LED ZEPPELIN IV - 1st UK PRESS A3/B3 - NM AUDIO - PETER GRANT - INVERTED FEATHER

	£		343
	$		454

Please read the Terms and Conditions lower in the listing about payment, postage costs and insurance BEFORE placing a bid. Thank you.

I am happy to answer any questions, but please read the listing carefully before sending a question or placing a bid. I try to provide comprehensive details and information in every listing so the answers to most questions should be found below.

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During nearly eight years of trading on ebay, I have received around 2,400 positive feedbacks from over 1,900 individual customers, almost all from the sale of vinyl records.  Until recently I had 100% positive feedback, but I have recently received a totally unjustified negative feedback. Please see my page if you want the full story.

I take great pride in ensuring that my items are always described accurately and fairly. All my items come with a full money-back guarantee - if it's not as described, you can return it for a full refund. 

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PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE 12 PHOTOS IN THIS LISTING. USE THE SCROLL BAR BESIDE THE THUMBNAILS TO SEE THEM ALL AND USE THE 'ZOOM' FACILITY TO GET A CLOSE-UP VIEW.

It is widely known that the labels on Led Zep IV went through several sets of changes shortly after release and, as a result, there are half-a-dozen variants of the UK red/plum copies of Led Zep IV. This copy features the very first label design and is easily the hardest to find as it was only around for a very short time. The BIG change to the labels was the removal of the credit for Peter Grant as Executive Producer and the addition of Superhype to the publishing credits. This required a 'redesign' as some other things on the labels needed to be moved around - most notably the positioning of the band's name. But even before this change, another error had been spotted and quickly corrected - the inverted feather on the side two label. (Interestingly, this error briefly re-occurred when the labels were first redesigned. Presumably the printers went back to the first version of the artwork to re-design the labels).

Not only is this the earliest and rarest version of Led Zep IV, this is in superb condition throughout.

This has the following 1st press matrix numbers:

Side 1: 2401012 A//3

Side 2: 2401012 B//3

It also has 'Pecko Duck' and 'Porky' etched in the run-outs.

Detailed description
Vinyl: The vinyl looks great and has retained its original high sheen. Under bright light, hairlines and fine marks were visible as well as a few more-prominent LOOKING marks but only one of these has any audible impact (see below). I have played the entire record and it sounds fantastic. Almost all of both sides sounds Excellent plus (Ex+) or Near Mint (NM). The only exception is at the very beginning of side one where there are eight clicks in the run-in and quiet intro to 'Black Dog'. As soon as the guitar comes in these are almost entirely inaudible (I could just about hear them in some of the quiet parts - when using headphones and if I was listening out for them - but I think that they would probably go unnoticed by most people) and they are completely gone after the first forty seconds. From then on, the rest of the track sounds Near Mint (NM). There is nothing else worthy of mention anywhere on this LP. The rest of side one and all of side two grades around Excellent plus (Ex+) or Near Mint (NM). Even the 'difficult' tracks (The Battle of Evermore', 'Stairway to Heaven', 'Going to California') all sounded superb, with just the tiniest amounts of low-level background noise. The loud tracks all sound Near Mint. For the sake of total accuracy and completeness I would state that there is some soft background noise which can be heard in the quiet parts and the run-ins/outs, fades, silent grooves and intros and the occasional random click. But there is absolutely nothing loud or intrusive anywhere. This is a superb example and was a real pleasure to listen to. I would play-grade both sides as Excellent plus (Ex+) or Near Mint (NM) except for the very beginning of 'Black Dog' as stated above.
Labels: Rare, original label layout, including the inverted feather on side two. There is no damage, writing, stickers etc, just some feint 'smudge' marks on side one. Both sides have light spindle marking, suggesting that the record wasn't played much.
Sleeve: No damage, writing, splits, tears or stickers etc and just light signs of use. There is some slight shaping around the disk, minor signs of handling and a few small marks, but there is nothing significant anywhere. This is a very presentable example of this original cover, which is very hard to find like this.
Edge wear: There is light wear to the edges and spine, mostly on the bottom edge and the corners, but there is nothing significant or unsightly and no splits.
Corner wear: There is moderate corner wear, more on the bottom than the top, but nothing significant or unsightly and no corner-splits.
Inner sleeve: Original inner sleeve with exposed flipbacks. This is in superb condition. A split in the bottom seam has been neatly repaired from the inside, but it is impossible to spot and you would not know it is there unless you look inside the sleeve. Other than this there are NO splits, NO tears, NO creases and minimal signs of use. There is some slight shaping around the disk and a couple of marks on the lyrics side, but this is one of the best I've ever seen.

