DEEP PURPLE, FIREBALL, 1971 UK HARVEST, EARLIEST A-2U/B-3U & "PEK" 1st PRESS

	£		38
	$		50

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It's my pleasure to offer for auction a lovely copy of the iconic studio album by Deep Purple titled "Fireball", Catalogue Number SHVL 793. It's a 1971 UK stereo first pressing on the Harvest Record Label, with a Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. textured gatefold sleeve. It comes complete with the elusive lyric insert and the correct Harvest poly-lined inner sleeve which advertises other Harvest albums of the period. [The record labels have "THE GRAMOPHONE CO LTD..." text around the tops. The stamped matrix numbers are the earliest SHVL 793 A-2U and SHVL 793 B-3U. "PEK" is etched in the run-out of Side One, indicating the work of the master cutting engineer George "Porky" Peckham. The lyric insert is also the earliest issue which is made from thick card].

The sleeve is in EX condition with only very light signs of wear and a couple of very minor creases. It's a beautiful example of this notoriously wear-prone sleeve. I've taken plenty of photos from all angles which hopefully show the exceptional condition.

The top quality mid-weight record is visually in between VG and EX condition, although this strict visual grade does not do it justice. There are just a few superficial, non-sounding surface marks evident under bright light. The Harvest labels are unmarked apart from some spindle traces near the centres. There is minimal wear to the spindle hole. Both sides play excellently throughout with no deterioration in sound quality and barely any unwanted noise at all. The sound quality is outstanding - very powerful and dynamic with great bass, as you would expect from a record cut by George Peckham. There are no loud pops, repeat ticks, distortion, hiss or anything else. It really is a superb-playing copy!

The lyric insert is in unmarked EX+ condition.

The Harvest inner sleeve is in EX condition with no splits or tears - just a few small creases and some age discoloration marks where the glue has dried out.

Overall this is a great opportunity to add a highly desireable first press copy of Deep Purple's iconic Fireball album to your collection. 

GRADINGS

The records that I offer for sale have been critically play-graded, at loud volume, on a Pioneer PL-L1000 linear-tracking turntable fitted with a Nagaoka MP-30 cartridge. I will only sell records that play to a high standard. My grading is strict and in accordance with the following descriptions:

·         MINT- Record is superb, almost like new, with just a few sleeve removal type surface marks and no deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve is near perfect in all respects.

·         EX Record is a top quality example with just a few very light surface marks and virtually no discernible deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve has slight wear and/or creasing.

·         VG Record has some visual surface marks, but still plays to a high standard without any major deterioration in sound quality – just a few clicks or light surface sound in places. Sleeve has normal wear and tear without any major defects but is still very presentable.

     All records can be expected to rotate sufficiently evenly on the turntable for there to be no effect whatsoever on the audio playback. Minor warps or dishing will not be mentioned as virtually all records display these features to some degree and no record is perfectly flat.

    Vinyl is not a perfect medium and even the finest quality pressings will play with a degree of residual surface sound, however minimal. Where, in my opinion, unwanted noise interferes with the listening enjoyment of the record, it will be mentioned in the item description. It is unrealistic to expect a 40+ year old record to play with a background of complete silence. Please bear this in mind when bidding.

PACKAGING         

LPs are packaged with care and well protected to ensure that they arrive safely in the same condition as they leave me. Records are removed from both inner and outer sleeves in order to prevent seam-splits in transit.

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE

LPs posted outside of the UK will only be sent International Signed-For with insurance at the following cost:   

Europe - £12.60

Worldwide - £16.50