PINK FLOYD Animals A-2U/B-2U 1st PRESS Superb COVER/INNER & Incredible AUDIO
£
174
$
231
£ 174
Sold For
Sep 20, 2026
Sold Date
Sep 10, 2026
Start Date
24
Number Of Bids
Great Britain
Country Of Seller
eBay
Auctioned at
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Description
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.
Pink Floyd : Animals A-2U / B-2U 1st Press 1977
This first pressing is so close to being a final upgrade and it's only one brief section on S2 that stops it from being so. Here there is a little static and a handful of dull ticks but aside from that the audio is of exceptional quality. S1 especially is stunning and plays with a clarity, depth and power that is right out of the 'as new' playbook! In all seriousness it is the best S1 I have ever listened to as there is no background of any kind to contend with and yes S2 is not far behind. So many of the quieter sections that often play with static play with a clarity that is second to none. Darn those small 'dots' on 'Sheep' causing the brief interference!
The G & L cover is in superb condition with only minimal wear and the lyric inner is easily one of the best I have ever seen. It is almost Mint- but I have said Near Mint and for once it has no side splits which is a genuine rarity.
This first pressing is certainly one of the earliest as it has a single A stamper on S1.
SHVL 815 A-2U A 1 --- SHVL 815 B-2U OL 1
The audio on S1 is Mint(-)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T1 intro Near Mint / T2 intro Near Mint and one brief VG+ section)
The G & L cover is a very strong Ex+
The lyric inner is Near Mint
The labels are Near Mint
Visual description
The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a strong glossy sheen with very little marking. It has a tiny area on S2 that looks like something has rubbed against the vinyl, a couple of very small scratchy marks but they are difficult to find! Aside from that the vinyl is very clean and I can only see a few faint hairlines when looking under a bright light. There is no groove or surface wear and the run out grooves are very clean. The labels are unmarked and have only a little spindle wear.
Play grading
The acoustic intro on 'Pigs On The Wing 1' has no background, not even a minor static sound, and Waters opening vocal is just as precise. I find this short quiet track often has some static 'moments' but it continues to play with a clarity that is second to none. From start to finish there is no intrusion and Mint is very much deserved.
The quiet build up intro on 'Dogs' plays with exceptional quality - again there is no background. The opening two verses are just as impressive and Gilmour's first solo more than keeps up the standard. The next verse is perfect and so far I am massively impressed with the depth and warmth of the audio - sonically it is STUNNING I have to say. It really plays as a well preserved and lightly played vinyl should. The first instrumental of length plays with remarkable audio also and for repeating of myself, there is literally no intrusion. Incredible sound with another superb solo section from Gilmour. Next up is the quieter section, with the dogs in the background, and I heard just one very quiet static sound at the start - very very quiet! The acoustic / barking (!) section then plays 'as new' and Gilmour follows it up with another flawless solo. The fourth verse plays with sublime quality and then the repeated Stone... / instrumental section is of such a high standard. Seriously I cannot believe what I am listening to here! The clarity of sound is out of this world, every note so clean and precise. I listened intently during this section (well every section really!) and I 'picked up' sounds I have never noticed before, that's how pristine the audio is. So many different 'sounds' from Wright for example! This entire section, and it is long (!) plays with STUNNING clarity and I am running out of superlatives now! The acoustic section concludes this instrumental with perfect audio and Waters final verse could not play with any greater precision and the same applies to Gilmour's solo passage right after. As it builds the playback is so strong and clear and there is no distortion whatsoever. The final Who was... vocal is so affected by a fair amount of inner groove distortion but this has to be the cleanest example of this section that I have heard in many a year. It is kept to an absolute minimum and sounds fantastic! The brief end instrumental concludes this epic with 100% clarity once more and I tempted to grade it as Mint such is the quality of the audio. However, I will say Mint- just to be on the safe side, a subtle distinction you could say! In my opinion this is the definitive version of this classic and the most 'complete' I have ever heard in all my years of selling and I have sold a lot of these first pressings!
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Before I begin my grading of S2 it is worth noting that this side is often problematic I find. In my experience it always plays with a lot more static / background than S1 and I don't know how the B-2U matrix passed Quality Control! However, I am very happy to be proved wrong so let's see how this one goes...
