A Whole Lotta Signatures
Our 21st March Music Memorabilia auction includes a rare piece of rock history.
Not only is the 1971 untitled fourth album by rock legends Led Zeppelin (commonly known as IV) one of the most influential and best-selling albums of all time, but the cover of this example is signed by all four band members, and the vinyl itself has a rare label variation.
Often considered one of the greatest rock albums of all time, Led Zeppelin's fourth album followed the lukewarm response to III, which was released the previous year. In response to this, guitarist Jimmy Page pushed for a more informal and looser recording environment at Headley Grange for the next album, blending various genres and musical arrangements. To add to the informal spirit, the album remained untitled and the band were instead represented by four symbols of their own design.
This format clearly worked, producing a stone-cold classic of an album with the epic masterpiece Stairway to Heaven as the centrepiece.
The original release of the album in 1971 came with several label variations depending on different pressing plants and distributors. This UK example is the 5th of 9 known 'plum' label variations, specific features include Marketed by Polydor Records Limited' at 6 o'clock, 'Under license from Atlantic Recording Corpn.' in the white area under 'Atlantic' on left side, 'Led Zeppelin' is printed above spindle hole, Catalogue number at 3 o'clock above circular 'Atlantic' logo reads 'deluxe 2401012' and 'Misty Mountain Top' spelling error.
These slight variations are crucial details for seasoned collectors of original vinyl and just add to the rich history of the album.
While the album is a treasure in itself, the cover (featuring an intriguing Victorian image of a Wiltshire thatcher, which was bought by Plant at an antiques shop) has been signed by all four members of the band, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and the late John Bonham. Due to the band's reluctance to sign autographs and John Bonham's untimely death in 1980, artefacts signed by all four members are incredibly rare and something of a 'Holy Grail' for rock memorabilia collectors. Add to this the iconic nature of the album itself and it's clear that this is the star lot of our Memorabilia auction.
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Lot description:
Led Zeppelin IV, signed clearly to front of sleeve in blue biro by John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Bonham, the vinyl being a 1971 UK pressing, Atlantic 401012 red, white and plumb labels, 2401012## A//3 1 3 5 PECKO DUCK / 2401012 B//3 1 2 2 PORKY. This is the 5th of 9 known 'plum' label variations, specific features include Marketed by Polydor Records Limited' at 6 o'clock, 'Under license from Atlantic Recording Corpn.' in white area under 'Atlantic' on left side, 'Led Zeppelin' is printed above spindle hole, Catalogue number at 3 o'clock above circular 'Atlantic' logo reads 'deluxe 2401012' and 'Misty Mountain Top' spelling error. The vendor states that this item was purchased from a collector in early 1999.
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