Sold Date: March 28, 2024
Start Date: March 23, 2024
Final Price: $400.00 (USD)
Bid Count: 8
Seller Feedback: 584
Buyer Feedback: 10549

Helen Merrill, debut LP on EmArcy, cat number MG 3606.  Silver Rim label. Matrix number, Side A: YMG 36006 A MF2 A1. Matrix Number, Side B: YMG36006 B MF1 A1.
Vinyl: Side A has a visible but inaudible light scratch on track 1. The rest of the LP is very clean. Some light groove noise and some occasional faint distortion during some high note passages in Clifford Brown's solos and in Merrill's voice, but the LP plays through cleanly. I've rated it VG, a conservative rating considering the LPs age and the likelihood it was played using a heavy tracking tonearm. 
Side B has a visible scratch across part of tracks 1 and 2 that results in a light but not distracting click in the last minute or so of track 1 and the first 30 seconds or so of track 2. Otherwise, the side plays through in the same manner as Side 1. Given the scratch, I've rated Side 2 VG-.
Cover. The front is good. The top has a small 1/2 in tear at the open end (see pic) and some wear towards the spine. The spine is solid, but some of the lettering is worn (see pic). The bottom also has some wear, and the last 10 in or so have been repaired using clear packing tape. The front cover lamination still looks good. The rear cover shows some browning at the edges. 
I will package the LP outside of the cover and ship in an oversized package. I will also insure it.