​MEGA RARE: Status Quo – Piledriver (1972) Italian 1st Pressing
​The "Holy Grail" Italian Variant – Monkey/Dog Misprint Sleeve
​Catalogue Number: Vertigo Swirl 6360 082
Matrix / Run-out: 6360082 (Machine Stamped) with rare Overlapping 8/2 and Italian Plant Code 520.
Labels: Original Large "Full Swirl" (Side 1) with Number 1.
​SUMMARY OF UNIQUE COLLECTOR MARKERS:
​This is the definitive, earliest Italian pressing featuring a combination of printing errors and unique credits that are absent from later reissues.
​THE MISPRINT SLEEVE: Features the rare "Monkey and Double-Headed Dog" artwork on the back cover (borrowed from the Paper Plane single). Most copies feature standard band photos; this "Single Art" variant is highly sought after.
​THE "S.I.A.E." BOXED LABEL: Genuine 1972 original label featuring the S.I.A.E. rights society mark inside a physical box. Includes the Double Interconnected Circles Stereo logo.
​LABEL TEXT ERROR: Rare "Stacked 33 1/3" layout (Large '33' over a smaller '1/3' fraction with a dividing line).
​"G.M." PRODUCTION CREDIT: Side 2 label features the rare "Produced by Status Quo for G.M." (Gerd Muller) credit, exclusive to the first Italian run.
​TYPO ERRORS: Inner sleeve/lyrics feature the famous spacing errors: "P aper" and "W aste".
​"O BABY" TEXT: Consistent first-press spelling of "O Baby" (no 'H') across labels, sleeve, and lyrics.
​PUBLISHING CREDITS: Features the "728 Doors Rondor Music London Ltd" credits on both the sleeve and label.
​CONDITION DETAILS:
​Sleeve: Original Heavily Laminated outer gatefold. Spine text runs Top-to-Bottom (Italian alignment). Inner gatefold has the correct rough, grainy texture (not smooth).
​Vinyl: Heavyweight 1972 press (approx. 150g). Flat-edge profile (No "Groove Guard" bead), indicating an early pull from the master.
​Labels: Clean Vertigo Swirl labels. No "Space Ship" logos.
​WHY THIS COPY?
​This is a "Transition" copy from the very first weeks of production in Italy. It contains the Monkey/Dog artwork, the G.M. label credit, and the S.I.A.E. box—a combination that is rarely found in a single set. A must-have for Vertigo Swirl completists and Status Quo specialists.