PINK FLOYD Piper Gates of Dawn Rare Orig Mono

	£		90
	$		107

Hi, I am Mike, I have been a music collector for over 30 years now. I always still try to offer 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 interested collector. You may notice I only submit one or two items a day for Ebay; time rarely allows more as I Play-Grade every record I offer (on a Rega 3 deck with Ortofon cartridge) - 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. 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 its good. A ten pounds record that plays close to new is as important to the collector as a 250 pound record that plays less well. 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 programmes. What you see is what you get. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. Good luck.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance. Item wants are always welcome - email me with anything needed, you never know - I may just have a copy in stock. I by quality single items and collections also (Email me please).

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Please read all the information carefully - these adverts take an age to compile properly - so it’s well worth a few minutes of your time to read the details thoroughly. I really cannot take any responsibility if any bidder fails to read any facts that are clearly stated in the advert.

NOTICE: This item is relisted due to no payment or communication from the winner bidder last time.

Artist or Band: PINK FLOYD

Album Title: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Cat Number: SX 6157 Mono.

Label and Condition: Columbia original turquoise on black with silver text. Apart from the white area around the centre hole these labels are still clean and look nice. This copy has been well played, the spindle marks are not that apparent but I would guess the whites around the hole speak for themselves. Side two has the tax codes KT that are moderately flattened and the T has been stripped of ink - my regular viewers would have read the importance of finding these fragile tax codes in clean, clear condition, this worn look is often more the norm for albums like this. If you find finely embossed and still black tax codes be sure you have a little played and scarce 60s album. (Please see label scans for all information needed, nothing is cleaned up or improved, what you see is what you get).

Country of Manufacture: England, UK

Rarity: Rare, make no mistake about it, this is a very desirable early Pink Floyd mono album and its importance cannot be overstated.

Original Year of Release: 1967

Matrix Nos: XAX 3419 -2 and XAX 3420 -1. The tiny pressing codes are 1T and 1CD, hard to see these but I feel sure these are correct.

Genre Type: Rock/psych

Brief Artist & Album Info: Arguably (606-1 Revolver apart or maybe Let it Bleed and White Album) one of the most important and desirable mono albums to own, the sound is unique and its importance cannot be overstated. The mix and sound is incredible and very different. Copies of this are now virtually extinct and this is the reason this copy has to be offered - not every collector can afford to pay massive prices for EX - Near Mint copies, because, unless you are very lucky you will have to these days - this is genuinely getting rare and price guides reflect this, and they generally undervalue items like this. This record has been played to above average I would guess, and does fall below my normal threshold of EX(-), but I make no apologies for offering this one. Firstly this copy has been professionally cleaned and it plays way better than I thought it would. I would say to anyone reading this, take away the whites around the middle and this would still possibly grade at around VG visually, maybe (minus). And it plays around this grade too and for large parts way better, now for many, desperate for a copy of this masterpiece that will be good enough - I will give greater details below for sound quality.

During the spring of 1967, while The Beatles were at Abbey Road finishing Sgt Pepper, Pink Floyd were upstairs recording an album that would have a similarly immeasurable effect on the development of psychedelic rock. Its name taken from classic children's novel The Wind in the Willows (one of Syd Barrett’s favourite books), Piper at The Gates of Dawn was a child’s garden of acid, an album-length exposition on the effects of LSD on a troubled mind. One of the first ‘head’ albums, it was rumoured that the tracks contained sounds - conversations, even - that one could only hear while tripping. - Well whatever, this for sure is as essential an album as any to own: in mono its priceless, even a well used copy. Just hold this very early copy send a shiver down the spine - cherish with wonderous experience.

Cover Condition and Details: VG-, overall, but the front is more EX at least. its a single format, three massive flipbacks, file under popular pop groups on back, Printed and made by Ernest J. Day & Co Ltd, London. The record comes in its original Emitex lined inner which is in very fine shape, its one of the heaviest and cleanest I’ve seen for a record like this. No splits and a clear window. The greatest of all Psych covers, for me even greater than Sgt Pepper, I always prefer underground music to pop, taking nothing away from the Fab Four. This cover is simply stunning, the copy on offer is pretty respectable and the important front is great. Now this one has had ‘extra’ laminate strips added by the original owner for reinforcing and protection and its worked pretty well. Its not cellotape, that in all those years would have dried and peeled and darkned at least. This tape is clear and shows up quite little, and had largely done its job, as edgewear and flipback wear is minimal. Its simply a cover (and record) thats been loved and used, that’s what records were for. Neither are knackered, simply used, a few miles on the clock but still some in the tank for more.

