DAVID BOWIE The Man Who Sold the World UK 71 MERCURY EX+ DRESS COVER
  £   1,751
  $   2,090

 


£ 1751 Sold For
Jun 18, 2017 Sold Date
Jun 8, 2017 Start Date
£   14 Start price
56   Number Of Bids
  Great Britain Country Of Seller
eBay Auctioned at
 
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Description

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World in Quality, Safe Packing.

Postage: UK £4.75 (£1 per extra record). Europe (including Russia) £12.50 (£2 per extra record). Rest of World (including ALL parts of the USA) £16.50 (£3 per extra record). All boxes signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes that offer virtually no protection at all – in fact I think these things should be banned as records WILL arrive damaged in them at some time. Here, you get what you pay for – SAFE PACKING in BOXES using 7mm DOUBLE-WALL STIFFENERS. Full details nearer the end of the listing.

Posting to Russia: Yes, I do post to Russia. But delivery can take up to 4 to 6 weeks from the UK. So please be patient. I will submit a tracking number to the winning bidder, and when the packet arrives there it can be followed online using the Russian post website.

ALSO: I now apply the Ebay ‘2-day’ rule for non-payment to keep things moving – cash-flow is important for any small business. I will always keep my P&P prices as low as possible, and even after yet another Royal Mail price hike from April this year, I have NOT raised my prices and will never compromise on solid, safe packing that is invariably heavier than most you will get. My P&P offers probably the best value-for-money for vinyl records available, and I even will pay for full insurance on any record that sells for over £100 at NO extra cost – that is UK and abroad. Also I aim to post the very same day after payment is received. You WILL see the difference when my packet arrives.

FINALLY: Late payers, non-payers and ‘0’ bidders will now be blocked or cancelled at my discretion. As will any bidder who cancels a bid. I do not like this practice as it is most often used to phish out the price to beat. Ebay does not approve and neither do I – so only bid on my items if you want them.

Artist or Band: DAVID BOWIE

Album Title: The Man Who Sold the World

Producer(s): Tony Visconti

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: The Width of a Circle; All the Madmen; Black Country Rock; After All.

Side 2: Running Gun Blues; Saviour Machine; She Shook Me Cold; The Man Who Sold the World; The Supermen.

Label/Format: Mercury – ultimate first issue labels with intense black colour and matt, smooth surfaces.

Label Conditions: Both very clean, fresh and attractive with only quite light, equally fine and gentle spindle marks and no wear around the hole area. Such dark labels make any spindle marks show more than most, but these are very modest in appearance, especially viewed normally, full-on. The record itself plays absolutely superbly with hardly anything to fault.

Catalogue Number: 6338041

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 115 grams. Fairly light, but not untypical for the year. Beautifully pressed with sound to match.

Country of Manufacture: England

Rarity & Info: Very Rare, make no mistake, this first issued album sold in minuscule numbers and its rarity is more than well-known. First issues included the famous ‘Dress Cover’, and only briefly available before being reprinted and repressed in 1973 when the world really discovered this man via ‘Ziggy Stardust’. Then issued with a totally different black and white cover on RCA Victor, Bowie now with his Ziggy-style hair. The ‘Dress Cover’ unique to the UK market, the American version had a cartoon cover and the German version with a bird-like creature drawing with Bowie’s head – this was the only original Bowie approved of. This dress cover has become one of the most sort-after by Bowie collector’s worldwide, it is immensely fragile and delicate, seldom-seen or offered, especially in little-worn condition.

BEWARE of bootlegs and reproductions of both cover and record. This copy is 100% genuine and original, it was purchased by one owner from new, actually the wife of the man of most others I am offering. Played little and offering superb sound throughout. Original records have punched Philips-style matrixes and stampers, as clearly seen on my photographs, this IS the actual item being offered, like all my listings. These matrixes are deeply machine punched, clear and distinct, bootlegs usually have not matrixes at all and these are definitive proof that the record is genuine. Also, labels are near impossible to convincingly fake, I have actually seen one bootleg, the labels looked pale and unclear – simply wrong – few would ever be fooled. Counterfeit covers however can be more convincing, but have no fears here, this IS the absolute real thing. It is in very impressive condition with minimal real wear. It does have a light surface sticker pull mark towards the front top right corner, but apart from very light and gentle edge rubbing, mostly on the bottom storage edge, it has little other real wear as such. It does have a fine line near the front top edge, this, without any doubt, is a machine gripper mark which is far from uncommon on covers. It just happens to show more on this quite dark, textured and quite soft, thin paper. So this is totally natural, and present when purchased as confirmed by the owner. The back are the faintest of faint hints of the same, but so close to the edges they barely even register. In fact the back is simply stunning as seen, the back, the blemishes apart, almost the same. Flimsy, fragile, delicate and unforgiving, few will survive these days much better. The original date-coded Philips inner sleeve is also retained, the code is 0271 (February 1971), manufactured approx two months prior to its UK April release.