The first part of the intro on 'Pigs (Three Different Ones)' plays with incredible clarity I am delighted to say! There is just one second of barely audible static. The second part, just after Mason comes in, is close to that with just a handful of mega quiet statics, they are very much in the background and totally non-intrusive. Waters' opening vocal section is 'as new' there is no other way to describe it and the warmth and depth of the audio is another stand out feature. The instrumental bridge is faultless and the second verse is as good as the first! It is so rare for these opening two verses to play with a clarity as stunning as this. The long instrumental then plays with wonderful clarity and there is just nothing to detract from the audio, no background at all. I can't say I've ever really noticed the depth of sound from Waters bass during this section but that's probably because I have never heard a version as clean as this! The depth and resonance here is very obvious. As the volume decreases the next quieter section from Wright with Waters in the background plays without fault and Gilmour's work is equal to that. The final verse is of the same high end standard and then the closing instrumental with Gilmour at the helm is sensational. For once you can clearly hear Waters bass going up and down the scale and the long fade out is close to perfect with only a handful of minor statics at the end. I will grade the intro as Near Mint but from then onwards Mint- is very much deserved. Again it has to be cleanest version I have ever listened to.
The segue into 'Sheep' is so clean with only a handful of the quietest statics imaginable. The intro perhaps has a couple of statics that are a little more obvious but they are still very quiet! As I often say I will mention any background even if barely audible and 100% non-intrusive. The first verse then plays with outstanding power and depth and the clarity is 10/10 also. The instrumental bridge is flawless and the second verse again plays with imperious quality. The next instrumental is... 'as new' throughout its various sections and it builds in volume with a sonic quality that is out of this world. The quieter section with Waters bass leading the way begins perfectly and then about 30 seconds in there are 4/5 dull ticks - they are quiet so really not that intrusive. The Lord is my shepherd... 'vocal' has some very light statics at the start and then a small number of staticy sounds once per revolution. This is the first real intrusion on the album but even then it is not loud and it does not last long. The final vocal section plays with stunning precision and the end instrumental is very similar and for once has hardly any of the inner groove distortion that often taints this classic. The long fade out has no background, it provides a crystal clear finish. Here I will grade the intro as Near Mint and from then on the vast majority is Mint- but with a relatively brief VG+ section during the 'prayer' section.
The sheep segue into 'Pigs On The Wing (Part Two)' could not 'play' any better and acoustic intro is on the same level. Waters vocal has no background either and to the end it plays with a clarity and warmth that cannot be faulted. This is without a Mint end to this fine album.
The Gatefold & Lyric Inner
The G & L cover is in lovely condition with very minimal wear. The top edges have a little rubbing but for once it's the bottom edges that are so clean with barely any rubbing, just a small amount towards the corners. The wide spine is stunning and is as wide as ever with very little wear on the corners. The other corners are in superb shape with barely any wear and the opening edge is close to perfect with only a miniscule amount of feathering near the top. The front cover is so clean with only a couple of faint 'abrasions' and some even fainter edge creases around the edges. The back cover is in superb condition with just one small corner crease bottom left and a tiny rub by the top edge. The inside of the gatefold is immaculate with only a handful of tiny specks that hardly warrant a mention. A superb example of this iconic cover.
It's not often you find this lyric inner with no side splits but we have one here! This is easily one of the best you will find and has hardly any wear. 3/4 tiny edge 'rubs' that's all I can say really - there is no marking and no creasing either. Superb!
SHVL 815 A-2U A 1 --- SHVL 815 B-2U OL 1
Play tested on my Rega P2 with Rega Carbon Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on my Pro-Ject VC-S machine
I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.
Any questions please feel free to ask
Please pay within 4 days of auction end
Recent Feedback
THIS IS WHAT A SELLER SHOULD BE LIKE ON HIGH END VINYL! Exactly as described if not better ! I could not be a happier customer .. well packed for international flight .. and shipped and received very fast .. No worries here this guy is the topsGREAT AS DESCRIBED BEST SELLR OF ALL THE UK PEOPLE AND I HAVE BOUGHT FROM ALL OF THEM
Beautiful record as described, fast safe delivery, top seller. Cheers Steve.
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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!!
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LPs/12" singles : £6.50 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item
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LPs/12" singles : £15.95 then £2.00 per extra
USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra
REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £20.95 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!!
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