Cover Lamination: Solid, neat and clean. It still has a pretty deep shine and looks just fine. No peeling or dry areas and only with light and few creases and they show little. No nasty indentations and even surface marks are light and few. If the tape reinforcing does not bother you, this is a very nice example of this famous front cover.

Cover Front: Attractive with deep rich colour, put this one into a heavy duty PVC cover and this will look stunning. Tiny chip on right hand side only.

Cover Back: Some mildish discolour on the unlaminated exposed back, few light rubs and creases, but for sure there will be far worse ones offered. The tape protected the flipbacks quite well and these are still quite neat underneath, some small f/b creases but all remain intact and quite neat still. No ringwear.

Cover Edges/Corners: Due to the tape protection. Top: unworn. Bottom: unworn. Record entry edge (right): virtually unworn, clean and sharp. Spine: Solid and square and unworn, all text is pristine under the tape and laminate. Corners: All four show minor wear and are still nicely shaped. Summary: A very decent all round example of this scarce original 60’s cover, one that could prove hard to find hugely better around this type of grading - EX, even mint ones will exist, but will they get offered often and for how much?!!!. This respectable cover should please many collectors. The pictures do fractionally flatter it a little.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: Around VG, I think this is fair, very clean now and still retaining a decent shine, of course pressed on very thick and luckily pretty durable vinyl. This record has surface marks and quite a number of them, but really they are all light, there are no nasty scratches, the marks are mostly hairlines types that come from being played and removed from the inner. Virtually all are superficial and do not sound as pops or ticks, they may be the odd light isolated one.

Sound Quality: So how does this play? Well without doubt this exceeded my expectations, the signs all show a well played record. The sound mix and quality is astonishing, it took me aback. Yes this DOES have surface sounds in places, mostly apparent on the quieter sections, but some tracks play without hardly any, and if any is there, much is lost in the very loud mix. I am desperately trying not to make this one sound better than it actually is: there IS mild sound degrading, its inevitable, but I state it has remarkable resilience considering the likelihood of a mono 60s deck usage. (Pleae see paragraph below). This record still retains fine dynamic sound and bags of detail. It will continue to play pretty well for many more plays., it does not jump or stick, pop or click. The sounds embedded in these mildly worn grooves are still mightly impressive - when play-grading the music just took over. After a very short time I cared not a jot for any mild distortion or clipping, the sound is totally awesome, there is so much I had not heard before on this record - the mono recording is absolutely essential. As good as the Japanese CDs are, recently issued, nothing compares to the sound mix of this record - and its only graded VG. Not one for the fussy collector or connoisseur, but for the modest, more average Pink Floyd fan who wants arguably their most important album in mono. This is how this gem should be heard and nothing comes close.

Mono vs Stereo: Always a matter of opinion. For any serious collector where there is a choice e.g. Beatles, Stones, Hendrix etc. both are essential. True Stereo albums give great imagery and presence whereas mono albums usually are more dynamic, louder and present the detail more clearly. Mono albums are far harder to find in genuinely top playing condition. Most were heavily played, particularly the truly great bands and artists, often covered in mark and scratches, many severe and labels that were a mass of spindle marks. The majority were played on vintage and unsubtle decks with heavy tonearms and thick styli (often sapphire, not diamond, that chipped more easily) that rendered heavy wear in a very short time to many a fine classic record. Wear to the delicate groove walls, particularly the innermost tracks to the labels were most vulnerable where the tracking angle became more severe and the backdrag actually stripped the delicate groove walls. This resulted in surface noise and mild/moderate distortion or worse. These old decks tracked by sheer weight and little of any refined engineering. Next time you see such a deck at a local record fayre, feel the weight of the arm, it almost makes you wonder how any records survived at all. The point of this paragraph is emphasise that when a truly clean, lightly played and great sounding 60s mono album (or stereo come to that) is offered, treasure it, because for sure thery are truly getting vary rare and precious - beware - demand only play-graded records.

