Vinyl: KING CRIMSON In The Court of the LP Textured Pink Island A2 B2 1969 EX/EX RARE!

KING CRIMSON In The Court of the LP Textured Pink Island A2 B2 1 st Press 1969 EX/EX RARE!

A lmost mythical pressing with A2/B2 matrix numbers & E.J.DAY G/Fold Sleeve!

Very rare and collectable first pressing of this classic album by King Crimson released in 1969!

A bit of history:

Apparently A1/B1 matrices versions of this album do not (officially) exist, rumoured to have been destroyed for one reason or another, but at least one copy has

surfaced so obviously not all were - this version apparently has a different track banding to later pressings.

The A2/B2 edition is therefore regarded as the REAL first pressing . It has textured Island labels indicating that it was pressed at a Polydor plant. By 1970 Island

had switched most of their pressing to EMI who used a smooth label.

Normally the issues that are found are smooth label with A2/B4 matrices - i.e. EMI pressed from late 1969 to 1970. This, in fact, covers the vast majority of the pink

Island label issues of this album.

It would seem that (excepting the A1/B1 anomaly) all the pink label A sides have the A2 or A3 matrix. The B sides had either B2 (rough label, extremely rare), B4

(smooth label, more common) or B3 - previously only rumoured to exist. We are now more than happy to confirm this!!

As you can see from the above, this record is a collectors dream, it is A2 B2 with rough textured labels manufactured at the Polydor plant.....most copies of this record have

smooth labels but as you can see this one has the double grooves on the label .

I try to be as honest with my grading of vinyl as possible and would never offer albums or singles that were anything less than in good condition

(using the Record Collector Magazine Grading System as my guide – see below). I clean (if required) and then play all the albums and singles I offer on e-bay before listing them.

Also, I supply a number of good quality photographs whenever possible . Y ou need have n o doubt what you are bidding on after checking these out.

All albums and 12" singles are sent out in card mailers with strong stiffeners.

Record Collector Magazine Grading System:

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 un-played 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, discolo u ration, etc.

Format: Vinyl LP Stereo (33/3rpm)

Record Label: Island

Catalogue No: ILPS 9111

Country: UK

Year: 19 69

Condition of vinyl: I n excellent condition and play s perfectly with no deterioration in sound quality evident.

There are a few very m inor surface marks /very minor scratches visible under strong light and the occasional

very minor surface noise audible in the quieter moments.

Matrix Numbers: A2, B2.

Condition of labels: In excellent condition with only minor spindle wear evident.

Condition of cover: Original EJ Day gatefold sleeve is i n excellent condition with only minor signs of wear and creasing evident.

There is a price written in pencil on the back cover but this is fairly small and unobtrusive.

Postage & Packing Costs:

I will send this via “Royal Mail Special Delivery” in the UK and by “International Signed For” in Europe and the rest of the world as it is potentially an

expensive item.

Note: I am not a professional dealer but I do try to describe items as accurately as I can.

I can occasionally however make a mistake but you can bid with confidence as I offer a full refund

(minus your return postage cost) should the item fail to meet my description or your expectations.