Freddie Mercury - Glass master - 2000

An absolute holy grail for Queen and Freddie Mercury collectors worldwide.

This is a unique industrial artifact: the original 100% pure “Nickel Father” (master mold) used to produce CD2 (Barcelona) from the iconic Freddie Mercury Solo Box Set, released by EMI in September 2000.

In the music production process, a “Nickel Father” is the very first metal copy made directly from the original Glass Master. Since only one “Father” can be produced per glass master, this master contains the absolute purest audio signal with the highest possible fidelity that is physically achievable.

It is the definitive source from which all retail CDs of this pressing were derived. Although these industrial production tools are almost always destroyed or recycled by the factory after the production cycle, this historic piece has been preserved.

The ultimate certificate of authenticity: Official factory inspection & signatures.

What elevates this specific lot to the very highest level of music memorabilia is the presence of the original inspection documentation from the EMI factory and the handwritten signatures.

The ultimate provenance: The accompanying papers bear the official, handwritten signatures of the quality control inspectors at the high-tech EMI Uden factory in the Netherlands.

Story of Credence From Seller -
A friend received the item from a friend for her birthday about 20 years ago. At the time, the friend was a fan of Freddie and Montserrat. The friend who gave the gift was active as a DJ and presumably bought the item at a music fair in Breda. There are no receipts for the purchase


Seal of Quality: These signatures serve as an indisputable, official factory certificate of authenticity. They prove that this specific mold was rigorously inspected, met EMI’s highest technical standards, and was officially approved for the mastering and duplication of Freddie Mercury’s masterpiece.

Unforgettable History: This direct link to EMI Uden’s internal quality control makes the item utterly unique and provides an irrefutable provenance that cannot be replicated.

Technical Specifications & Matrix Markings

Artists: Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé
Album: Barcelona (2000 Remaster, CD2 of the Solo Box Set)
Production facility: EMI Uden (Netherlands)
Inner ring inscription (Matrix Ring): Lightly etched with “EMI UK” and catalog number 5279552.

The British-Dutch connection: The EMI UK etching proves that the original Glass Master was cut by EMI in the United Kingdom (Abbey Road / EMI Hayes) and then transported under strict security to the EMI Uden facility in the Netherlands, where this “Nickel Father” was made.

Condition: The nickel disc and the original factory documentation are in well-preserved condition. The text on the inner ring is fully legible.

This is not just any collector’s item; it is literally a piece of music history—the physical birth of the audio from one of the 20th century’s most celebrated vocal collaborations.