Click images to enlarge
Description
The records I offer for sale are from my extensive personal collection of 1960s and 1970s albums which I have built up over the last four decades. During that time I have added duplicate copies of some of my favourite albums to my collection. I've always sought out the very best copies available as I am very particular about the records that I own. Storage space limitations dictate that the time has come for me to pass on a few of these choice albums in order to downsize my collection.
On offer here is an exceptional copy of the debut studio album by King Crimson titled "In The Court Of The Crimson King", Catalogue Number ILPS-9111. It's a 1969 UK stereo 1st pressing on the Pink Island record label, with a 1st issue E. J. Day Group matt finish gatefold sleeve, designed by Barry Godber. It comes complete with its original plain white poly-lined inner sleeve. [The sleeve is the earliest possible design printed by E. J. Day Group, London and Bedford. The stamped record matrix numbers are ILPS 9111 Av2 and ILPS 9111 B//4 (where v = the delta symbol].
The sleeve is in EX condition with only light signs of wear and no creases of any significance. The front cover is unmarked. The back cover has the original retail price of "37/5" written in the top right corner, but is otherwise unmarked. LPs were relatively expensive back in 1969 with thirty seven shillings and five pence being a significant portion of the average weekly wage! The spine is square and solid. Overall it's a very well preserved example indeed. Please study the supersize photos carefully as they form an important part of the item description.
The solidly-pressed record is in EX+ condition. It retains its original shine and rotates evenly on the turntable. Visually there are just a few faint surface marks evident when angled against bright light. These are only superficial and do not have any impact whatsoever upon the audio playback. The Island labels are unmarked with just a few short spindle traces near the centres. There is barely any wear to the spindle hole. Both sides play excellently throughout with no discernible deterioration in sound quality and barely any unwanted noise at all. The sound quality is particularly dynamic and powerful with great bass and lots of wonderful sound effects. It is well documented that many Island pressings of the period suffered from high levels of inherent residual surface sound. This particular example plays very cleanly with barely any unwanted noise at all, just a few soft and random ticks during the silences and quiet tinklings of Moonchild, but nothing remotely intrusive. I've owned many first issues of this album and this is the best copy I've ever owned. I think it will be very difficult to find a better one. It really is a superb example.
The original inner sleeve is in great shape with no splits or tears.
Overall this is a superb and complete first pressing of King Crimson's iconic debut studio album which will make a fine addition to any record collection.
GRADINGS
The records that I offer for sale have been critically play-graded, at loud volume, on a Pioneer PL-L1000 tangential tracking turntable fitted with a Nagaoka MP-300 cartridge. I will only sell records that play to a high standard. My grading is strict and in accordance with the following descriptions:
· MINT- Record is superb, almost like new, with just a few sleeve removal type surface marks and no deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve is near perfect in all respects.
· EX Record is a top quality example with just a few very light surface marks and virtually no discernible deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve has slight wear and/or creasing.
· VG Record has some visual surface marks, but still plays to a high standard without any major deterioration in sound quality – just a few clicks or light surface sound in places. Sleeve has normal wear and tear without any major defects but is still very presentable.
All records can be expected to rotate sufficiently evenly on the turntable for there to be no effect whatsoever on the audio playback. Minor warps or dishing will not be mentioned as virtually all records display these features to some degree and no record is perfectly flat.
Vinyl is not a perfect medium and even the finest quality pressings will play with a degree of residual surface sound, however minimal. Where, in my opinion, unwanted noise interferes with the listening enjoyment of the record, it will be mentioned in the item description. It is unrealistic to expect a 40+ year old record to play with a background of complete silence. Please bear this in mind when bidding.
PACKAGING
LPs are packaged with care and well protected to ensure that they arrive safely in the same condition as they leave me. Records are removed from both inner and outer sleeves in order to prevent seam-splits in transit.
INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE
LPs posted outside of the
Worldwide - £14.50
