Sold Date: March 29, 2015
Start Date: March 22, 2015
Final Price: £22.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 1
Seller Feedback: 285
Buyer Feedback: 11

Background Information

I am currently in the process of shifting a vast collection of stock which largely derives from a Record Shop which closed its doors in the early 1980s.  The stock spans a period from the early 1960s through to the early 80s with the bulk dating from the 1970s.  There are large quantities of Progressive Rock, R & B and Soul and Modern Classical.  Most of the items have sustained a single play (clearly standard practice to check for flaws upon receipt of new records back-in-the-day) however, some are obviously UNPLAYED.  The bulk of what I’m currently selling comes from this source and I’d guess it will be years before I exhaust it!

UNSOLD SHOP STOCK Original U.K. 1966 White & Red XTRA / TRANSATLANTIC Flip-back sleeve pressing of Little Brother Montgomery’s ‘Spirituals’ L.P. (Catalogue Reference: XTRA/Transatlantic Records 1018) (note that in the Record Collector Price Guide this record is listed as self-titled however, the labels refer to the title ‘Spirituals’).  This record is issued here by Transatlantic as a result of a tie-up with Folkways in the States.  This features a decent, textured label, heavy vinyl pressing contained within a laminated, flip-back sleeve.  It has seen so little handling in the nearly 50 years since manufacture that when I removed the album from the polythene cover you could hear the sound of the un-laminated sections of the flip-backs cracking (where the sleeve has stuck to the glue).  I’d think there was a high likelihood that this is UNPLAYED and you only have to look at the freshness of the lamination and the crispness of the paper inner to identify how little handling this copy has seen.  Under an intense light there is the odd hairline mark (and I mean odd) however, I’d think this is more than likely a by-product of the manufacturing process (and these paper inner sleeves tend to be quite harsh if records aren’t removed carefully).  To be honest I’d be doing this copy a disservice to say that the vinyl was in anything less than NEAR MINT condition.  It is arguably in the condition to which you would have found it in the shops in 1966/67. As previously noted the lamination looks like it was applied yesterday and has been well preserved by the polythene cover.  Identifying flaws with the cover isn’t easy because the rear is arguably as white as the day it was pressed (this is quite an achievement for a cover which is largely white and susceptible to yellowing with age).  Both bottom corners have received the lightest of knocks and there is perhaps a suggestion of creasing along the spine where this once sat in a rack.  I also note one crease in the lamination on the front of the sleeve near the opening edge where the cover has been gripped between the fingertips whilst the vinyl is removed.  It should be noted that this is not replicated on the rear.  I note one small ‘dig’ in the opening edge which has exposed a tiny amount (approximately 3-4 mm) of the white underlay on the front of the sleeve (this is in the bottom right-hand corner).  That is it.  The flaws are really very minor and the cover is conservatively graded as being in EXCELLENT+ condition.

Condition

VINYL – NEAR MINT

SLEEVE – EXCELLENT+

Final Remarks

You are simply not going to find a better example of this.  Please check my other auctions for a run of contemporary TRANSATLANTIC albums as well as other Folk, R&B and Soul items from the same source in similarly immaculate condition.  Save me as a favourite seller as there is plenty more where this came from!

General Conditions & Information

I have been a collector for in excess of 15 years now and regard myself as a conservative grader.  I know from experience that there is nothing worse than buying an item which is described with superlatives only for it to arrive and look like it has been scrapped along the floor (!).  As a rule I don’t submit anything to auction which I wouldn’t be happy receiving myself.  I endeavour to be accurate with my grading and all items are graded under an intense light.  Please take a look through my feedback as I’d like to think it speaks for itself. 

Returns Policy

If you are not entirely happy with your purchase then please contact me within 7 days of receipt.  The buyer is expected to meet the return postage costs.

Payment Methods

Domestic buyers can pay via Cheque, PayPal or Postal Order.  Overseas buyers are always welcome and are required to pay via PayPal.  Payment is expected within 7 days of auction end unless otherwise agreed.

Postage Costs

I have had to bring my service in-line with changes to Royal Mail Terms and Conditions effective of April 2013.  Previously items sent via standard post were automatically covered up to the value of £46.00 however, standard postage now only covers items up to the value of £20.00.  Items with an opening value >£20.00 will include domestic Signed For postage costs automatically.  Items with an opening value <=£20.00 and which complete with a value <=£20.00 will continue to be dispatched via standard post unless otherwise agreed (i.e. the buyer indicates a preference otherwise).  Items which have an opening value <=£20.00 but whose final value is >£20.00 will be subject to enhanced postage costs in order to cover the extra insurance which is required.  I hope this is as straightforward as I can make it?  Ultimately, please don’t make payment until you’ve received an invoice from me and if you aren’t happy with the invoice you receive then I’m always open to discussion.  Buyers should be aware that both Ebay and PayPal take a % of postage charges (i.e. they are higher than I’d ideally want them to be).

Multiple purchases will be subject to consolidated postage costs.  I will contact you at the end of the auction to confirm these costs.

Proof of postage is always obtained and retained.

Overseas Buyers

As noted above Overseas buyers are welcome.  If you want me to investigate potential postage costs in advance of the auction’s end then please feel free to contact me.