Sold Date: August 10, 2020
Start Date: August 4, 2020
Final Price: $59.00 (USD)
Seller Feedback: 3710
Buyer Feedback: 14

RARE Judy Garland MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS 1944 3-78 RPM records on Decca Records, number A-380.

The original release of the soundtrack album of “Meet Me in St. Louis,” the classic 1944 MGM musical starring Judy Garland, directed by her future husband Vincente Minnelli, and produced by Arthur Freed. This original 1944 Decca album, number A-380, features three 78 RPM 10” records with the songs “Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis;” “Skip to My Lou;” “The Trolley Song;” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas;” “The Boy Next Door;” and the additional song “Boys and Girls Like You and Me” that was cut from the movie.

RECORDS: Play Graded as VG+ to possible EX condition and were tested just prior to this auction to confirm play without skips. Although I am a regular seller of vinyl and know how to accurately grade vinyl records, I am not qualified to judge audio quality of 78s, nor can I predict how the records will sound on your equipment.

ALBUM COVER: Graded as VG+. The cover has some shelf wear and edge wear consistent with age, but is fully intact with firm binding and an intact spine. Please zoom in on photos to judge condition. There is damage to the inside front and back covers. Not sure what might have caused it.

I sell lots of vinyl records and receive consistently positive feedback on the accuracy of my grading and packaging. I collect 78s and know how they must be shipped to prevent damage. 78 RPM record(s) will be individually sandwiched between two thin layers of bubble wrap and placed inside two rigid cardboard squares. The “sandwich” is then wrapped in thick bubble wrap, surrounded with packing peanuts inside a sturdy box. The album itself will be wrapped in bubble wrap as well. This method of packing requires a larger box but it’s the only proven method of shipping without breakage. This method of packing does increase the shipping cost, but packed any other way the records will shatter.

Shipped with USPS Media Mail which does not include insurance, however I will add it at my cost.

***Selling as is with no returns accepted unless I have grossly misrepresented the item.***

I am not a professional record dealer or grader. I do my best to grade conservatively and to describe any flaws, but something may be missed. PLEASE ask questions if you’re unsure of anything prior to purchasing.

I use the Goldmine grading scale:

Mint (M): Perfect, unused in sealed original packaging.

Near-Mint (NM): Close to perfect with no visible scratches or scuffs. Appears to be un-played or played less than 5 times.

Excellent (EX): May contain very light surface scratches and/or scuffs. Label and jacket may show slight signs of ring-wear / lightly bent corners. No creases, writing, tears or rips.

Very Good Plus (VG+): May show some signs that it was played and handled by a previous owner who took reasonably good care of it. Imperfections are cosmetic and do not drastically impact the playback. Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs and surface scratches. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are ok. The label and jacket may have some slight ring ring-wear, discoloration, minor tears and imperfections. As with most vinyl, there may be low-level surface noise and light crackles and pops may be present, especially during quiet or soft passages in the track.

Very Good (VG): Many of the imperfections found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG record or sleeve.

Good (G) Fair (F) Poor (P): I do not sell Poor (P), Fair (F) or (G) Good graded vinyl unless it’s highly collectible.

THE FINE PRINT / RULES OF THE GAME

Please Bid/Buy Accordingly

It’s a shame that I have to include a page of disclaimers with every item I list.

Most of my listed items are vintage in varying conditions. Items which are not vintage will not be denoted with the word “vintage.” There is no exact science for judging condition (with the exception of vinyl records), so it’s a subjective call based solely on my opinion. I try to accurately describe every item, pointing out flaws, wear, damage, etc. I also try to tell an accurate story through the 12 allowed photos. The combination of the description and the photos comprise my listing. Vintage items are usually decades-old. Buyers unaccustomed to purchasing vintage items are strongly encouraged to consider the item's age when making a buying decision. If you have questions or concerns about condition, please ask those questions PRIOR to purchase. Please don’t assume condition specifics—it will save us both time, money, and headaches to address these things up front. *** I do my best to grade conservatively and to describe any flaws, but something may be missed.***

The only items included in the auction are those described. Other items may be pictured for display, size, or color comparison only.

Yes, I am happy to combine shipping on multiple purchases made within three days and paid for in a single transaction. ***Items paid for separately do not qualify for combined shipping rates.*** eBay’s seller standards do not allow for post-sale combined shipping and if I do not ship each item individually, my seller rating is dinged. If you purchase multiple items, PLEASE WAIT for a combined invoice prior to payment. Once payments have been made, excess shipping costs cannot be refunded.

ALL items I sell are now sold strictly AS IS with no returns accepted thanks to a handful of unscrupulous buyers.

I reserve the right to ship via Postal Service, UPS, or FedEx, as necessary to offer the best shipping rate possible. Sometimes, after receiving a buyer’s address, the stated shipping service needs to be changed.

Payment is expected at the end of the auction and/or upon Buy-It-Now purchase. Payment may only be made through PayPal, which also has a program that may allow payment by a credit card, if you do not have a PayPal account. Click “Pay Now” and that option should appear for you. If payment is not received within 5 days of end of auction, I reserve the right to cancel and relist the item.

I will ship within 24 hours after payment is received / cleared. I will send you a message through the e-Bay message system to let you know when your item is being shipped, by which carrier, with photos of the package and the shipping label. Very few sellers offer such a service.

Under normal circumstances I do not offer refunds unless I’ve somehow managed to grossly misrepresent an item. (Remember, your definition of “good condition” and mine may be different.) I mostly sell as-is used merchandise unless otherwise indicated. I have learned from experience that refunds do not prevent negative feedback or hard feelings. On the contrary, the people who are most likely to hurl insults, accusations, and demand refunds are the same people who are most likely to leave negative feedback regardless of my actions. I know each of you probably have met some of these cranky people. If you are unsatisfied in any way just contact me. I'm a reasonable person and something can always be worked out with reasonable people.

PROBLEM RESOLUTION

I take your feedback seriously. Please contact me with any issues with your order before leaving negative feedback so that I can resolve them. In many cases something was overlooked and it offers the seller (me) a valuable opportunity to prevent a negative feedback, please a customer (you), and improve my business.

Thanks for looking! I hope that covers most everything. Please ask any questions at least 2 hours before auction ends or you may not get a response in time.