DAVID BOWIE Ziggy Stardust RARER UK 1972 ULTIMATE -1E/-1E 1st PRESS – FANTASTIC

	£		216
	$		286

ONEADAYRECORDS – Serving-up a Christmas & New Year Feast of Entertainment

I would like to wish all my customers, regulars and newcomers, a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR

Over the Holiday Period, I am offering some interesting Christmas ‘Crackers’ – the theme this year being ‘Rock Classics’ – ENJOY!

Postage: UK £4.75 (£1 per extra record). Europe (including Russia) £12.50 (£2 per extra record). Rest of World (including ALL parts of the USA) £16.50 (£3 per extra record). All boxes signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes that offer virtually no protection at all, and records WILL arrive damaged in them at some time as most record buyers will already know. Here, you get what you pay for – SAFE PACKING in BOXES using 7mm DOUBLE-WALL STIFFENERS including full side protection and bubble wrap, the records removed from the covers of course. All this very safe packing means I lose money on every box I post, but safe delivery is, and will always be paramount. You WILL see the difference when my packet arrives. Also, I will pay for insurance on any record that sells for over £100 at NO extra cost – that is UK and abroad. Also I aim to post the very same day after payment is received if possible. PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT send any item, no matter what its value without a Royal Mail or courier tracking number. ALL my items must be signed and traceable to comply with Ebay delivery rules. Please do NOT ask me to make any exceptions to this rule as no country offers 100% reliable service without it.

Posting to Russia: Yes, I do post to Russia. But delivery can take up to 4 to 6 weeks from the UK. So please be patient. I will submit a tracking number to the winning bidder, and when the packet arrives there it can be followed online using the Russian post website.

ALSO: I now apply the Ebay ‘2-day’ rule for non-payment to keep things moving – cash-flow is important for any small business.

FINALLY: Late payers, non-payers and ‘0’ bidders will now be blocked or cancelled at my discretion. As will any bidder who cancels a bid. I do not like this practice as it is most often used to phish out the price to beat. Ebay does not approve and neither do I – so only bid on my items if you want them.

Artist or Band: DAVID BOWIE

Album Title: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

Producer(s): David Bowie & Ken Scott

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Five Years; Soul Love; Moonage Daydream; Starman; It Ain’t Easy.

Side 2: Lady Stardust; Star; Hang on to Yourself; Ziggy Stardust; Suffragette City; Rock n Roll Suicide.

Label/Format: RCA Victor – these have the smooth very shiny surfaces, later ones were matt. These include that ‘Titanic Music’ credits and ‘A Gem Production’ text, all details seen on my pictures.

Label Conditions: Both ultra clean, incredibly fresh and highly attractive with barely even a trace of a spindle mark. These have to be seen for real to be fully appreciated, these appear virtually as-made with the deepest orange colour you can imagine. It is very clear this copy has barely been removed from the cover, handled or played. The glossy finish quickly dulls and ages if handled many times, but these are simply immaculate. Also to date, it has to be one of the very pressed copy I have ever heard without the pressing issues and flaws so many have. Remember, this was quite a mass-produced album soon after the very first pressings were sold, and audio quality invariably suffered, especially at a time when vinyl was used sparingly or mixed with impurities. Indeed, this album was also pressed on the wafer-thin Dynaflex vinyl substitute and most will know what those usually sounded like.

Label Conditions: Both intensely coloured, ultra clean and fresh with no spindle marks. This purchased from new by one owner on, or very close to issue day of issue, also from the same collection as the Hunky Dory I am also offering.

Catalogue Number: SF 8287 (LSP 4702)

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks. This has a minimal trace of movement being very critical with no issues.

Weight of this Record: 151 grams. This is considerable weight for this album, most I have had, have been around the 120 to 135 gram weight (at best). Not only does this feel heavy – and it is considerably above average – you can almost tell this is a quality pressing before you even play it, and it failed to disappoint.

