All my items have a full money-back guarantee - if it's not as described you can return it for a full refund.
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This is a 1st USA pressing with stamped matrix numbers. It is not a reissue or a bootleg/counterfeit copy. But what makes this rare is that the cover has no drill-hole!
First released on November 4th 1970 in the USA (which was nearly six months before it was issued in the UK) The Man Who Sold the World received positive reviews and saw a publicity push from Mercury which resulted in Bowie’s first ever trip to America for a small promotional tour in February 1971.
Despite the promotional activity and good reviews the album was not a commercial success and by the end of June 1971 it had sold only 1,395 copies in the US (far fewer than the sales of the sought-after ‘dress cover’ which Mercury released in the UK in April 1971).
Remaining stocks of the USA album were then sold as discounted 'cutouts' (in record store bargain bins with a drill hole in the cover).
Shortly after this, Bowie became a star and counterfeiters saw an opportunity to make some easy-money by producing fake copies of these cutouts. Over a period of about three years this record was faked numerous times with increasingly poor quality, particularly with regard to the vinyl which sounds truly awful on some of the later counterfeits.
Not to be confused with these very common counterfeits, this is a genuine first pressing with stamped matrix numbers (all the counterfeits have etched matrix numbers) and the original cover with deeper colours and a slight sheen and no cutout hole. So, this is one of the original 1,395 copies!
With the counterfeit copies believed to outnumber the genuine ones by at least twenty-to-one (some estimates put it as high as one in a hundred), and the vast majority of genuine copies having a cutout hole on the cover, the rarity of these originals is often overlooked.
This has the following stamped matrix numbers:
Side one: SR 61325-A-M2
Side two: SR 61325-B-M1
Description
Disc: The
vinyl has retained its original sheen with a number of lines and marks
visible in normal light and some additional fine hairlines and sleeves
removal marks when viewed under direct, bright light. I have played the entire record in full from start
to finish and found it very enjoyable to listen to. There is some
background noise in the run-ins/outs, fades, silent grooves and intros,
the occasional random click and a few places where you get three or four brief clicks, but none of these are loud or intrusive. The only time I heard anything more than this was at the end of track one/beginning of track two, where on of the more-visible marks causes a click for about eighteen revolutions at the end of 'Width of a Circle', (a few in the silent groove) and then a similar number at the beginning of 'All the Madmen'. Apart from this I would play-grade side one as Excellent (Ex), but to account for it I am play-grading Side one as Very Good Plus (VG+). Side two has just a few small issues, covered above and so I am play-grading side two as Very Good Plus (VG+) to Excellent Minus (Ex-).
Sleeve: The sleeve has some discolouration/tarnishing, mainly to the white parts and other mild signs of wear and age. The top and bottom edges have both been repaired where the fragile seams of the 'pasted' cover had previously split, but the spine is NOT split. However, despite these issues, considering the rarity of copies without the drill hole, I think this is an acceptable example.
Detracting features not covered above: None.
All photographs are of the actual item for sale. Please ask any questions before you bid or buy.
Where
gradings are given these are based on the UK
Record Collector Grading System (see below for details).
Please check out my other items and take advantage of reduced postage costs for multiple buys.
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Information about descriptions and gradings.
My items are always described accurately and fairly. I always do my best
to
point out any blemishes which might detract from the item and all
photographs are of the actual item you will get. I am aware that
different grading systems have different definitions and so I try as
much as possible to describe items in plain English, rather than simply using gradings. Where gradings are given these are based on the UK RECORD COLLECTOR
GRADING SYSTEM. This grading system differs from some other grading
systems, in particular the Goldmine grading system. Please make sure
that you are familiar with the UK record collector grading system before
you bid.
Mint: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.
Excellent: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear and/or creasing.
Very Good: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.
Good: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration, etc.
Fair: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.
Poor: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.
Bad: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler.
Visually-graded vinyl vs play-graded vinyl: Many people collect vinyl and never play it, whereas other people collect records because they want to play them. A visual grading will identify physical flaws (such as scratches) and can help determine whether a record has been cared-for properly, but it will not identify noise or crackle caused by non-visible sources. Most vintage records are likely to have some background noise even if they look perfect. I believe that records are for playing and so I try to play-grade records whenever possible. I always state in the listing if I have played a record prior to listing it. If I have play-graded the record I will usually only give a brief description of how the record looks (i.e. not a visual grading). The grading in the listing will be a play-grading and may be slightly different from the grading that the record would receive from a purely visual inspection. Most vintage records are not 100% perfectly flat and so I will only mention this aspect if it is very significant or has an impact on the way the record sounds. If I haven't play-graded the record, it will be given a visual grading.