Detracting features not covered above:  None. This is a superb example of the GENUINE first pressing of Led Zep IV.

Please check out my other items and take advantage of reduced postage costs for multiple buys.

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Information about descriptions.
My items are always described accurately and fairly. I always do my best to point out any blemishes which might detract from the item and all photographs are of the actual item you will get.

Play-graded vinyl: I play grade records where possible but I don't have time to play them all. I always state in the listing if I have played a record prior to describing it.

Visually-graded vinyl: Unless specifically stated in the listing, vinyl is visually graded.  A visual grading will identify physical flaws (such as scratches) and can help determine whether a record has been cared-for properly. I always do my best to give a fair assessment of any visible marks on the playing surface, but a visual grading will not identify noise or crackle caused by non-visible sources. Most of the records I sell are between thirty and fifty years old and so it is likely that there may be some background noise even if they look perfect. Please see Terms and Conditions below for my refunds policy for visually graded records.

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I have some very simple terms and conditions. Please read them and ensure that you understand them before bidding. Thank you.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

• My items are fully guaranteed - if it is not as described you can return it for a full refund, including postage. Refunds for visually graded records which are returned based upon the buyer's assessment of the record's playgrade, will not include postage costs in either direction.
• Your bid is binding, so please make sure you have READ and UNDERSTOOD the WHOLE LISTING before you bid. I will not accept returns where the buyer has not read or not understood something which is stated/shown in the listing.
  
• I accept Paypal and postal orders (in UK Sterling GBP) for all purchases.  I also accept cheques (in UK Sterling GBP) on orders OVER £50.
• Please pay for your item within three days of the auction closing. If you are intending to bid on other items and wish to pay when they have closed, please contact me to let me know. I reserve the right to cancel any transactions and offer the item to the second highest bidder if no contact or payment is made within three days.

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POSTAGE & PACKING

I care about the records I sell and believe that they need to be carefully and securely packaged to ensure that they survive their journey through the post. Vinyl is removed from the sleeve for posting and the contents will be protected with rigid cardboard stiffeners. All packages are labelled "Do not bend" and securely sealed with "FRAGILE" parcel tape.

I support the use of recycled materials and so I may send some items in packaging which has been previously used or which has been made from other cardboard packaging. If you wish your item to be sent in entirely new packaging please let me know before paying for it. Thanks.

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P&P charges

I need to cover the cost of postage and packing materials, but I try not to charge more for packing and posting your item than it actually costs me. I do not view P&P costs as a means of making money.

However, to quote an exact cost for every LP is difficult because of the wide variance in weight (e.g. Abbey Road weighs around 230 grams whereas Led Zeppelin III weighs around 390 grams). But the majority of single LPs, when packed, will weigh around 500-550 grams and I have based my P&P rates on this.

Occasionally, you may end up paying a few pence more than it actually costs me and occasionally you may end up paying a few pence less than it actually costs me. If there is a significant discrepancy in your favour I will refund the difference.

Double LPs will be charged as two LPs, triple LPs will be charged as three LPs. Box sets etc will be charged according to weight.

UK P&P costs

UK Standard service - items are sent quickly and securely using first class recorded post, which includes insurance up to £46. The cost for this is as follows:

First LP or 12" = £3.80, each additional LP or 12" add £0.80

First 7" or CD = £1.90, each additional 7" or CD add £0.50


UK Special Delivery - Any order valued over £46 will be sent fully insured using Royal Mail Special Delivery and the total cost of this will be £7.55.  Multiple-item orders weighing more than 1kg or items valued over £500 will cost slightly more to insure, so please wait for my invoice before paying.

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Airmail (with tracking and insurance) to any country OUTSIDE the UK

Europe

First LP or 12" = £10.95, each additional LP or 12" add £2.00.

First 7" or CD = £6.85, each additional 7" or CD add £0.60.

Rest of the world (anywhere outside Europe)

First LP or 12" = £14.45, each additional LP or 12" add £3.50.

First 7" or CD = £8.15, each additional 7" or CD add £0.90.

Overseas orders weighing more than 2kg or valued over £500 may be split into two or more packages as appropriate so they can be sent using Royal Mail's Small Packet Rate, so please wait for my invoice on larger multiple purchases.

Customs declaration for overseas orders: Please note that for overseas orders outside the EU I need to complete a customs declaration and must enter the value of the package on the declaration.

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 If you have any queries please email BEFORE you bid.