Country of Manufacture: England

Rarity & Info: The album itself moderate, a big-selling album that really promoted all his previous and subsequent works. But this copy is a little special. An ultimate first issue pressing, purchased on, or very close to issue day. It includes the prized -1E/-1E matrixes (as seen on my pictures). These are much harder to find, and this copy has hardly even been played. Finding this classic album like this goes beyond difficult, so many were played to near destruction, often by teenagers of the time on the most basic of equipment and trashed. This record is sensational, and barely run-in in vinyl terms, both playing surface and labels are fantastic. All great news of course, but pressing quality is the most important factor, so many are let-down by pressing issues and unwanted sounds, often severe and degrading. Well this beautiful record is superbly pressed as well. The play-grade proved a delightful experience with hardly anything unwanted bar a couple of clicks on the run-in groove, prior to any music on side one. I know for a fact this album can, and often does have serious sound issues – this is not one of them. As this album embraced the record-buyer’s imagination, sales and demand grew. Repressed in considerable numbers, some even on Dynaflex, an inferior vinyl substitute as oil became scarce and expensive, the standards became variable and often poor. But prior to this album, Bowie’s catalogue was not selling overly well. Mass production means variable standards just to get items in the shops. This ultimate first issue – and matrixes never lie – and suffers no such issues. Put simply: this is an outstanding record that was a joy to hear and experience. The classic cover also hardly worn at all, and also one of the very best I have seen. Made with thin card, few avoid rubbing, creasing and grubbiness, this one cover-protected and little short of immaculate. The same word can also be used for the ultra fragile inner sleeve which sets a standard few can match nowadays, even the edges are unsplit and the paper still white and unaged. Such copies in this all-round condition are rare, even very rare when this criteria is met and a great opportunity to own one of Bowie’s best ever albums. No better way to remember Ziggy, the ‘Starman’, this could prove a substantial upgrade for fans and collectors, and not one to be lost lightly.

Original Year of Release: 1972

Matrix Nos: BGBS 0864-1E / BGBS 0865-1E [deeply and very clearly machine punched as seen, NOT scripted or scratched like most].

Other Codes: A1O / A1R

Musicians: David Bowie – vocals, guitar, saxophone; Mick Ronson – guitar, piano, vocals; Trevor Bolder – bass guitar; Mick Woodmansey – drums.

Brief Info: The most suprising statistic about this groundbreaking glam-rock masterpiece, is the fact it only made number 5 in the UK and a lowly 75 in the United States, for without doubt this is one of greatest rock albums ever made. Up until this point, his previous albums had not sold in any great numbers, thus true first issues of Ziggy Stardust are rare – the -1E/-1E deeply punched matrixes are highly prized and cherished by fans and collectors. Totally timeless, it’s popularity and charisma only strengthens as it ages. Bowie’s ability to reinvent himself allowed the singer to follow a fascinating career – his quite recent death came as a massive shock to his worldwide audience. The blend of rock star persona and alien creature defining Ziggy Stardust was probably his greatest creation. Buoyed by the support of legendary guitarist Mick Ronson, Bowie produced some of his finest songs, from the raucous ‘Suffragette City’ to the prophetic ‘Rock n Roll Suicide’. Also ‘Starman’ which has reached legendary status. Science fiction was combined with his love of theatre to bring a visual nature to an album that remains central to Bowie’s wide-ranging catalogue. The opening song is chilling: the apocolyptic ‘Five Years’ is bleak in its intensity, and pulls no punches lyrically as planet Earth is dying ‘…With just five years left to cry in’. This is early 1970s glam-rock as it’s ultimate best. It boasts one of the most famous covers in music history and this one does it nigh-on maximum justice. This copy on offer is fantastic condition, the record remains practically as-made back in 1972. Combine that fact with ultimate first pressing matrixes, top-pressing quality, this will rarely be seen or heard better. The cover is beautiful and this rarely wears well, with few ever stored in protective covers quickly enough to avoid wear and ageing. Well this appears hardly handled and retains supreme deep colour and freshness with hardly an of the usual rubbing, creasing and ring wear. The well-known lyric inner sleeve also impressive with hardly anything to fault by gentle traces of rim impression few can hope to avoid at very best. This record plays superbly and was a genuine joy to play-test. Bowie gave the world Ziggy – the Starman – and one of the most famous phrase-lines ever to burst-forth from any record – ‘WHAM BAM THANK YOU MA’AM’! This was his route to immortality, his sad loss shocked the music-loving public and for those of my age, especially so.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(++): with only a little patchy light rubbing on the bottom storage edge stopping a higher grading consideration. A single unlaminated format that has the RCA Victor logo, with the GEM production logo and NO ‘Mainmain’, those came a little later in 1973, or when the first were used up. Those reprintings included ‘Mainman’ near the top right corner. This has matt, smooth surfaces and made with quite thin card – hence very prone to all forms of wear. Printed and made in England by Robert Stace. This includes the very fragile, thin paper lyric inner sleeve.

Cover Front: An iconic cover for a classic album, one of the most famous in the history of rock. Most collectors will want only the near very best, and this qualifies. It retains deep unfaded, hardly rubbed artwork with no fading, sticker issues, and hardly any traces of creasing. All things rarely avoided and only the most cared for or handled copies will ever have a chance. Yes, a faint trace of rim impression with the merest trace of rubbing near the top and bottom, this almost as light as it ever gets, and remember, this first issue is way thicker and heavier than most copies. A 151 gram pressed record for this title is somewhat unusual and a real rarity. A front that has defied its considerable age and will prove very difficult indeed to match or find better.

