A Saucerful Of Secrets

(Stereo 1st press - Blue/Black Columbia Labels)

Here I am selling one of Pink Floyd most sought after albums.  The stereo version was pressed in fewer numbers than the mono version so is generally considered more collectable and as can be seen it has only a single stamper on each side and is one of the earliest ever produced.  These are getting harder to find today and visually it is in superb condition.  It also plays extremely well apart from one obvious section of interference on S1 and this is described in detail below.  Please only bid if you agree with this!

  The original Stereo flipback cover has been very well preserved down the years.  No writing or marking anywhere!  The original inner is also in great condition.

SCX 6258 // YAX 3633 - 1 / YAX 3634 - 1 // A 1 / O 1

The audio on Side One is Ex+ (Near Mint in many sections / final section of track 3 is G+)

The audio on S2 is Ex+ (Near Mint for the majority)

The laminated cover is Ex

The labels are Near Mint-

The original inner sleeve is Ex

Visual grading

This is visually stunning and retains a fantastic mirror-like glossy sheen despite being over 50 years old now.  There is some spindle wear but not an excessive amount and has not been overplayed.  S1 is very impressive and has only a small number of radial lines on track 1 but they have no affect on the audio plus a couple of very faint sleeve removal hairlines.  S2 is visually even better!  There is no marking at all and there are no obvious hairlines either.  It is stunning!  In all honesty at first glance it looks 'as new' and it is only on closer inspection that you can detect the minor imperfections.  So often heavily scratched/marked this is undoubtedly one of the most impressive 'Blue Columbia' first pressings I have ever seen.  The labels and run out grooves are also in superb condition.

Play grading  

The intro on 'Let There Be More Light' could not be any clearer.  It is absolutely stunning and the clarity and depth of the audio is without doubt the most impressive I have ever heard on this rare first pressing and there is just no interference at all on this instrumental opening section.  As the vocal begins there are a couple of minor mega light dust ticks the likes of which you would hear on a new vinyl let alone one that is over 50 years old!  I am delighted to say this wonderful clarity continues throughout with not one single click or pop and no static or crackle either.  This vinyl has been so well preserved and so far that is certainly reflected in the audio.  The closing section plays nigh on perfectly here and you can turn up the volume without fear of distortion.  This is a rarity!  The sonic quality is superb and there is barely any static on the fade out either.  This track easily grades as Near Mint with the vast majority being better than that!  A breathtaking start to the album.

With complete silence in the dead wax 'Remember A Day' once again plays with sublime clarity from the very first groove.  There are a small number of insignificant dust ticks during the first quiet section but they are totally non-intrusive and the audio is still of a 'high end' standard.  Thereafter the audio is stunning and is almost faultless aside from a couple of very light static sounds.  The 'separation' is so impressive - on a vinyl of this age the sound will often become 'muddy' due to it being overplayed but you can hear each note perfectly.  Again this pays testament to a vinyl that has been so well looked after down the years.  The fade out just has a couple of light static ticks only.

As any Floyd collector knows it is practically impossible to find a perfect version of the next track due to it being such a quiet track.  The super quiet intro on 'Set The Controls For the Heart Of The Sun' plays with astounding clarity and only a couple of light static clicks.  It is worth noting that there is no static or crackle though.  As the 'quiet' vocal begins the audio continues in the same style with no intrusive 'background' of any kind.  There is just a hint of light static on the repeated 'heart of the sun' line but again it is only very minor and certainly does not intrude on the quality of the listen.  I sit very closely to the speakers and will note any 'imperfection' even if very minor and non-intrusive.  Sadly 1.5 minutes of the end section does have some intrusive static/crackle.  The final 30 seconds or so does get progressively louder and I have to be honest it does not sound good.  The fade out however does plays very cleanly.  It's strange as there is nothing on the vinyl to explain what is causing it , it's all rather strange!

There is then 4/5 odd sounds in the dead wax almost as if a radio transmission is trying to cut in!  A pressing fault in my opinion.  'Corporal Clegg' then plays very well with no clicks or pops at all.  As is always the case on this track there is some distortion but it is minimal and the playback is very impressive overall.  It plays very clearly as so often the distortion can be somewhat overpowering but that is definitely not the case here.  A great ending to the side.