Clearly, this first pressing and issue was not available very long before being repressed and repacked, it went almost ignored by the record-buying public – only discovered when Ziggy hit the market – by then, the Mercury label and dress cover had gone. To make this copy even more interesting, I have included a promotional small poster that was displayed in the shop where the lady bought her records. It was given to her by the retailer around the time the couple bought the ‘Ziggy Stardust’ I am also offering, it clearly was made to promote the forthcoming new pressing of this album. Note the clothes and the new hairstyle Bowie has, it matches the new black and white cover for the RCA version of the album that was soon to be forthcoming as interest increased. In fact she was given three of these ‘posters’, I am also offering one with the Ziggy, I am keeping the other myself for time being anyway. All have a tiny pin-holes in each corner where the shop displayed them, but are nigh-on perfect that apart – again a genuine piece from 1972. I would imagine these are almost as rare as this album in their own right. For sure, I have never seen them before, and to date, found one else who has either. So this is a rare and superb opportunity to own one of Bowie’s greatest ever albums in superb condition. With so few sold, and so few will survive a great deal better, no not lose this wonderful piece of classic rock. This is my first ever copy and even offering it is not proving easy.

Original Year of Release: April 1971 in the UK.

Matrix Nos: 6338041 1Y//1 420 1 1 2 & 6338041 2Y//1 420 1 1 1 [deeply and clearly machine punched, these are impossible to fake]. As stated above, bootlegs have no matrixes and everything about them looks wrong. This is 100% the real deal.

Musicians: David Bowie – vocals; guitars; Stylophone; organ; saxophone; Mick Ronson – guitars; backing vocals; Tony Visconti – bass guitar; piano; guitar; recorder; producer; backing vocals; Mick Woodmansey – drums; percussion; Ralph Mace – Moog modular synthesiser.

Brief Info: The third David Bowie album, and one of the greatest in his magnificent catalogue. Many dismissed his first album of light pop songs, and this album moves away from the largely acoustic second album now known as ‘Space Oddity’. This is at times, more full-on hard rock, and for me, he seldom sounded better, the backing band soon to become famous on his next few albums are brilliant. Acclaimed at the time as innovative, some songs are dark and it sold very poorly in the UK, fairing only marginally better in the United States, here with very different packaging. Only after his reinvention and the rise of Ziggy Stardust were the public led back to his earlier catalogue that included ‘Hunky Dory’ and the others. By then, the famous dress cover had gone, the album revamped, repressed by RCA with a totally new look. Even back-in-the-day, finding first issues was difficult and demand has always far exceeded available copies. Only the few noticed or purchased it initially, and ever fewer took good care of it. This copy is very impressive, as stated the cover has a small, light surface sticker pull mark, but hardly major. The gripper line mark near the top front is natural and nothing to do with wear as such, but a visual mark nonetheless, I am not trying to hide the fact. The rare Mercury record grades as bare minimum Excellent(+), and (very) arguably better still. A couple of three fine hairlines do nothing at all, and then ultra fine wispy surface traces seen with scrutiny under bright light. Few will better this for looks or sound, my play-grade was a joy. Even the polylined February 1971 inner sleeve has fared well as seen. The inclusion of a very rare shop promotional poster is the icing on the cake. This given to the owner by the retailer around the time of the Ziggy purchase (that from owner’s memory anyway). A superb package for discerning collectors of the legendary artist.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(+): this grading subjective due to the small sticker pull on the front. In real terms this deserves an extra (+), as there is so little other real wear at all. A single unlaminated format with the original dress cover graphic as seen. Both sides have rough textured surfaces, the card thin and very delicate and flimsy. Printed and made in England, uncredited. Includes the original February 1971 date-coded inner sleeve.

Cover Front: A rare and legendary cover with few made and fewer still sold. As stated, it has a small, light sticker pull mark near the top right area just above the ‘Bowie’ text, which is totally unaffected. Also a fine horizontal line near the top edge, this clearly a manufacture gripper line mark which are very common on covers. Most of these either show as a full line or a fine more visible line. As this card is unprotected, soft and textured, this machine line does show more, but is only thin as seen. I do not consider this ‘wear’, as it was present on purchase day and natural, but its there anyway. The odd tiny corner tip rub, or small edge trace here-and-there, but little else. This entire cover is clean, fresh and retains superb deep colour with no light fading or other rubbing. With such thin and flimsy card, and it really must not be handled one-handed, the lack of creasing is almost remarkable. The one-owner-from new, a young female of the time, stored this inside a protective cover and kept out of the light. The surfaces have hardly ever been handled. Yes a blemish or two, but few will be found better, this is very attractive indeed.