Play-grading MONO records: Mono records and stereo records have different grooves. A stereo record produces a stereo sound via both lateral and vertical groove modulation whereas a mono record is not intended to produce any sound from vertical modulation. Playing a mono record with a stereo cartridge will create distortion because it is trying to pick-up the vertical (stereo) part of the signal, whereas this is not intended to be heard on a mono record and so is just noise. Using a pre-amp with a mono switch will eliminate the noise caused by vertical modulation leaving just the lateral groove signal which is how the record was intended to be heard. Based on the assumption that most people choosing to listen to a mono record will have the right equipment to listen to it, I play all mono records via a pre-amp with a mono switch. My play-grading is based on how the record sounds when played through a mono switch. If you do not have a mono switch on your amp or pre-amp you will be reproducing the noise from the vertical part of the signal and so the record will not sound as good. This is not any fault of the record, it is inherent to playing any mono record through a system that it was not designed for.
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I have some very simple terms and conditions. Please read them and ensure that you understand them before bidding. Thank you.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
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POSTAGE
& PACKING
I care about the records I sell and believe that they need to be carefully and securely packaged to ensure that they survive their journey through the post. Vinyl is removed from the sleeve for posting and the contents will be protected with rigid cardboard stiffeners. Packages are labelled "Do not bend" and securely sealed with "FRAGILE" parcel tape.
I support
the use of recycled materials and so I may sometimes use recycled packaging.
If you wish your item to be sent in entirely new packaging please let me know
before paying for it. Thanks.
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P&P charges
My P&P charges are 'totally transparent'. Please read below and if you have any questions about P&P costs please contact me BEFORE you bid. Thank you.
Sending items costs more than just the stamps on the package, but I try not to charge more for packing and posting your item than it actually costs me to do so. I need to cover the cost of packing materials, plastic sleeves, new inner sleeves (where applicable), transportation, fees and charges associated with sending the item (including fees incurred to receive the cost of postage and, where applicable, currency exchange) etc. To cover some of these expenses I add a nominal figure to the basic cost charged at the post office athough the actual cost to me is higher than this. I do not view P&P costs as a means of making money.
To quote an exact cost for every LP is difficult because of the wide variance in weight (e.g. Abbey Road weighs around 230 grams whereas Led Zeppelin III weighs around 390 grams). But the majority of single LPs, when packed, will weigh around 550 grams and I have based my P&P rates on this.
Double LPs will be charged as two LPs, triple LPs will be charged as three LPs. Box sets etc will be charged according to weight.
If, when you receive your item, there is a significant discrepancy in your favour, please contact me and I will refund the difference.
UK P&P costs
I DO NOT offer 'click and collect', 'collection in person' or FREE
postage, so please do not select these options.
UK Standard service - Royal Mail Second class. Usually delivered within 3-5 days of despatch. The cost is £4.95.
UK First class recorded post. The cost is £6.50 Usually delivered within one day of despatch.
UK Special Delivery - Any order valued over £80 will be sent fully insured using Royal Mail Special Delivery (next day delivery guarantee) and the total cost of this will be £11.00. Please wait for my invoice before paying.
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Airmail (tracked and/or signed) to any country OUTSIDE the UK
Overseas orders will ONLY be sent tracked and/or signed.
Europe 1 (Most EU countries)
First LP or 12" = £15.45, each additional LP or 12" add £2.20.
Europe 2 (including Russian Federation and others)
First LP or 12" = £17.95, each additional LP or 12" add £2.20.
Rest of the world (excluding USA and Australia)
First LP or 12" = £24.50, each additional LP or 12" add £3.80.
USA and Australia
First LP or 12" = £28.00, each additional LP or 12" add £3.80.
Overseas orders valued over £80 may be liable for an additional £3.90 to cover extra insurance.
Please note that overseas orders need a customs declaration with the value of the package.
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If you have any queries please email BEFORE you bid.