This is a one-of-a-kind, personal Bobby Darin collection I am offering here!! A few years ago I purchased a collection of 45's that came from the New York City area and made a very startling discovery!! As I was going through them, I noticed there were significantly more Bobby Darin records than any other artist. When I came to the "Clementine" picture sleeve, I noticed that there was more than just the record in it. Inside the sleeve was a small group of fan magazine clippings about Darin AND several letters that appear to have been written/typed and signed by Darin himself!! The three letters were all written to the same young woman who obviously owned the records originally. I have no idea who she was, but her name was Barbara and she was obviously someone that Darin was romantically involved with for a short time. Darin was from New York City and he had attended and worked in the music industry there, even before becoming famous. These letters all date from late 1959 and very early 1960. This was the time-period when Darin had just topped the charts with "Mack The Knife" and was about to begin performing in Las Vegas for the first time. In fact, he even mentions being in Vegas in one of the letters. He also mentions his relationship with Pat (presumably Pat Boone) and he references his (Boone's) wife and three daughters. It's fairly obvious that Darin typed (two) and hand-wrote (one) and signed all three of these letters himself. Darin was a very busy star and these letters look like they were written and signed very hastily. I say this because they are very private/personal correspondences and he also talks about using the "one-finger" method of typing in one of them. Also noteworthy is that he used his own real name (Walden Robert Cassotto) to sign/endorse a portion of one of the letters. He must have used his real name in his private life, rather than his stage name (Bobby Darin). I also speculate that he didn't sign his full stage name on any of these letters in the event that someone else might have found them, seen them, or the girl herself might have tried to share them with someone else at the time. Maybe he was trying to be highly discrete and secretive about the whole relationship... One of the magazine clippings also mentions how Darin had just broken up with Jo Ann Campbell and was currently dating!! This was obviously before he met and married Sandra Dee. Other than being folded, the letters and clippings are in great shape. I do want to point out that a couple of the "Bobby" signatures look like they were lightly traced over with pen (presumably by the girl herself...); the other signatures, pen writing, and typewriting have not been touched up in any way whatsoever. There are nine different Bobby Darin singles on the Atco label here, five of which have the original picture sleeves, and four of which are in their original company sleeves. The sleeves and records themselves are all in VG+ (or even a little better) condition overall. There is some small old pen or pencil writing (again presumably from the girl herself) on some of the sleeves and/or record labels. I am selling everything exactly as I found it. In fact, the letters and clippings are still housed inside the "Clementine" picture sleeve I found them in at the time. This entire collection offers a rare glimpse into the personal life of an early Rock And Roll singer, just as he was becoming a major superstar. Based on the overall content and presentation, I can't imagine that anyone would have been able to forge any of these. These are NOT photocopies or facsimiles; these are the REAL THING. That being said, please review the photos very carefully before bidding... Just the mere fact that this collection even exists and has survived all these years is pretty remarkable in and of itself!! This is a no reserve auction; the winning bidder gets everything.

 

I personally write all of my own descriptions, take all of my own photos, and package all items for mailing myself.  I do not use text, photos or information from “other” sources and would certainly never do so without referencing them. Items pictured in any of my listings are always the actual items that buyers will receive from me.

 
Payment by PAYPAL ONLY....I do not accept any other form of payment. Unless the buyer makes a different arrangement with me (i.e. contacts me directly), payment is expected within three days (72 hours) from the closing date of the item. After three days, an unpaid item case will automatically be opened and the buyer then has four additional days to complete payment (per Ebay's terms).



Buyer satisfaction and returns:  I offer what I believe is a very reasonable return policy for all individual items (and smaller lots) that I sell. The item must be returned to me exactly as it was packaged and mailed to the buyer. I will refund the original sale price and shipping fee only; return shipping is the buyer’s responsibility. I do not give ‘partial’ refunds either (i.e. the buyer keeps the item for a lesser price). This policy applies to U.S. and non-U.S. buyers alike and regardless of the final sale price of the item. That being said, please ask any and all questions you may have before bidding.

Items are normally shipped within 1 to 2 business days from receipt of payment.

My vinyl and cover/sleeve gradings are as follows:

MINT: I do not use this grade except for sealed/unopened items.

NEAR MINT or MINT MINUS: Vinyl looks basically brand new, untouched, unplayed or nearly unplayed. Cover looks pretty much as new with no real flaws to speak of. This is basically how the item would have looked when it was new from the factory.

VG++: Very close to M-, with vinyl showing only the very slightest, most subtle signs of any past handling or play. Cover may show just the barest hint of wear from age, but nothing at all serious or detracting. 

VG+: Vinyl shows some subtle signs that it was played in the past, but was generally well taken care of. Cover shows only some minor signs of age or wear, but nothing too detracting.

VG: Vinyl is beginning to show more obvious signs of past handling and play but still has strong sound quality overall. Cover is beginning to show more signs of age and wear, but is fully intact and still displays very well overall.

GOOD: Vinyl has very obvious signs of wear from over the years, but still plays strongly and enjoyably enough. Cover has obvious wear and tear from age, but is intact and still displayable.

***My very good and good records are very good and good, not bad and even worse! I also do not use the EX (excellent) grading at all.***

FAIR: Record wasn’t properly cared for in the past and very clearly shows it, but it is still playable and should be enjoyable enough for some. I rarely offer records in this condition.