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.

The Jam : The Gift A1 / B1 1st Press w/ Pink Candy Striped Bag 1982

I do not often use the word rare but it certainly applies in this case.  This very collectable first pressing has been kept in time warp condition and plays with stunning clarity on both sides with no interference, not even a dust tick!  The sonic quality is just incredible and not surprisingly the vinyl is visually stunning also.

Every aspect has been preserved beautifully just look at the photos!  The cover is immaculate and the Candy Striped Outer Bag is easily the finest example I have ever seen.  The lyric inner is also 'as new'.

This is without question a FINAL UPGRADE archive classic, a genuine rarity in every sense.  At over 40 years old it would be very difficult to find one as pristine as this.

POLD 5055 /  A // 1 ▽ 420 R 1 1 1 5  ARUN

POLD 5055 /  B // 1 ▽ 420 R 1 1 1  ARUN

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T6 Near Mint)

The cover is Near Mint+

The candy striped bag is Ex++

The lyric inner is Mint

The labels are Near Mint

Visual description

The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen and no scratches.  Under a bright light I can only see a few very faint hairlines and just one very small blemish on S2 that you could easily miss anyway.  There is no groove or surface wear and the labels are unmarked and have just a little spindle wear on S1 and only a couple of small faint traces on S2.  One stunning vinyl!

Play grading

The spoken intro on 'Happy Together' has no background not even a dust tick.  A superb opening bass line from Foxton and Weller's first verse and chorus are faultless.  The clarity and depth of the audio throughout is second to none and it quite simply plays 'as new' with no intrusion.  A stunning Mint start to the album.

The intro on 'Ghosts' is equally as clean and it continues to play with sublime quality.  The brass sections play perfectly and from start to finish there is no interference.  A great track which also grades as Mint

'Precious' keeps up this exemplary standard with... no interference.  The playback is so strong and the mid instrumental is a case in point.  Each note is so clean and precise, all held together by that superb bass.  There are no negatives and Mint is again deserved.

A superb version of the anthemic 'Just Who Is The 5 O'Clock Hero' follows.  No ticks, clicks, pops or static it plays with genuine precision from the first note to the last.  And I do mean the last!  The fade out has no background at all and that is a measure of the clarity on offer here.  Mint

'Trans-Global Express' ends the side with great quality.  Perhaps a touch of inner groove distortion but this is of course very common with vinyl and in my opinion should not be downgraded as a result - grooves are often pressed closer together here so in a sense cannot be avoided.  Anyway it is only minimal here, there is zero interference, and Mint- is a fair assessment of the audio.

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'Running On The Spot' plays to perfection with no interference and Foxton's instrumental 'Circus' is just as clean with not even a dust tick for company.  Both grade as Mint

The intro on 'The Planner's Dream Goes Wrong' is flawless and it continues to play with stunning precision right to the very end.  A relatively 'busy' track and yet the original sonic quality is still there.  Mint

The classic 'Carnation' is another track with 'as new' audio throughout.  Sounds like it was pressed only yesterday!  Mint

The total classic of course with 'Town Called Malice' and the unmistakable opening bass intro plays perfectly.  Weller's opening vocal is just as strong and it continues to play with supreme audio.  Every vocal and instrumental section plays with impeccable quality and... you know the grade...

The title track 'The Gift' ends the album with great clarity and power.  Some inner groove distortion again but can't be avoided!  However, I will grade as Near Mint although perhaps I shouldn't.  There is no actual interferenence.

In summary this first pressing plays with superb audio on both sides with NO interference.  The clarity is just stunning - there are no dust ticks let alone anything more and there is complete silence in the dead wax between each track also.  This vinyl has been preserved so well and has clearly not been played very much, it really is in time warp condition for its 41 years of age!  In fact every component of this classic album has been preserved beautifully and it is a FINAL UPGRADE archive pressing in every regard.  I won't say virtually impossible etc etc (!) but there cannot be many around today as pristine as this!

The Cover, Candy Striped Bag & Lyric Inner

The cover is just incredible!  It is so clean and 'fresh' and has obviously been kept inside the 'bag' 99.999% of its life!  It is practically 'as new' that how good it is.  The edges and spine are perfect, the corners have next to no wear and the opening edge has no handling wear either.  The front cover is so glossy (as is the back) and has just one mega faint crease near the bottom edge and a couple of tiny creases next to the spine.  However, this is being super critical, it's like I'm looking to find fault, and they can only be seen when you hold the cover at a certain angle.  The back cover is immaculate with no wear at all.  A STUNNING example in so many ways.

The candy striped outer bag is also in lovely condition and is by far the best I have ever seen.  It is complete, has no rips or tears and only has a fold at the top which you regularly see anyway.  It is unmarked and has only very minimal creasing.  It is superb!  The glossy lyric inner is in perfect condition and looks untouched.

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

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

POLD 5055 /  A // 1 ▽ 420 R 1 1 1 5  ARUN

POLD 5055 /  B // 1 ▽ 420 R 1 1 1  ARUN

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 NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE MAY BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD).  AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN.  HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING.  PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH.  MANY THANKS.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!

UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £15.95 then £2.00 per extra

USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra

I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS!  IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT.  I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!