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.

Iron Maiden : Fear Of The Dark A-01 / B-01 / A-01 / B-01 1st Press (Hungary) 1992

This first pressing plays to a fantastic standard and 'as new' sums it up perfectly.  As always I have listened to every track in full and the clarity, depth, power and warmth of the audio cannot be overstated, the playback really is so strong and clear.  I would not be surprised if it had never been played before such is the sonic quality on offer here and indeed there is no spindle wear on the labels.  It is a FINAL UPGRADE pressing for sure.

The gatefold is in excellent condition with only minimal shelf wear and the plain white inners have only light creasing.

I just assumed this was a UK pressing but I was wrong!  I bet plenty sell it as such but having researched it I can confirm it was pressed in Hungary.  Or at least released in Hungary, maybe it was pressed elsewhere.  Don't let that put you off because if you want this classic playing with pristine audio then this is the one to own!  It still has Manufactured under licence of EMI records and the EMI logo on each label.

69515 // EMD 10321 A - 01 (BP - ### - 732 - A) /  B - 01 (BP - ### - B  732   TY2 XXXXXXXXXX)

69515 // EMD 10322 A - 01 (BP ### - C -  732   TY2 / B - 01 (BP - ### - D  732   TY2)

The audio across all four sides is Mint(-)

The gatefold is Ex

The inner sleeves are Ex+

The labels are Mint

Visual description

This vinyls are in superb condition and still has a lovely glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  Only when you look under a bright light can you see some faint hairlines with just a few more on one section on S1 but these are purely superficial and have no affect on the incredible audio.  Under normal room lighting the vinyls are pristine!  The labels are in perfect condition with no spindle wear at all.

Play grading

'Be Quick Or Be Dead' plays with stunning clarity and power throughout.  There is certainly a greater depth and warmth to this pressing also and it just could not play any better.  Fast and furious this is Mint from start to finish.

The intro on 'From Here To Eternity' plays perfectly and the opening vocal section is equal to that.  From then on it plays superbly and the quieter mid section has no intrusion either.  Another Mint track.

The quiet intro on 'Afraid To Shoot Strangers' plays beautifully with no intrusion and the opening vocal is just as clean.  This entire section is of course quiet by Maiden standards and yet the clarity is exceptional.  As the volume increases there is drop in quality and this 'instrumental' plays with incredible precision all the way through.  A great guitar line and I cannot emphasise enough just how well it plays.  It is easily deserving of a Mint grade.

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S2 begins with a superb rendition of 'Fear Is The Key' which plays with sublime quality all the way through.  No ticks, clicks, pops or static it is faultless and Mint is again deserved.

The classic 'Childhood's End' is of the same high end standard - the clarity and power here is sensational!  Mint

Not exactly typical Maiden but 'Wasting Love' nonetheless plays with genuine quality for a relatively quiet track.  The opening vocal has a couple of barely audible statics and the first chorus has no background at all.  It continues in the same precise way and Mint- is deserved at the very least.

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S3 plays with imperious quality with no sign of any interference.  Beginning with 'The Fugitive' the playback is 'as new' and 'Chains Of Misery' is just as strong.  'The Apparition' completes the side with... zero background.  All three grade as Mint no need for a minus here :-)

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'Judas Be My Guide' plays with stunning quality from the get go.  The intro and opening vocal play with flawless precision and this standard is kept up as it progresses.  Every vocal and instrumental play to perfection.  Again.  Mint

'Weekend warrior' once more provides more evidence of a vinyl barely played... if at all!  The clarity, power and definition is outstanding and there is literally nothing to detract from the audio.  Wow!  Mint

The intro on 'Fear Of The Dark' is phenomenal!  The more powerful opening is 'as new' and then the quiet section plays with a clarity that is out of this world!  Not even a dust tick.  Dickinson's opening vocal is just as impressive and from then on it plays with STUNNING quality.  No surprise there!  Running at over 7 minutes this is another of Harris' more progressive numbers and the sonic quality is just incredible.  The quiet end section plays with superb clarity with only a couple of minor statics so I will grade as Mint- but honestly it could hardly play any better.  A superb version.

The Gatefold & Inner Sleeves

The cover is in excellent order with only a small amount of wear.  The edges have minimal rubbing and the wide spine has only light wear on the corners and a minor 'pinch' near the top.  The top right corners have very little wear and there is just a but more bottom right.  The opening edges are very clean with only 3/4 minor crimps and the front cover is near perfect with just one small crease in the lower right corner.  The back cover is very similar with a small bend / crease top left and the inside of the gatefold remains in great shape with just some faint specks / spotting mainly on the top and bottom edge of the left panel.  A very strong example overall.

The plain white inners are very clean with only some light creasing.

Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT-VM95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

The records have been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

69515 // EMD 10321 A - 01 (BP - ### - 732 - A) /  B - 01 (BP - ### - B  732   TY2 XXXXXXXXXX)

69515 // EMD 10322 A - 01 (BP ### - C -  732   TY2 / B - 01 (BP - ### - D  732   TY2)

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 : £13.95 then £2.00 per extra

USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £21.95 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!!