A NIGHT AT THE OPERA 3/4 (very early pressing)

This iconic LP is now over 40 years old and for an early pressing it is in fabulous condition.  The vinyl appears hardly played and has the famous Blairs, not 'Blair's cut' etched into the dead wax as per the early pressings.  The gatefold is one of the best I have seen and of course has the embossed crest and contains the inner with the cut corners, again as per the early presses.

Visual grading

  Visually I don't think I have seen a better early pressing than this and retains that wonderful glossy sheen.  Under a strong bright light there are no hairlines and there is only minimal spindle wear.  This vinyl has been hardly played which is confirmed by its audio and the fact that the gatefold has hardly any handling wear.  

Play grading  

The quiet piano intro to 'Death on Two Legs' plays with no static at all and continues with impeccable audio.  The audio throughout is of the highest quality and there is no crackle anywhere.  It plays practically to Mint standard.  'Seaside Rendezvous' does play with some distortion but I haven't heard a pressing that doesn't.  This is because the grooves are pressed closer together so as to 'fit' the track onto the side.

The intro to 'The Prophet's Song' plays sublimely with no interference.  The 'now I know' section also plays to the same standard.  This is stunning audio with a capital S!  The ending to the track and the intro to 'Love Of My Life' is the best I have ever heard, their is no static and it sounds like new.  For such an early pressing the audio is breathtaking and would be a fantastic addition to any Near Mint/Mint collection.  'Good Company' plays as new as does the iconic 'Bohemian Rhapsody' except for a couple of clicks.

  Overall this is an amazing vinyl with just 2/3 clicks and no other static.  A final upgrade copy if ever there was one!

Gatefold cover

The G & L gatefold is in wonderful condition with barely any shelf wear at all, it is one of the best I have seen.  Due to its "whiteness" it is commonly found discoloured and in poor condition but not this one.  It has retained its colour superbly well and there is only one small fingerprint type mark on the front cover.  This cover comes with the Crest Design motif just below the embossed crest itself, a rarity in itself as not many were manufactured with this.  The reverse side again has a couple of faint marks but is still extremely clean.  The edges, wide spine and opening edge remain almost untouched. 

For its age this gatefold is in supreme condition and is remarkably clean and as this is an early first press it doesn't have the glossy sheen of later versions.  The top and bottom of the spine just has minor pinching.  The inside of the gatefold looks as new.

Picture inner

This inner has the cut corners as per the early presses and also has no splits at all, how rare it that?!!  With only a couple of creases it ranks as one of the best I seen in a long time.

Labels

Both labels are in superb condition with only minimal spindle wear.

Play tested on my Technics SL-J110R turntable system

YAX 5063 - 3 / YAX 5064 - 4 // Mother stampers 627 5 & 253 3

Side One is Mint-

Side Two is Near Mint

The picture inner is Ex++

The

labels are Mint-

Any questions please feel free to ask

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