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.

May Blitz : The 2nd Of May 1Y1 / 2Y1 2nd press Vertigo 1971

This very early Vertigo pressing plays to a fantastic standard with barely any intrusion.  In fact the only interference is a little static / crackle right at the end of the record, the last 4/5 seconds!  Apart from that the clarity, depth, resonance and power of the audio is up there with the best I have heard.  It's a classic prog album and I cannot emphasise enough just how well it plays.  Have to repeat the audio depth here is incredible and the quieter sections play with incredible clarity.

The gatefold is in very good shape but with some marking / surface rub mainly around the edges as you can see.  The Vertigo inner is similar.  Neither are perfect but as for the audio - wow!!

This is known as the first re-pressing - it has a small Vertigo logo on the S2 label as opposed to a large one that you see on the first pressings.  The matrix info is the same though.  It must have been produced very soon after.

6360037 1Y//1▽ 420 1 2 3   04

6360037 2Y//1▽ 420 1 1  2   04

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T3 Near Mint- / T4 Near Mint- then VG for final few seconds)

The gatefold is VG+

The Vertigo inner sleeve is VG+

The labels are VG+ / Near Mint

Visual description

The vinyl I would grade as Ex- as there are some faint hairlines and a couple of faint scuffs but there are certainly no obvious marks or scratches.  Perhaps just one small hairline mark on S1 that stands out a little more.  All superficial though as this has no affect on the superb audio.  The Vertigo labels are very clean with only minimal spindle wear on S1 and a little more on S2.

Play grading

The intro on 'For Mad Men Only' plays with incredible power and depth and the opening vocal section is equal to that.  It continues in the same way and the power cannot be underestimated here!  It rocks out with an almost punk vibe and from start to finish there is no background at all.  The sonic quality is outstanding - superb work from Black and the rhythm section of Hudson and Newman drive it along at pace, the bass is so strong and deep on this track.  A stunning Mint version there is no need for a minus.

The intro on 'Snakes And Ladders' has no background and the opening vocal section is just as impressive.  The first chorus is perfect and the next verse has a couple of easily missed statics, they are very quiet.  The next vocal is flawless and the following instrumental is 'as new'.  Once again the clarity and definition of the audio is phenomenal.  From then on it does not falter - the audio is again so deep and the closing section is superb!  It builds with a real sense of menace and the sonic quality is out of this world.  The fade out has no background either.  This is easily Mint- what a version!

A marked change in tone and 'The 25th Of December 1969' plays with stunning quality from the get go.  Quite a jaunty opening vocal section and it plays perfectly.  Back to a more typical May Blitz sound with the next section and again there is no intrusion.  From then onwards it plays with sublime quality and the closing section is breath-taking - you can hear each note so cleanly, every voice and background sound!  This is why Vertigo pressings are so collectable - they were produced to such a high quality and when you find a clean vinyl like this the audio cannot be beaten.  Mint

'In Part' ends S1 with exceptional quality once more.  There is not one single negative - there is no 'muddiness' to the sound and no distortion either.  Newman's long drum solo is faultless and even when the volume decreases there is zero background.  This truly is audio of the highest calibre and through to the end it plays with stunning precision.  Honestly the clarity is incredible!  Mint

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'8 Mad Grim Nits' more than keeps up the standard and plays 'as new' through every instrumental section.  Black's work here is so strong and of course there is no interference.  In true May Blitz style the bass sound from Hudson really drives this track and the percussion is stunning.  Jeez they were such good musicians!  Mint

The quiet intro on 'High Beech' plays beautifully with not so much as a dust tick and the melodic opening vocal is of the same standard.  It continues to play 'as new' without any background and again I cannot praise it highly enough.  A more low key track and yet the only background is one minor static during the quieter acoustic passage near the end.  To all intents and purposes this is Mint but I will say Mint- just because of that one barely audible static :-)

The intro on 'Honey Coloured Time' is faultless and the first vocal is just as clean.  It continues to play with exceptional clarity although there is one tick / very light click during one of the 'vocal' sections about halfway through.  That is only intrusion as the remainder plays to perfection.  The closing instrumental piece is incredible.  Let's say Near Mint-

The very quiet intro on 'Just Thinking' plays so clearly with only a couple of minor statics at the start.  You really have to admire the clarity here as it is so darn quiet!  There are only a handful of mega quiet statics which clearly are not intrusive and it continues to play with STUNNING audio with only one static tick that is a little more obvious.  The vocal, when it arrives, has zero intrusion and as the next instrumental builds the playback is phenomenal.  The depth and resonance of the audio is so impressive and the quiet end section just has a little static / crackle for 4/5 seconds at most.  It's difficult to grade in a way - I think Near Mint- for the vast majority and then VG for the quiet end section.

The Gatefold & Vertigo Inner Sleeve

The cover is in very good condition with only cosmetic wear.  The actual structure of the cover is superb, it has no bends or creases.  The edges are very clean and the spine remains 100% legible but with some marking and a little wear at the top.  The other corners are in excellent shape with only minimal wear and the opening edge is very clean with hardly any handling wear.  What is most obvious is that there is some marking / fading on the front and back cover mainly around the edges.  On the front there is also a sticker removal scuff top left and on the back there is some ringwear near the bottom edge.  None of this is major wear but of course it needs to be mentioned.  The inside of the gatefold is in excellent order with only a couple of small white scuffs where it has stuck together for some reason.  A couple of minor specks also.

The Vertigo inner (dated 0371) has just one tiny side split (1cm!) but does have a fair amount of age related fading / marking mainly around the edges.  Not too much creasing apart from in one corner.

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

This record has been cleaned on my Pro-Ject VC-S machine

6360037 1Y//1▽ 420 1 2 3   04

6360037 2Y//1▽ 420 1 1  2   04

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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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 : £12.95 then £2.00 per extra

USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £22.95 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!!