Cover Back: The back is little short of remarkable with barely any wear at all. Any hint of gripper line marks on this side are lighter than minuscule, the graphic of the long-haired Bowie is sublime. Not even a trace of ring wear, and barely any speckling to the quite deep texturing. Construction on the top left area is not quite square, but again is a minor manufacture issue. With no hesitation, I would grade this side alone Near Mint, and how many will still exist like that?

Top Edge: Even though thin and flimsy, this edge is superbly straight with barely any wear.

Bottom Edge: Again straight with mostly quite light patchy rubbing, this mostly near the left end. For a storage edge, this has survived impressively.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, mostly sharp with very little wear. Any thickening or burring only little, light and patchy as seen viewed end-on, hardly any really. Record enters on this edge that is guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced. Viewing end-on also emphasises just how thin this card is.

Spine and Text: Solid, mainly straight with only a little gentle compression here-and-there. The white surface still clean, fresh and untoned or darkened. All text is perfect and unworn, also impressively centred for good measure, the difference between average and exceptional. This perilous area will seldom be seen better either.

Corners: Any tip rubs are small and light, very fine to excellent shape retained with no bashes or dinks. With card this soft and fragile, these corners have fared very well.

Cover Summary: Arguably the most important original cover in the entire Bowie catalogue, when seen for real, just like an original old master painting, this is a work-of-art. No reissue or other version will give the satisfaction of owning the genuine article from 1971. A very strong all-round example, yes the odd small blemish, but in context, this fragile piece has more than just survived the years. Stickers were a curse for covers like this, and it questions the sense of those who put them on in the first place. Any other blemishes are natural and few of anyway – you have the pictures – please judge for yourself. This beautiful item should please many, and maybe even most collectors. For sure, it does not surface often like this.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT: this the original Philips, or Polydor-style polylined inner sleeve. Date-coded 0271 (February 1971), so manufactured a few weeks prior to release of the album in April of the same year. The paper a little darkened with age, but hardly unsuual. The window circles neat, a tiny nick on the back side I repaired to stop it widening in future. Any creasing light, the lining still quite clear, all edges unsplit with no repairs on these areas necessary. This is the genuine inner than came with the album and in very fine condition as seen.

The Promotional Poster: NEAR MINT: bar a single tiny pin-hole in each corner. Not part of this actual album, but a lovely complementary piece to go with it. Given to the album’s original owner by the retailer, it promotes the then forthcoming new reissue of ‘The Man Who Sold the World’, which would have the new artwork. Bowie, now Ziggy-style, has the same clothing as featured on the RCA reissue, the back is plain. Again, this is 100% genuine, she was given three, I am offering one other with the Ziggy album I am also offering, the other stays here for now. All are the same. Never seen one of these before, and I would think a rare piece in its own right, certainly a nice extra for any winning bidder.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(+) / EXCELLENT(++): arguably even better. A very fine visual copy with a hairline or two on side one that do nothing at all, then any surface traces ultra fine, wispy and faint as seen under bright light. Very clean with equally fine shine and fairly solidly pressed, made in the time of the oil shortage, vinyl then was using more sparingly. A copy with minimal plays on all the evidence and plays beautifully throughout. Visually a super rare record that should please many, if not most collectors.

Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippets or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing B&W speakers that include the legendary tweeter from their awesome Nautilus range that reveals every blemish or minuscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This magnificent Mercury first pressed album plays even above it’s high visual grading with barely anything to fault. Offering strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear – sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any surface sounds hardly registered and this is an exceptional clean pressing with no tracking issues*. Few examples, especially first issues will outperform this I feel sure. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has been played very lightly and has been generally well stored and carefully handled within a non-smoking environment. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record. My first ever dress cover original, it will prove very difficult to find significantly better and can be strongly recommended. This record, and even the cover, could prove huge upgrades for some, do not lose this rare opportunity lightly.

* As played-graded on a high-end Linn LP12 Sondek turntable with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge tracking at 2.2 grams.

