Vinyl: LED ZEPPELIN IV 1st UK PRESS RED PLUM - STICKERED PETER GRANT & INVERTED FEATHER

This is one of the rarest of all Led Zeppelin albums - much rarer than Led Zeppelin I with the turquoise text.

The very first copies of Led Zep IV had no mention of Superhype in the publishing credit and showed Peter Grant as Executive Producer. The labels were redesigned and reprinted but, in the meantime, Atlantic hastily produced some stickers to make the relevant corrections to the original labels. These stickered first pressings are highly sought after.

However, this is one of the absolute rarest examples because it also has the inverted feather symbol on side two. These are incredibly hard-to-find.

This has the following matrix numbers:

2401012 A//3 and 2401012 B//4 and the run-outs are etched with PECKO DUCK and PORKY.

Detailed description
Vinyl: The vinyl looks great and has retained its original sheen with relatively few marks. Under close inspection, I could see a few hairlines, sleeve-removal lines and small marks, but there aren't many. I have played the entire record and it generally sounds superb with very little to report. There is some background noise which could be heard in the run-ins/outs, fades, silent grooves and intros and a handful of random clicks, but there is nothing loud or intrusive anywhere. In common with almost every original copy I've ever listened to, there was some fuzziness (mainly in 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'When the Levee Breaks') which would stop it from getting the very highest play-grading. On side one I heard six tiny tics in the fade to 'the Battle of Evermore' and then a few more in the intro to 'Stairway to Heaven', but even with these, I would probably have play-graded side one as Excellent (Ex) apart from the fact that there is a single-groove skip near the end of 'Black Dog'. However, I've looked closely at the playing surface and cannot see any scratch or mark that would account for this. Side two has no issues at all apart from the fuzziness in 'When the Levee breaks' and would play-grade as Excellent (Ex) .

Labels: These super-rare labels have no major issues, just some barely-noticeable tippexing around the centre-hole on side two, but this is very minor. The correction stickers look great with no signs of 'picking' at the edges or corners. Very hard to find like this.

Cover: The original cover has no splits, tears, writing etc, just some storage wear to the edges and the corners, and a small sticker on the rear with the LP title, but even with this, it is a well-above-average example of an original Led Zep IV cover.

Inner sleeve: The inner sleeve with flipbacks has seam splits and a couple of small tears at the opening on one side, but there are no repairs! It is flat and uncreased and still looks very presentable.

Detracting features not covered above: None.

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.

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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TERMS & CONDITIONS

• My items are fully guaranteed - if it is not as described you can return it for a full refund, including postage. Refunds for visually graded records which are returned based upon the buyer's assessment of the record's playgrade, will not include postage costs in either direction.
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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 always 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 offer three UK services. I DO NOT offer 'click and collect', 'collection in person' or FREE postage, so please do not select these options if they appear in the invoice.

UK Standard service - sent using either Hermes courier or Royal Mail second class. One to three LPs = £3.45. Usually delivered within 3-5 days of despatch.

For more than three LPs please enquire before bidding.

UK First class recorded post. The cost for one to three LPs is £5.20. Usually delivered within one day of despatch.

For more than three LPs please enquire before bidding.

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Airmail ( tracked and/or signed) to any country OUTSIDE the UK

Europe

First LP or 12" = £13.60, each additional LP or 12" add £2.20.

Rest of the world (anywhere outside Europe)

First LP or 12" = £17.50, each additional LP or 12" add £3.80.

Please note that overseas orders outside the EU need a customs declaration with the value of the package.

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