XTC - Science Friction 7” RARE Original 1977 VS188 VINYL + ONE-OFF REPRO SLEEVE

	£		122
	$		162

PLEASE NOTE - THIS ITEM IS BEING RELISTED AS A COUPLE OF WATCHERS FELT THE ORIGINAL LISTING WAS ‘VERY MISLEADING’ AS I HADN’T STATED IN THE TITLE THAT THE SLEEVE WAS A REPRO. ALTHOUGH BIDDING HAD GONE UP TO £160 NOT WISHING TO MISLEAD ANYONE I THEREFORE MADE THE DECISION TO PULL THE ORIGINAL LISTING AND AM RELISTING IT HERE.

MY SINCERE APOLOGIES TO THOSE THAT WERE BIDDING ON THIS ITEM OR FELT MISLEAD IN ANY WAY.

XTC - Science Friction 7” Virgin VS188

100% original withdrawn 7” single from 1977 on Virgin Records in Good condition with one-off reproduction sleeve.

I had the 7” for a number of years and a graphic designer/printing company produced me a unique one-off reproduction sleeve to go with it. They took an original image and produced the reproduction sleeve ensuring a very good colour and 3D match. Also 99% of the light marks, faint ringwear/crease and foldback lines that are visible on the back of the repro sleeve are all actually PRINTED having been faithfully reproduced from the original image and make the sleeve look very authentic.

The sleeve is well constructed/secured and better than a simple fold-over/wrap around. There are a few differences from an original of course. The paper is a semi-gloss, medium stock paper-card - this was done as the original matt paper could not be matched and the paper-card is a lot more durable/robust. The front of the sleeve is actually upside down (I turned it around for the photo) and has a top opening rather than the original side opening. The top opening line of the sleeve is a little uneven where it has been trimmed.

I must stress - this reproduction sleeve was never intended to be produced for any commercial purpose or to fool anyone - I just wanted a fairly good quality reproduction sleeve to accompany this classic, already rare 7” in my private collection. This is a great opportunity to buy this unique repro sleeve and scarce original single together - rather than spend £3-4K if you can find an original.

Please study the photos carefully. The sleeve is in EX condition - the 7” in Good (G/G+) condition - there are some marks mainly on the A side of the disc (see photos) and there are some pops and clicks at times during playback - no skips/jumps. The A side side label has some small marks and a small sticker stain/residue but doesn't detract. B side label perfect.

Postage costs at cost price within UK. I occasionally re-use/recycle cardboard mailers ONLY if fit for purpose to keep down postage cost so that savings can be passed on to the buyer. Generally I post first-class, signed for delivery within the UK. If you wish for any other specific type of postage please let me know so that costs can be obtained. International shipping costs are at eBay's own Global Shipping Programme costs and conditions and outside of my control. Proof of postage is always obtained and copies of any shipping information can be supplied upon request.

Payment to be made within 24 hours please, once the auction had ended.

Please check my feedback and bid/buy in complete confidence. As you will note I am also a buyer/collector myself and I ensure I treat buyers as I would wish to be treated myself. I promise to respond to any communications and resolve any issues quickly ensuring absolute buyer satisfaction at all times.

Many thanks for looking and wishing all bidders the best of luck.

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Grading Records

The following is the grading system first developed by Goldmine Records. Virtually all methods currently in use for the grading of records, is based in some way, shape, or form, on this system. Rather than offer some variation of the original system first developed by Goldmine, the Record Collector's Guild will display the Goldmine record grading method in it's entirety.

Visual or Play Grading?

In an ideal world, every record would be played before it is graded. But the time involved makes it impractical for most dealers, and anyway, it's rare that you get a chance to hear a record before you buy through the mail. Some advertisers play-grade everything and say so. But unless otherwise noted, records are visually graded.

How to Grade

Look at everything about a record. It's playing surface, it's label, it's edges...under a strong light. Then based on your overall impression give it a grade based on the following criteria:

Mint (M) Absolutely perfect in every way. Certainly never been played, possibly even still sealed.(More on still sealed under "Other Considerations"). Should be used sparingly as a grade, If at all.

Near Mint (NM or M-) A nearly perfect record. Many dealers won't give a grade higher than this implying (perhaps correctly)that no record is ever truly perfect.

The record should show no obvious signs of wear. A 45 RPM or EP sleeve should have no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling.

An LP cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits or other noticeable similar defects. No cut-out holes, either. And of course, the same should be true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves and the like.

Basically, an LP in near mint condition looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap.

Near Mint is the highest price listed in all Goldmine price guides. Anything that exceeds this grade, in the opinion of both buyer and seller, is worth significantly more than the highest Goldmine book value.

Very Good Plus (VG+) Generally worth 50 percent of the Near Mint value.

A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it.

Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experiences. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are "OK".

The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play.

Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP cover may have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount.

In general, if not for a couple things wrong with it, this would be Near Mint. All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a Very Good Plus record highly acceptable.

Very Good (VG) Generally worth 25 percent of Near Mint value. Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound.

Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.

Goldmine price guides with more than one price will list Very Good as the lowest price. This, not the Near Mint price, should be your guide when determining how much a record is worth, as that is the price a dealer will normally pay you for a Near Mint record.

Good (G), Good Plus (G+) Generally worth 10-15 percent of the Near Mint value. Good does not mean Bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear (on a styrene record, the groove will be starting to turn white).

A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object.

It is a common item, you'll probably find another copy in better shape eventually. Pass it up. But, if it's something you have been seeking for years, and the price is right, get it...but keep looking to upgrade.

Poor (P), Fair (F) Generally worth 0-5 percent of the Near Mint price. The record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and writing. The LP cover barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split, crinkled, and written upon.

Except for impossibly rare records otherwise unattainable, records in this condition should be bought or sold for no more than a few cents each.

Other Considerations

Most dealers give a separate grade to the record and it's sleeve or cover. In an ad, a record's grade is listed first, followed by that of the sleeve or the cover.

With Still Sealed (SS) records, let the buyer beware! Unless it'a a U.S. pressing from the last 10-15 years or so. It's too easy to reseal one. Yes, some legitimately never-opened LP's from the 1960's still exist. But if you're looking for a specific pressing, the only way you can know for sure is to open the record.

Also, European Imports are not factory-sealed, so if you see them advertised as sealed, someone other than the manufacturer sealed them.

© 1997 Goldmine Magazine