Now one of the most established sellers on Ebay and still offering the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any potential bidder and collector. You may notice I only submit records sparingly on Ebay as I Play-Grade every record I offer in their entirety – also on higher-end equipment – not just bits to guess a grade - visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story. I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested collector – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean it’s good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in stunning near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are taken with a digital camera or scanned - they are NOT improved, cleaned-up or made better looking than they are with camera trickery or enhancing with digital programs. Room light factors can make things vary sometimes, that is hard to control, especially in winter. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert and vice-versa. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. I am enthusiastic, and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items - bid with confidence - excellence comes as standard and so does Near Mint regularly. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps, sticks, warps or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Equipment Used for Play-Grading: I now play-grade ALL the records I offer (unless clearly stated to the contrary) on the following equipment:

Deck: Linn LP12/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2.2 grams). Amps: Naim Supernait 2 with Project USB phono stage and Tellerium Black interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Tellurium Black terminated cable). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional VPI-17 vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too. Pictures taken with a Nikon D5000 SLR Digital Camera.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.

What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is not a bad thing.

I now offer the fastest possible posting, often the very next day after payment is received or within two to three days maximum (unless on holiday). I only use FIRST-CLASS Mail. The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my new VPI-17 Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. You will NOT get tired, dull looking, dust infested records inside worn and foggy covers with tatty inners from this seller and that’s a promise and guarantee. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT Mailers, these do not offer any real protection). The record(s) are REMOVED from their main cover to avoid edge splits and placed within a brand new polylined inner. The record’s original inner will be included if available. The boxes are then reinforced with at least TWO, ULTRA THICK stiffeners for maximum extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffeners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed if deemed necessary and possible. When larger boxes are used, the thick record and stiffener ‘sandwich’ is then thickly embedded into bubble-wrap to bulk out the record inside the box to centre the item inside to reduce the risk of damage still further. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but ‘Signed-For’ posting is NOT an option anymore. I do not profit on posting, better quality packaging costs, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners make a near impregnable fortress for safe shipping and this is used inland and overseas for ALL my records, not just the rare and expensive. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is minuscule in over 14­ years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. The only damage rate acceptable for this seller is ZERO and I think my packets will offer just that. It would take a vicious postman or postal service to damage these for sure. Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE – they offer next-to-no-protection, and should be banned, no ‘professional’ should consider using them in my opinion. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FIVE records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). All postage costs are below and at the top of the listing.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please ask me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of TWO days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the bid, again after the mandatory FOUR days and then offer the item to the runner-up or relist. The non-payer will also be blocked from my Ebay site as will any suspicious bids or bid withdrawals. Small businesses need prompt payment to trade and these strict rules WILL be applied.

SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – THESE comply with EBAY’S RULES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent via Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.75

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £1 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £12.50 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); South America; New Zealand; Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £16.50 (£17.50 for double sets). Add £3 per extra LP. (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3)

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders or direct payment into my bank account.

Potential Bidders: I will cancel any bids I feel are time-wasters. A maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask and thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help. Thank You.

SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO WEAR AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

My Use of Description Terminology: Surface Marks = Superficial, usually light marks, hairlines or light scuffs that rarely sound. Scratch = a needle mark that goes below the record’s surface, some will sound, some will not, my play-grade will inform. Original = a record that has been pressed with the first label design which does NOT necessarily mean a very first pressed record. First Pressing = A record that I believe or know to be a genuine very first pressed record. I do not claim to always know for sure, and that’s why I state the stamper and matrix numbers if at all possible, for those who claim to know what they all mean, the information is there for the collector to decide. I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure. Surface Sound = Mild, light sound, usually light crackle or similar. Distortion = Break up of the actual sound caused by groove wear or damage from a chipped stylus – the most undesirable form of unwanted sound, vintage mono records were the most prone to this happening but not exclusively so. The symptoms of distortion are high frequency clipping, moderate constant crackle or an echo type sound quality. Violin, piano and vocals are most prone to groove-wear distortion. Feathering = Fraying or softening of the entry edge of a cover. Covers with feathered entrance edges are more likely to have had the actual record inserted and removed more than a non-feathered, sharp-edged cover which are always far more attractive. Set Off, actually a printer’s term for dark ink leaving mild residue on pale or white ink when rested upon. e.g. when a gatefold cover has black ink closed against white, this can leave some black residue on the pale area – this is mostly unavoidable or course.

The Argument for Vinyl Original sound and mix (mono mixes are rarely available on CD), high quality sound on clean copies (played on a hi-end dedicated analogue system – breathtaking sound!), beautiful, large format covers, artwork, inserts and even full size posters etc; huge investment potential, and the pleasure of owning ‘the real thing’.


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