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The classic 'A Saucerful Of Secrets' on S2 plays with incredible clarity from the very start.  For the opening few grooves to play so cleanly on a vinyl of this age is a rarity.  This opening section is of course so quiet and yet the playback is absolutely stunning and I am not sure if I have ever heard better!  Simple words do not do it justice, wow!  As the volume increases I am delighted to say there is no decrease in quality.  This is 100% stunning!  Once the drums 'kick in' the clarity is just as impressive and again there are no clicks or pops.  As it progresses the depth and sonic quality is vastly superior to any of the later reissues and this is just one reason why these 'Blue Columbia' first pressings are so collectable.  The segue into the organ section is nigh on perfect with barely any static and I quite simply cannot believe what I am hearing!  This section then plays with fantastic clarity and there is no intrusive 'background' whatsoever.  There is just a minimal hint of mega light static but it is so much in the background as to be 100% negligible.  This is audio of the highest standard and whilst I do not like repeating myself the clarity is just exceptional.  The choral section is, you guessed it, stunning and once again the playback could scarcely be any better.  There is one light click but aside from that this is audio of the highest order and continues to play with sublime quality to the very end. Wow what a version!  This would impress the die-hard collector of that I have no doubt!

'See-Saw' then plays very cleanly from the start and with no clicks or pops.  There is perhaps just a minimal amount of static distortion here and there but perhaps I am being too critical.  It is only what you expect on this track and it still plays fantastically well with no obvious 'background' at all.  From start to finish this is a fine example of this track.  With barely any static the vocal plays very clearly as does each instrument.  I often mention fade outs as they, along with intros, provide a good insight into the clarity on offer.  The fade out here is superb and has no interference at all.

The dead wax bizarrely then has few 'radio transmission' type sounds that I can only assume is a pressing fault as per S1.  I am pleased to say the intro on 'Jugband Blues' is not affected in any way and indeed it plays superbly.  It then proceeds to play with stunning clarity and definition.  So often this final track (as per many final tracks) is affected by distortion but that is certainly not the case here and has to be one of the 'cleanest' versions I have heard in a long time.  Again there is no 'muddiness' to the sound and it plays incredibly well from start to finish.  There is only a minimal amount of mega light static at the very end but this is a wonderful version of that I am confident in saying.  A superb end to this classic first pressing.

In summary this is a stunning first pressing and it is only the section towards the end of 'Set The Controls...' that has any obvious interference.  It is unfortunate but perhaps an ultra-sonic cleaner could improve it.  I would say only 30 seconds of it are what I would deem very intrusive so if you want near mint record all the way through it would be best not to bid.  However, as you can see from my play grading the remainder of the record is extremely impressive and has no other intrusive 'background' at all and many sections do play with Near Mint quality.  Plus the visual quality is stunning!  The flipback cover is also extremely clean as is the original inner.

The Cover

The original laminated 'Patents Pending' E.J. Day cover is in excellent condition with only a little shelf wear.  The edges, can you believe, have no rubbing or marking and the thin pinched spine is almost as good with only a couple of tiny 'rubs' and is still 100% legible.  The corners are also very impressive and only the bottom two have a little more wear, still only minimal though.  The opening edge has a little handling wear but it is still very clean and remains perfectly straight.  The front cover is in lovely condition and the laminate rarely has no splits at all.  There is one small crease close to the opening edge and a longer one by the bottom left corner.  There are also a few small laminate creases around the edges but you always find this on covers of this age.  The back cover is in great order and has no marking/fading at all and the flipbacks are very impressive!  They have no fraying/staining around the edges and only 3/4 minor creases and a small area of laminate lift on the 'File under Popular' section.  Overall a fine example of this rare cover.

Inner sleeve

The original EMI inner has stood the test of time very well and has no splits and just one tiny 1cm area of rubbing on the bottom edge.  There is only very minor creasing but there is no fading or marking at all which is a rarity.  It is advertising 'Piper...' and 'Sgt Peppers...' amongst others.

The labels

The famous Blue/Black Columbia labels are in fantastic condition and have no marking or writing on them.  They have retained their vivid blue colour extremely well and whilst there is some spindle wear there is certainly not an excessive amount.  There is no KT tax stamp on either label.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

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

SCX 6258 // YAX 3633 - 1 / YAX 3634 - 1 // A 1 / O 1

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 SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SENDING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA/UKRAINE AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM VIA TRACKED SHIPPING AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00.

WHEN ITEMS SELL BETWEEN £50.00 AND £250.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT TO ANY INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY AND COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £7.50 AS EXTRA INSURANCE IS REQUIRED.

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LPs/12" singles : £5.45 (recorded) up to 1kg then £0.95 per extra item 

7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

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REST OF WORLD (Standard)  

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