This rare first press of this iconic LP is in stunning condition and looking under a bright light is free of any hairlines and scratches.  Without doubt this is the best 2/2 first press I have heard.

  There isn't even any lead in static at the beginning of Side One.  'Death On Two Legs' plays superbly with no crackle, I think I just heard one faint click during the playback.  For a first 2/2 press the audio is sublime and plays with a rich clarity and has obviously hardly been played.  No crackle even between tracks.  The quiet into into '39' is just that, quiet!  With no background noise at all.  'Sweet Lady' plays in the same fashion and 'Seaside Rendezvous' plays perhaps with a little distortion but is still a great listen.

On Side Two 'The Prophet's Song' has minimal crackle on the intro.  The rest of the track plays superbly and sounds almost as new.  The intro into 'Love Of My Life' is sublime and I heard only one faint click.  For such a quiet track it really does play supremely well as does 'Good Company'.  'Bo Rhap' plays with the merest hint of crackle but again the audio is stunning with a depth only vinyl can bring.  There is very quiet crackle at the end but is in no way obtrusive.  It is 40 years old!

I would go so far to say that this is the best first press I have ever heard.  The audio is so clear and has practically no background noise it was a pleasure to listen to.  Of course being a 2/2 press it has Blair's etched into the dead wax not Mr Blair's Cut.  I doubt it has hardly been played the quality is that good and it is so rare to find a first press in this condition.  The vinyl visually is also wonderful with the glossy sheen of any new vinyl.  This is a true archive copy and a final upgrade copy for the true Queen connoisseur!  I honestly think it would be very difficult to find a better first press vinyl than this one.

Play tested on my Technics SL-J110R turntable system

The Garrod and Lofthouse overall is a very clean condition and has stood the test of time very well.  There is some yellowing of the spine which is so common with this white cover but edges and corners are extremely clean.  There is a little creasing at the top of the opening edge and some other faint markings around the edges but they are minimal.  This iconic cover is so hard to keep clean this really is one of the better ones I have seen and hopefully you can see this in the photos.  The spine itself is still strong and as I say it has very little shelf wear.  Being a first  press it doesn't have the glossy sheen of later versions and of course has the famous embossed crest.  

The inner sleeve with cut corners (as per all first presses) does have a small split at the bottom but is in overall excellent condition.

Catalogue number EMTC 103 // Matrix numbers YAX 5063 - 2 / YAX 5064 - 2 // Mother Stampers 3 GHH & 4 RAD

The picture inner is Ex+

The 

labels are Mint

Any questions please feel free to ask

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