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Comes from 'UK' vinyl LP

The Man Who Sold The World - Dress Sleeve - Test Pressing

DAVID BOWIE The Man Who Sold The World - Dress Sleeve (1971 UK white label Mercury LP test pressing of this already rare album - test pressings like this just don't appear for sale very often, if at all! This copy belonged to a former label executive and the vinyl is in STONE MINT condition - just perfect! Complete with the now legendary withdrawn 'dress' cover this is one of the ultimate Bowie records) see 'More Info' for further details...

Price Info
N/A  
Product Availability Currently Unavailable - You can request the next copy of this item
Release Year 1971 - 53 years ago
Condition Unless stated otherwise in the description above, all items are in at least excellent condition - so please read our descriptions carefully. We try to sell items as close to Mint condition as possible, and many will indeed be close to brand new and/or unplayed. Others may be 'used' - and all will meet our strict grading and are 100% guaranteed.
Shipping Cost Add item to your basket to see shipping quote
Format vinyl LP album (LP record)
Record Label Mercury
Complete Stock List Go to David Bowie or visit our David Bowie collectors store
Product Catalogue No 6338041
Music Genre Rock, Male Solo
Country Comes from UK Comes from 'UK'
 
Tracklisting & More Information

David Bowie - The Man Who Sold The World
Mercury 6338041 - 1971
UK white label LP test pressing with correct machine-stamped matrix numbers:
Side one 6338041 1Y // 1V420
Side two 6338041 2Y // 1V420
Original withdrawn 'Dress / Drag' picture sleeve.

This has to the one of the ultimate Bowie record collectables. Not only is this album a great rarity as a finished commercial copy, this is a white label test pressing - there would not have been more than a handful of these produced and none would have gone beyond the immediate circle of artist & label executives involved in the release of this album.

As shown above, the vinyl carries the correct machine-stamped matrix numbers for the Mercury pressing - this would have been one of the first records manufactured before the commercial production run was ordered.

The plain white labels show spider traces around the spindle hole indicating perhaps 4 or 5 plays for side one, and just 2 or 3 plays for side 2. The words 'David Bowie Side 1' and 'David Bowie Side 2' have been handwritten in red on each side. The record both looks and plays as a Mint condition record - one of the best you will ever see.

The 'dress' sleeve is one of the most talked about of rare records, and regularly appears in want lists and editorial alike. This copy remains in Excellent condition. Given its source the provenance is impeccable, but just for the record it is undoubtedly 100% original and genuine. It is constructed from the familiar textured paper stock (it almost feels like expensive wallpaper); the spine titles read top to bottom and the clock is visible on the mantelpiece.

There are no seam splits, the corners remain strong and the internal flipback construction is totally secure. There is a noticeable thin-line defect running across the top of the front cover, and a similiar albeit feinter line running across the bottom. At some stage the sleeve has been stapled and there is a twin-prong staple hole in each of the four corners. This sleeve has not suffered the usual ringwear problems that have afflicted so many other copies - thankfully the record was stored outside the sleeve for most of its 34+ years. In fact it woud appear that for some time the sleeve was stapled to a wall, or on display somewhere, resulting in the very minimal ringwear but you do get the staple holes - both a blessing and a curse, or a 'choose your poison' event!

Whether you're into rare Bowie or just rare vinyl pressings this is a truly magnificent record, and an opportunity that does not come along very often - when was the last time you saw a genuine Bowie test pressing, especially one for such a rare LP in the first place ?


1. The Width Of A Circle
2. All The Madmen
3. Black Country Rock
4. After All
5. Running Gun Blues
6. Saviour Machine
7. She Shook Me Cold
8. The Man Who Sold The World
9. The Supermen


LP RECORD  
Recording Artist David Bowie
Product Title The Man Who Sold The World - Dress Sleeve - Test Pressing
Product Information David Bowie The Man Who Sold The World - Dress Sleeve - Test Pressing UK vinyl LP album (LP record).
Language All tracks are sung in English, unless otherwise stated in our description.
Additional info Deleted - A deleted or out-of-print item is one that is no longer manufactured. However, we stock thousands of out-of-print formats and we specialise in tracking down out-of-print, deleted and hard-to-find releases.
Artists Related To Angie Bowie, Arnold Corns, Ava Cherry, Carlos Alomar, Davie Jones & The Kingbees, Donna Destri, Holy Holy, Ivor Bird, Junior's Eyes, Mick Ronson, Reeves Gabrels, Rustic Overtones, The Manish Boys, The Riot Squad, The Spiders From Mars, Tin Machine, Woody Woodmansey's U-Boat
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