FREE Highway UK 1970 ORIGINAL 1st PRESSING ARCHIVE MINT

	£		95
	$		126

FREE

HIGHWAY

ISLAND ILPS 9138 (UK) 1970

UK 1st PRESSING

original heavyweight first press record with pink rim palm tree labels

original stamped matrix numbers:    ILPS 9138 A-1U    ILPS 9138 B-1U

1st pressing stamper numbers:    2    1

first issue ‘embossed’ cover - printed and made by the E.J.Day Group, London and Bedford

rear sleeve has original brown ‘island records ltd basing street london w11’ address logo

(issued shortly before the move to new premises)

original pale blue paper / poly-lined inner with pale lilac ‘island records ltd 22 st peters square london w6 9nw’ address logos

(these were issued to celebrate the upcoming move to new premises)

record mint - one play only

labels mint perfect

cover mint - spine / seams / corners perfect - opening edges perfect

original inner bag mint perfect

few collectors realise how difficult it is to find a totally mint and as-new original first pressing of this, Free’s best LP (by a country mile) - I did sell one in 2003 (hi Rob!) but never expected find another so beautiful when recently relocating my best archive stock - this classic masterpiece of  economical and memorable songwriting is from a large and mostly unplayed archive collection - the record is superb with gleaming jet black gloss - the labels are immaculate with no spindle wear - the holes are, of course, perfectly ‘edged’ - Island’s brand new ‘palm tree’ design for the end of 1970 looks so bright and sharp on these fabulous labels - the sleeve is also amazingly perfect and as-new - certainly near impossible to find in this condition - the normally so-fragile matt finish cover is extraordinarily appealing - almost breathtaking! - no spine wear or shelf wear to the seams whatsoever - and I mean no scuffing or rubbing at all - none! - the opening edges are perfectly straight and unfeathered - it is also literally unbelievable to see the subtle pale cream rear sleeve in such a lovely and completely unmarked state - please remember, this is the now rare, very first issue with the marvellous blue-tinted ‘embossed’ (raised) photomontage of the group - very nice indeed! - Island’s old Basing Street address details were almost immediately changed in time for the subsequent print runs of early sleeves since the move to new premises was imminent - it is wonderful to see this cover just as it was when first issued, almost 35 years ago - UK originals are fast becoming scarce anyway, despite reasonably high sales when the LP was first issued - when they do turn up, they are invariably found with a much-loved and well-thumbed cover, often displaying dirt and grime around the embossed area and, at the very least, moderate circular wear - this is a chance to own an archive-quality original of the finest album by one of the most popular and important rock groups of the late 60s / early 70s - REASONABLE RESERVE

A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A PERFECT 1st PRESSING OF THIS CLASSIC

the highway song

the stealer

on my way

be my friend

sunny day

ride on pony

love you so

bodie

soon I will be gone

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photos & description © 2005 christophertime