Track Listing:Astronomy dominé; Lucifer Sam; Matilda mother; Flaming; Pow R. Toc H. Take up thy stethosocpe and walk; Intersellar overdrive; the gnome; Chapter 24; The scarecrow; Bike.

Album Played For Grading: Yes.

Final Summary: Masterpiece and essential are often overused words, but for this one thery are truly justified. This landmark groundbreaking classic remains an ellusive item for many, well here is chance to own a decent copy at maybe a fair price without breaking the bank balance. Its a copy well played, but remains probably for playing around average. I am fussy: and I still enjoyed this one - its for sure not for connoisseur’s, but I think its fairly graded and I hope my description will let the winning bidder know exactly what to expect. Copies are not common, prices are soaring, and although not strictly in investment quality condition - you may just be surprised, for sure it wont decline in value. Stoned or sober, any rock fan will adore this album, and even with some mild sound degrading, this will still blow you away. – Mike.

Payment Details please read carefully:

UK First Class: = £2.50; Recorded Delivery (Recommended) = £4.00 Special Delivery (Next day, insured up to £250), the best service available = £6.00

Europe Air Mail: = £4 Insured: £8.00

Overseas, non-Europe e.g. USA, Japan, Australia etc. Airmail:= £7; Insured with recorded delivery (where available) = £11.00

Singles: (Packed to the high standards of the LPs)

UK First class: = £2.00 Insured: £4

Europe Air Mail = £3.00 Insured: £5.50

Overseas, non-Europe (as above) Airmail £3.50 Insured: £6.00

Any item that sells for over £85 will be sent Special Delivery in the UK at no extra cost. Items over £125 get the same service Overseas. This is gives peace of mind for the winning bidder and myself for valuable items.

The winner bidder choses his/her posting method and if uninsured is chosen, its their decision and they have to stick with it, I can accept no responsibility if an item is lost in the post. I can only try to claim at standard levels if no enhancement is chosen (£28). PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT use surface mail, its too slow, with a higher risk of loss and damage.

Mailing Details: Please note I do not profit on postage (my packing standards are high and the package weighs a little more. All records are sent in plastic covers with the record taken out of the sleeve and sent in professional mailers with FOUR professional stiffners for extra protection (if space allows), I do NOT use old cardboard boxes or cereal packets for protection. More expensive items are also inserted into a de-luxe heavy duty padded bag AS WELL to give that extra protection. I truly want ALL my items to arrive to their destination in the same condition they leave me. I will also include in most cases a brand new lined inner, but will include the original inner if available and in a condition to be given.

I accept cash for payments worldwide in UK Pounds Sterling, Euros or US Dollars - but this at the senders own risk. Please send registered and insured if this method is chosen. I cannot accept responsibility if any cash payments do not turn up. This system is very reliable and rarely goes astray. The same goes for any shipped uninsured item, I can only try to claim for any undelivered or damaged article at basic insurance levels if no enhanced insurance is requested and paid for (unless the value threshold is high enough for me insure as standard, see above)

Overseas bidders please note conversion rates for Pounds to Dollars and Pounds to Euros will be charged at 1.7 to cover PayPal or cash conversion costs.

PLEASE NOTE: Any PayPal user can now pay me with UK Sterling if they wish with no need to convert to US dollars (although they still can if they wish to). Any instant PayPal transaction from anywhere in the world will mean the item will be sent immediately - it makes deals fast and very efficient.

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. I now only accept PayPal, International money orders or cash from overseas bidders (UK Sterling, US dollars or Euros). Cash, cheques, postal orders and PayPal are fine from the UK. I allow maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if this does not happen I will relist the item and may send negative feedback unless an explanation is given. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask. Please keep watch on my Ebays, I have other intesting items coming very soon. Thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: As listening to every single record I offer all the way through is difficult timewise, can I make it clear if any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund minus the Posting and All Ebay costs as long as the item detail has been read and understood. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer. I still endeavour to play all the items in their entirity for grading if at all possible and is usually the case.