Cover Back: Almost the same again, the lack of ugly penetrating ring wear on this is a major plus. Any creasing only a few very fine and faint edge hairlines, and like the front, none away from the sides, another rare sight. Slight dulling near the rim area under light, viewed normally full on, it hardly even registers.

Top Edge: Immaculate, very thin, but straight, without even a hint of bowing or bending, this has barely any traces of rubbing or wear at all.

Bottom Edge: As stated already, this perilous storage edge has only light patchy rubbing and few will show a great deal less these days.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, mostly very sharp with any thickening tiny and minuscule, these entrance edges are guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced.

Spine and Text: A superb spine, a word more than justified, just take another look. This is clean and still fresh, the white surface hardly aged with minimal hint of darkening. Solid, straight with any compression little and light, a little near the top. All text is pristine perfect and unworn with nice centering as seen, such details make the difference between average.

Corners: Any tip rubbing tiny and light with better than excellent to near mint shape retained with no knocks or dinks. Again, so hard to avoid on these thin card covers, the classic popular ones especially that were usually handled many times and seldom stored to this near impeccable standard.

Cover Summary: Never under-estimate how difficult a pre-Mainman example of this famous cover is to find with such little wear. Few who bought this initially stored them in protective covers and owners (a high percentage teenagers) often wrote names on them for loaning out. This is a near archive-quality example, and an ultimate first, stored with considerable care and clearly, hardly even touched, it should please most collectors. Like the first matt Hunky Dory I am also offering, this could prove a substantial upgrade for fans and collectors?

The Inner Sleeve: NEAR MINT: and probably the very best one I have seen in many years. Few avoid edge splits, creasing or the paper darkening – this has avoid them all and only natural rim impression stops a full Mint grading. A thick 151 gram record inside since 1972 will leave a light reminder to very thin paper as the barest minimum. This truly is an outstanding inner sleeve that has the Gem production only text and has ‘Titanic Music’ credits with the 1971/1972 copyrights. No hard creases or even crinkle, even the top recessed opening and corner tips are ultra crisp and undamaged or dinks. The word exceptional is not misplaced on this fragile inner, few will survive like it now, and being fully intact with no repairs, it is more than worthy and a match for the outstanding cover and record – and guaranteed the genuine one that came with this copy. Again, it will prove a massive upgrade for many.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(++): arguably better, it hardly does this lovely record full justice. A very impressive visual copy that is very clean with equally fine shine and quite heavly pressed – especially in context for this album made in the era where vinyl was used sparingly being in short supply. A copy appearing little played on all the evidence and typical from the collection it came from. Purchased from new by a discerning owner. Any surface marks are light and faint as seen under bright light. No penetrating stylus scratches, a few light hairlines on side two do nothing whatsoever. Viewed in average room light, little even show. What sets this apart is the total lack of impurity within the vinyl, so many examples of this, and other titles at this time have dulling and blotches within the record, but this has none. An album pressed at the time of the great oil crisis where vinyl was often mixed with recycled vinyl or pressed very thin. It is clear this was not one of them, and manufactured prior to the great demand this album suddenly had after the magnificent music was discovered by more people. Subsequent pressings became more of a lottery as did the audio quality. Many fans and vinyl collectors know this already, the final song ‘Rock n Roll Suicide’ often has loud crackle and distortion and is always the first song I will play to test a pressing prior to a full play-grade. This song plays perfectly on this copy and that never to be taken for granted. Visually a lovely record that should please many collectors – and as stated, this one plays beautifully throughout.

Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippets or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing equipment, all listed further down.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This brilliant Bowie classic plays even above it’s high visual grading with barely anything to fault. It offers strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear – sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any surface sounds are minimal indeed, hardly anything heard on my play-grade bar a couple of clicks on the run-in grooves on side one before the music begins. Overall, an exceptional clean pressing with no tracking issues*, pressing rasps, distortions or inherent noises from spots or pits which this pressing has avoided. Few available copies will outperform this ultimate first pressing I feel sure. Both channels are clean and sharp, the separation and audio quality simply fantastic. These very early first matrix copies have the very best chance in offering the best sound and details – not all records sound the same – and this very much a case-in-point, especially when played on a quality system. My Linn LP12 Sondek really excelled playing this record, a rare and genuine thrill to hear like this. I am certain this record has been played very lightly and has been equally well stored and carefully handled within a non-smoking environment. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record – something I have rarely stated for this album. It will prove immensely difficult to find better and merits my highest possible recommendation. Now on CD for my own personal future pleasure, I doubt if I will hear a better example.

