LED ZEPPELIN II 2 1969 UK PLUM ATLANTIC LEMON SONG 1st PRESS PHENOMENAL AUDIO!

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Description

The records I offer for sale are from my extensive personal collection of 1960s and 1970s albums which I have built up over the last four decades. During that time I have added duplicate copies of some of my favourite albums to my collection. I've always sought out the very best copies available as I am very particular about the records that I own. Storage space limitations dictate that the time has come for me to pass on a few of these choice albums in order to downsize my collection.

It's my pleasure to offer for sale a nice example of Led Zeppelin's iconic second studio album, simply titled Led Zeppelin II, Catalogue Number 588198. It's a 1969 UK first pressing on the plum & orange Atlantic record label. It comes with a USA made first issue gatefold sleeve (SD 8236) which is light brown in colour with blue green edges. I'm not sure why it's in a USA made sleeve - it came this way when I bought it many years ago. [The Side One record label credits "The Lemon Song". The record matrix numbers are the earliest 588198 Av2 and 588198 Bv2, where v = delta symbol. Please note that T2 on the Side Two label is printed "Livin' Lovin' Maid" not "Wreck"].

The thick card gatefold sleeve is in VG condition with some wear to the edges and a clear tape repair to a split along the bottom edge from the opening corner. The front and back covers are unmarked with just some age discoloration to the white sections, but virtually no ringwear, which is very unusual for this particular cover. The spine is solid with all text clearly legible. Overall it's a very presentable example of this notoriously wear-prone sleeve. Please study the supersize photos carefully as they form an important part of the item description.

The solidly pressed record is in VG condition. It retains a nice shine and rotates evenly on the turntable. Visually there are just superficial sleeve-removal/rub type type surface marks, in addition to a couple of light needle marks, evident when angled against bright light. The plum & orange Atlantic labels are unmarked with only a modest number of short spindle traces each side. There is minimal wear to the spindle hole. Audiowise both sides play excellently throughout for the most part with barely any discernible deterioration in sound quality and a minimum of unwanted noise. The needle marks mentioned above cause some soft ticks which are only really noticable in the quiet passages of "Moby Dick" and "Bring It On Home" on Side Two. These are not really intrusive in my opinion, but they are there. The sound quality is nothing short of sensational - very powerful, dynamic and vibrant with incredible bass. Although not perfect it really is a very decent playing copy.

The white poly-lined inner sleeve has some age discoloration but no splits or tears.

Please note that I'm away from home from 25th to 29th August, so if the LP is bought during that period I won't be able to post it until Friday 30th.

GRADINGS

The records that I offer for sale have been critically play-graded, at loud volume, on a Pioneer PL-L1000 tangential tracking turntable fitted with a Nagaoka MP-300 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 - £10.50

Worldwide - £14.50