Fake Vitalogy?? Please help!

[presenttense]

So I have just recently entered the wild and crazy world of collecting Pearl Jam vinyl. I recently made two purchases off of ebay: an opened and used vs. album and a sealed Vitalogy. I received both in the mail today. The vs. seems to be legit, especially for the condition and the price I paid. However, I'm having serious doubts about the Vitalogy.

First of all, the Vitalogy was not sealed and unopened as promised. However, I could possibly be pursuaded to look past that if it is indeed a real copy since I was going to open and play it anyway. I am having serious doubts, though, because when you open the case, the photo on the inside is upside down when opened with "Vitalogy" on the cover right-side up. Is this how it is supposed to be? Also, are there any other "markers" I can look for to determine if it is real or not? Thanks!

[theserialthrilla]

http://www.pjcollectors.com/detail.asp?id=1325

check with data base for your other faults

but when i open mine as you do a book the image inside is correct way up

seems wierd if it is fake its not a hrad vinyl to find

[presenttense]

I did already look at the database, but obviously it's impossible to tell if the album was just turned around to take a photo of the inside of the cover. I'm with you in that I thought it would be weird for it to be a fake since the price seemed to be about right for a real, sealed version and I didn't see that the seller was selling umpteen copies of the same thing. And the seller had 100% positive feedback.

It is just so very frustrating to have to be so paranoid about all of this! Thanks for your help!

[Megadave]

first of all, welcome..

-which version is your vitalogy?
usa/eu/brazil?

-are u referrring to the great band's pic?

-check the matrix scretched near the label..there are letters and number (to see the matrix u must use a good light to see the vinyl's surface)..
if someone has an opened copy (mine are all sealed)it is easy to compare matrix's vinyls..

-it could be a....."cool" mispressed...

-if u can take a pic for us and post here it will be very appreciated..

[presenttense]

Ok, so I spoke with the seller and it seems that the post office opened it since it was marked "media mail". He was just as horribly confused as I was! Based on what he said, the provenance of the album seems to be legit. But it does appear to be a misprint. Here's a photo:

[theserialthrilla]

thats a cool..great condition as well..

[Megadave]

ok..now check the matrix on vinyl...it's important..

my mini-opinion????....u got a very cool misspress!!!!
love these items....not so very common in pjdiscog...

thanx for the pic..nice!!

[jongopostal]

Hello presenttense and welcome

I will start by assuming you are from the usa. I work for the Post office and can assure you that we would not open your record. We might open the package to ensure that it does indeed qualify for "media mail". But we would never open the product itself.

If i misunderstood what you are saying, i apologize.

again, welcome to the forum and have fun collecting.

[presenttense]

Hello presenttense and welcome

I will start by assuming you are from the usa. I work for the Post office and can assure you that we would not open your record. We might open the package to ensure that it does indeed qualify for "media mail". But we would never open the product itself.

If i misunderstood what you are saying, i apologize.

again, welcome to the forum and have fun collecting.

Thanks for the welcome! And yes I'm in the USA and both the seller and I also could not understand why on Earth a postal employee would unwrap a sealed album. The seller is going to file a complaint with the post office from where he sent it. And yes, after a 20 minute phone conversation with the seller, I do believe that what he put in the box was a sealed Vitalogy album. Especially since he even joked that if he'd know about the photo misprint he probably would have kept it! And he did offer to refund part of my money since it was openend. I refused because it appears that he, in good faith, sent me what I'd bought.

But it is kind of cool!

[presenttense]

ok..now check the matrix on vinyl...it's important..

I'll check the matrix tonight and post it tomorrow to see if anyone can verify it.

[presenttense]

The matrix number on the album is AL 66900-1B. Does this mean anything to anyone? I really have no idea about these things (although I probably should).

[Megadave]

as i said my copies are all sealed, i cant compare it..
at "first sight" it seems legit..
but is it the usa version?
check the serial number

http://www.pjcollectors.com/subcategory.asp?id=4

[presenttense]

It is indeed the USA version. Thanks Megadave and everyone else for your help on this! At this point I'm 99.99% sure that this is a legitimate album with a cool misprint and that the post office worker that opened a sealed album just because it was sent media mail is a complete moron.

[Frank Gibson]

take some pictures from the lp cover totally open please

[presenttense]

take some pictures from the lp cover totally open please

All it looks like is the regular picture except that it is upside down when the "Vitalogy" title on the front is right side up.