Japanese Pressing Appraisal

Prince - The Black Album (Japanese Edition)

This item is a sealed copy of Prince's 'The Black Album,' presented in what appears to be a Japanese special edition. The primary visual is the album cover, which is predominantly black, minimalist in design, and characteristic of the original release. It is encased in clear plastic shrink-wrap, indicating it is new or in pristine, unopened condition. A notable feature is the OBI strip, which is a vertical band made of paper or card, typically seen on Japanese releases. This OBI strip is vibrant orange and runs along the left side of the album cover, featuring Japanese text in black and white, along with a small image of Prince wearing sunglasses. The text on the OBI strip clearly identifies the artist as 'プリンス' (Prince) and the album as '伝説のブラック・アルバム' (The Legendary Black Album). Another label, dark gold or brown with white text, is visible on the upper right corner of the album itself, stating 'PRINCE' and 'The Legendary Black Album' alongside what appears to be 'Special Edition' or similar text, indicating its specific release status. The overall condition appears excellent due to the factory sealing. There are no visible signs of wear, tears, or damage to the shrink-wrap, OBI strip, or album cover from the image provided. Its sealed nature suggests it is well-preserved, free from dust, scratches, or handling marks. The presence of the OBI strip is a key indicator of its Japanese origin, which often implies high-quality pressing and packaging, potentially including additional inserts or liner notes not found in other regions. This item is likely from the late 1980s or a subsequent reissue, given 'The Black Album's' original controversial release and later official distribution. The craftsmanship is typical of music album packaging, with the added element of the unique Japanese OBI strip which enhances its collector's appeal.