Sold Date: November 13, 2020
Start Date: October 4, 2020
Final Price: $78.73 (USD)
Seller Feedback: 2678
Buyer Feedback: 118

3 of 5 from the Michael Hobson archive (I'm breaking my own rule and cutting and pasting from the original ad as a bit of explanation of what this is, if you don't know, at the bottom of this ad) Album is new and remains sealed. There is nominal corner wear however beyond that I saw no issues. 

As a bit of clarification following an event with an errant buyer, a sealed Hobson archive pressing is worth significantly more than one which has been opened and based on that fact this album cannot be returned if opened for any reason.  Of course this album will be shipped with full insurance and if the item is damaged in transit I will be able to issue a refund. If there is any damage to the item incurred during shipping please let me know upon your receipt (and please take pictures of the damage to the mailer) so I can begin the claim process with the USPS. And please do not open the album.  I'm certain as a collector reading this, you understand the disclaimer in this circumstance. 

Album will be mailed between cardboard and bubble wrap in a reinforced cardboard mailer. If you have any other questions please let me know and thanks for looking! 

THE FOLLOWING COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE ORIGINAL LISTING
This auction is for a STILL SEALED, NUMBERED (3 of 5 MH) single LP from the Classic Records 200gram reissue of De Falla's "The Three-Cornered Hat" with Enrique Jorda conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. This pressing has special significance and collectability because it comes from the Michael Hobson ARCHIVES. This is a truly one of a kind collectible of one of the most valuable and highly sought after Classic Records pressings.

From the start of Classic Records in 1994, Michael Hobson, insisted on having as complete a "personal archive" as possible, of all varieties and issues of Classic Records' various releases (180g, 200g, Blue Vinyl, etc)  as a reference of what had been done.  This Archive was one of the few things Acoustic Sounds did not acquire as part of the deal to buy Classic in 2010 albeit Chad Kassem has pursued Hobson to buy it ever since.  Still intact, in its entirety (with only a few holes) sits the Archive which will be offered exclusively on this shop by special arrangement with Michael Hobson.

Each piece has an official Classic Records “MH" Archive Sticker on it and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity hand signed by Michael Hobson personally to assure authenticity and enhance the collectibility over time.  Generally,  only 5 numbered “MH archive" copies, most often from the first stamper, were added to the Hobson archive.  In the case of  popular titles, there are various versions because of the use of different plants (RTI, Bill Smith, Classic Pressing Plant) which offers the possibility to have comparisons of various machines the copies were made on - all of which sound different because of various vibrations from the different machines that are "pressed" into the vinyl.  Yes, according to Hobson, you can hear the difference is machines among the various Test Pressings and production pressings for that matter.  Further, the Classic Records folklore is that Hobson, insisted on the “best copies” from the “sweet spot” of the pressing run for his personal archive of 5 numbered copies of each release!   It is reported that Hobson personally selected the copies of the records that went into his archive by listening to 1st stamper pressings to determine when the “stamper” was in the “sweet spot” and pressing the best sounding records during the run.  Further, these records have not been moved from Hobson’s own climate controlled air-conditioned storage for all these years. This is not only a unique opportunity to own a piece of Classic Record's history but also the chance to have some of the best production pressings  of Classic's various issues over time. Ridiculously collectible and likely a better investment than the stock market!