear and even an Ex++ grade might be underselling it!  It does not have a Vertigo inner sleeve but the Plastic Bags... one is in superb condition with minimal wear.  Maybe this '71 pressing was sometimes issued with this sleeve although it is dated 0972 so could well be a replacement.  Who know!

This pressing has the smaller swirl logo and VERTIGO written above the spindle hole on S2.  The band, production and composition credits are in lower case but Ozzy Osbourne is still spelt incorrectly as Ossy Osborne.

VO 6  1Y * 1  420  1 9  2 3

VO 6  2Y // 2 ▽ 420 1 1 3

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio S2 is Mint(-)

The gatefold is Ex++

The inner sleeve is Ex+

The Vertigo labels are Near Mint

Visual description

The vinyl is in beautiful condition and still has a stunning glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  Under a bright light light I can only see a small number of ultra faint hairlines and there is nothing that stands out.  There is a long(ish) one on S2 but it is still so faint and is not easy to find anyway!  There is no groove or surface wear, no 'bag rash' and the Vertigo labels are near perfect with no marking and very little spindle wear.

Play grading

The tolling bell / thunderstorm intro on 'Black Sabbath' is like you're in it!  The clarity and definition is incredible and there is not so much as a single static sound.  It is the perfect Mint start.  Iommi's first introduction along with Ward and Butler is just as clean and strong and the following quiet section with Ozzy's opening vocal plays with STUNNING clarity also, there is just no intrusion.  The instrumental bridge keeps up this fine standard the next quiet passage is... perfect.  On such a clean recording you really notice just how vital Ward's sound was, the percussion here is superb.  The second vocal plays with impeccable quality and as the pace and volume pick up into that classic final section the playback is phenomenal!  There is no distortion and the original sonic quality is still very much evidence.  The power and depth of the audio is up there with the best I have ever heard, I cannot fault it.  Right to the final note there is no background and this classic has to grade as Mint there is no need for a minus here.

The harmonica intro on 'The Wizard' plays with incredible clarity once more, even during the brief silences there is no background.  The following instrumental is equal to that and Ozzy's first vocal has no intrusion either.  What really impresses so far with this vinyl is the clear, succinct sound which essentially means it has hardly been played and the visual quality does confirm that.  There is 'muddiness' to the sound, no distortion, the audio is just so clean and precise.  The mid instrumental is perfect and the final vocal / instrumental again play to the highest standard possible.  This is without doubt another Mint track.

There are a couple of static ticks in the dead wax and then the entire intro on 'Behind The Wall Of Sleep' is 'as new' without any background.  The opening vocal section is crystal clear as is the instrumental bridge and the next vocal has no intrusion either.  Once again the audio is immense!  And it continues in the same precise way - from start to finish the audio is STUNNING, I cannot praise it highly enough.  Even Ward's percussive ending is perfect!  Mint

As you can see I running out of superlatives for the audio on this side!  So often Butler's bass intro on 'N.I.B.' has some static or worse but it is unbelievably clean here with NO intrusion at all.  Never heard better!  Iommi's first 'section' is just as strong and Ozzy's opening vocal section has no ticks, clicks etc.  From then onwards the sonic 'soundscape' is so impressive for a final track.  I often mention inner groove distortion for good reason because vinyl is so often impacted by it.  Not here!  The mid 'solo' from Iommi is a prime example of what I mean - the audio so clean, deep and powerful and there is just nothing getting in the way.  The next vocal is on the same level - some strong tambourine work here!  The concluding instrumental is superb and again there is no distortion.  I only grade as Mint if there is literally no background and that grade is certainly deserved here.  This is one STUNNING side of music!

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

The intro on 'Evil Woman...' is perfect as is the first verse.  As you would expect Butler's bass is so deep and resonant - it is so high in the mix and sound great!  The chorus is just as strong and clear and it proceeds in exactly the same way.  The mid instrumental is 'as new' - every vocal and instrumental play with tremendous quality and even the fade out has not so much as a dust tick.  A dynamic Mint version.

The quiet intro / opening vocal on 'Sleeping Village' play with STUNNING clarity and the classic instrumental led by Iommi (of course) is faultless.  Once again the rhythm section of Butler and Ward provide the perfect accompaniment and Iommi's long final note... has no background.  To continue a theme this deserves a Mint grading also.

The 'heavy' bass intro on 'Warning' bursts through the speakers with clinical precision and Ozzy's opening vocal is just as impressive.  The instrumental bridge is perfect and the next vocal section is equally as good.  The first instrumental of substance plays with a sonic quality that cannot be faulted and the next vocal is as pristine as the first.  As Ward introduces the long instrumental the playback is outstanding and as it descends into near silence there is just no background.  Wow!  The clarity and depth on the audio is on a level you so rarely find today and it continues to play 'as new', there is no other way to describe it.  Iommi's next stand alone solo section is of the same high end standard - every note so clean and precise, you miss nothing, and the next 'silence' is... 100% silent.  This is a relatively quiet section and yet the clarity of sound is remarkably really for a vinyl of this age.  As the volume increases there is no drop in quality and that long, meandering Iommi note is incredible!  Yep you guessed it, no background.  As Ward and Butler come back the audio is just as strong and Ozzy's final vocal keeps up the standard.  As any Sabbath audiophile will know his vocal sound is definitely a little quieter in the mix here, not sure how that passed quality control!  The final 'line' is fine - this is without question one of the most 'complete' versions of this 10 minute plus epic that I have ever heard and I firmly believe Mint is again deserved here.  I do not think a cleaner, more precise version could be found.

The Gatefold & Vertigo Inner Sleeve

The cover is in lovely condition and is easily one of the best I have seen.  The top edges are pristine and in fact only the bottom edge of the front cover has a minimal amount of light rubbing.  The spine is superb and remains 100% legible and all the corners are in exceptional condition with barely any wear.  The opening edge is practically 'as new' and the front cover is stunning with no marking or creasing and the back cover is just as impressive.  It has lost none of its original matt finish on either side, a genuine rarity!  The inside of the gatefold is so clean also with none of the surface rub / spotting around the edges that you so often find.  It just has a handful of white 'specks' near the bottom edge and one slightly more obvious one near the top edge.  Overall this a stunning example of this iconic cover and not far off a Near Mint- grade really.

The poly-lined Plastic Bags... inner sleeve is in superb shape with very little wear.  There are no side splits and it has just one tiny 'nick' on the flipback on the reverse side.  It is very clean with hardly any marking and only minimal creasing.

VO 6  1Y * 1  420  1 9  2 3

VO 6  2Y // 2 ▽ 420 1 1 3

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 : £15.95 then £2.00 per extra

USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £20.95 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!!