http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/4230/londoersf17grphh8.jpg

1972 on the label at left? I thought that model was released in '73 !

Was "Swinging London, Carnaby Street" with the bubbles the first label available?

i believe it was a late 1972 released model. the preston guild merchant appeared in the fall of 72. i think the preston label was the first promotionally produced lesney label for this model. it may have hit the streets before the carnaby label. there was another preston label floating around, i don’t remember if it was a variation of this label or a private label.

the swinging london carnaby street was the first factory label. :)

coffee and cream, the bases have the long/wide and short/thin axle braces with large and small lettering. the screw holes are filled in on the top base.
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/6746/londoner17sfcofcrmiw2.jpg
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/1626/londonera7sfbasebracebe4.jpg