* As played-graded on a high-end Linn LP12 Sondek turntable with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge tracking at 2.2 grams. Records are a ‘contact’ format, and few will avoid the odd minor sound blemish.

Now one of the most established sellers on Ebay and still offering the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any potential bidder and collector. You may notice I only submit records sparingly on Ebay as I Play-Grade every record I offer in their entirety – also on higher-end equipment – not just bits to guess a grade – visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story. I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested collector – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean it’s good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in stunning near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are the item being offered with no digital enhancements. Room light factors can make things vary sometimes, that is hard to control, especially in winter. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert and vice-versa. I hope the item below is to your liking – any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. I am enthusiastic, and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps, sticks, warps or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Deck: Linn LP12/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2.2 grams). Amps: Naim Supernait 2 with Project USB phono stage and Tellerium Black interconnects. Speakers: B&W 805 Nautilus (bi-wired with Tellurium Black terminated cable) with REL subwoofer. All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Nessie vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too. Pictures taken with a Nikon D5000 SLR Digital Camera.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.

What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is not a bad thing.

I now offer the fastest possible posting, often the very next day after payment is received or within two to three days maximum (unless on holiday). I only use FIRST-CLASS Mail. The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my new Nessie Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. You will NOT get tired, dull looking, dust infested records inside worn and foggy covers with tatty inners from this seller and that’s a promise and guarantee. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT Mailers, these do not offer any real protection). The record(s) are REMOVED from their main cover to avoid edge splits and placed within a brand new polylined inner. The record’s original inner will be included if available. The boxes are then reinforced with at least TWO, ULTRA THICK stiffeners for maximum extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffeners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed if deemed necessary and possible. When larger boxes are used, the thick record and stiffener ‘sandwich’ is then thickly embedded into bubble-wrap to bulk out the record inside the box to centre the item inside to reduce the risk of damage still further. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but ‘Signed-For’ posting is NOT an option anymore. I do not profit on posting, better quality packaging costs, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners make a near impregnable fortress for safe shipping and this is used inland and overseas for ALL my records, not just the rare and expensive. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is minuscule in over 17­ years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. The only damage rate acceptable for this seller is ZERO and I think my packets will offer just that. It would take a vicious postman or postal service to damage these for sure. Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FIVE records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). All postage costs are below and at the top of the listing.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please ask me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of TWO days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the bid, again after the mandatory FOUR days and then offer the item to the runner-up or relist. The non-payer will also be blocked from my Ebay site as will any suspicious bids or bid withdrawals. Small businesses need prompt payment to trade and these strict rules WILL be applied.

SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – THESE comply with EBAY’S RULES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent via Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.75

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £1 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £12.50 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); South America; New Zealand; Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £16.50 (£17.50 for double sets). Add £3 per extra LP. (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3)

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders or direct payment into my bank account.

Potential Bidders: I will cancel any bids I feel are time-wasters. A maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask and thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help. Thank You.

SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO WEAR AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

My Use of Description Terminology: Surface Marks = Superficial, usually light marks, hairlines or light scuffs that rarely sound. Scratch = a needle mark that goes below the record’s surface, some will sound, some will not, my play-grade will inform. Original = a record that has been pressed with the first label design which does NOT necessarily mean a very first pressed record. First Pressing = A record that I believe or know to be a genuine very first pressed record. I do not claim to always know for sure, and that’s why I state the stamper and matrix numbers if at all possible, for those who claim to know what they all mean, the information is there for the collector to decide. I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure. Surface Sound = Mild, light sound, usually light crackle or similar. Distortion = Break up of the actual sound caused by groove wear or damage from a chipped stylus – the most undesirable form of unwanted sound, vintage mono records were the most prone to this happening but not exclusively so. The symptoms of distortion are high frequency clipping, moderate constant crackle or an echo type sound quality. Violin, piano and vocals are most prone to groove-wear distortion. Feathering = Fraying or softening of the entry edge of a cover. Covers with feathered entrance edges are more likely to have had the actual record inserted and removed more than a non-feathered, sharp-edged cover which are always far more attractive. Set Off, actually a printer’s term for dark ink leaving mild residue on pale or white ink when rested upon. e.g. when a gatefold cover has black ink closed against white, this can leave some black residue on the pale area – this is mostly unavoidable or course.

The Argument for Vinyl Original sound and mix (mono mixes are rarely available on CD), high quality sound on clean copies (played on a hi-end dedicated analogue system – breathtaking sound!), beautiful, large format covers, artwork, inserts and even full size posters etc; huge investment potential, and the pleasure of owning ‘the real thing’.