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 collect at point of sale. No shipping to Russia currently.

David Bowie : Low A2/B1 1st Press 1977 (w/Paper Insert & Fan Club Insert)

This very early variation on the first pressing plays to a standard I'm not sure I have encountered before!  The clarity, definition and warmth of the audio is just STUNNING!  It plays like it has hardly ever been played before and I'm sure that is the case based on the sonic quality and that there is almost zero spindle wear.  The vinyl is visually stunning and it basically plays as good as it looks!

The cover is in great condition with only minimal creasing and the 12" paper insert and original inner sleeve have also been very well preserved with no tears or marking etc.  The latter is dated 11-76 and this inner was only issued with the initial 'run'.  The fan club insert has no marking or creasing but it has been completed in pen on the inside but at least not cut out!

PL 12030 // A - 2 / B -1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T1 ranges between Near Mint & Mint-)  

The cover is Ex+

The 12" insert is Near Mint

The fan club insert is Ex

The original inner sleeve is Near Mint

The labels are Mint-

The vinyl is in fantastic condition and still has a very impressive glossy sheen.  There are no scratches and just one very small faint 'mark/line' on S1 and a small number of very faint hairlines.  The run out grooves are extremely clean and the orange RCA labels are unmarked with no spindle wear on S1 and barely any on S2, it is hardly visible!  This is a stunning example of this record.

Play grading  

'Speed Of Life' plays with stunning precision throughout with no sign of any interference.  The audio is so strong and deep and the clarity is first class.  I cannot rate it highly enough and Mint is an easy grade to give.

The intro on 'Breaking Glass' has just one very light tick and then the opening vocal plays perfectly.  It continues to play with exceptional quality and there is no interference of any kind.  Mint-

'What In The World' again plays with sublime quality with no intrusion.  The sonic quality is as strong as it would have been back in '77 and already you know this vinyl has not been played very much.  Another Mint track.

The long intro on the classic 'Sound And Vision' plays with STUNNING clarity and definition with NO 'background' and as the vocal begins there is no let up in quality.  Once more the record plays with remarkable depth and 'as new' is a correct description.  From start to finish there are no ticks, clicks, pops or static and Mint is a genuine assessment of the audio.  Even the fade out plays to perfection with not so much as a dust tick.

'Always Crashing In The Same Car' keeps up this high end standard and plays with flawless clarity throughout.  A track can play with no ticks or clicks etc but it needs to have been preserved well in order to maintain its original clarity/sonic quality and this record has indeed been preserved incredibly well.  Yep another pristine Mint track.

It's proving difficult not to repeat myself so I will keep it brief.  'Be My Wife' plays without fault from start to finish - Mint

The relatively quiet intro on 'A New Career In A New Town' plays with great clarity with only a couple of very light static ticks.  It continues in the same way with no intrusion and for a final track the audio definition is very impressive.  In essence there is no interference and Mint- is very much deserved.

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The quiet intro on 'Warszawa' plays very clearly with barely any static and it continues to play with very impressive audio.  I clean every record I sell but of course the stylus performs a self-cleaning exercise also.  This instrumental was very clean first time round but on the the second play the clarity was even better.  There is basically no intrusion on the audio and I only picked up a couple of mega light ticks and just a minor touch of very light static.  It grades between Near Mint and Mint but definitely more of the latter.

'Art Decade' plays with stunning clarity throughout with only a handful of light dust ticks.  No intrusive ticks, clicks or pops and no static either.  This is easily a Mint- version the clarity and definition of the audio is superb.

'Weeping Wall' if anything plays even better with sensational clarity from start to finish.  I am going to grade this as Mint and 'as new' is accurate description.

'Subterraneans' ends the album with stunning clarity once more.  On first release it was certainly not lauded as one of his best and S2 I am sure was hardly played by many if at all.  This is one such example!  The sonic quality is indeed comparable to a record that has not been on a turntable and I heard only a handful of dust ticks the likes of which you always find on vinyl.  This is again audio of the highest calibre and Mint- at the very least is deserved.

In summary this first pressing plays to a superb standard with no clicks or pops and barely any static.  The clarity and depth of the audio is quite simply exceptional and I am not sure if I have ever heard a more 'complete' version than this.  In all honesty it plays like it has never been played before and the stunning visual quality pays testament to that.  There is barely any spindle wear and this is obviously an album that has been very carefully stored the last 45 years.  A stunning record.

The Cover, Insert & Fan Club Insert

The unlaminated cover is in lovely condition with no 'obvious' wear at all.  It's only when you look closely that you can see some creasing around the spine over one small area and an even smaller amount next to the opening edge to the right of Bowie's collar.  You can also see this creasing on the reverse side.  The edges and spine are unmarked and all corners are in superb order with no wear, the opening edge is pristine also.  Apart from the minor creasing the front and back are very clean with no marking and because this is such an early pressing it has the orange sticker with the track listing on the back.  A very impressive example overall.

The 12" insert has no tears or marking and only the lightest of creasing.  The original paper inner sleeve (dated 1-76) has no side splits or tears, no marking and barely any creasing.  Both remain in great condition.

Play Tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

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

PL 12030 // A - 2 / B -1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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Postage & Packaging

I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE MAY BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD).  AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN.  HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING.  PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH.  MANY THANKS.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!

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

LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £17.45 then £2.00 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £25.95 then £2.50 per extra

I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS!  IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT.  I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!