Sold Date: May 10, 2014
Start Date: May 3, 2014
Final Price: $20.50 (USD)
Bid Count: 5
Seller Feedback: 178
Buyer Feedback: 57

Frank Zappa's Apostrophe lp from 1974, a sweet copy with no real marks to speak of on the disc, there are a few small faint hairlines seen in bright light. Disc has a nice gloss as well and nice clean labels. The cover is in great shape with most of the original shrink wrap in place, there is some light shelf wear (with emphasis on light) and the open end is showing it's age a bit. This copy has spent most of it's life lounging in a poly sleeve. Comes with the original generic sleeve and will be shipped properly outside of the cover all enclosed in a poly sleeve and packaged in an lp mailer. No Reserve.
                                                                

DOMESTIC SHIPPING:  I do domestic shipping with media mail + tracking. 4bucks will cover 2 lps (from one or another sale) and I do try and work shipping deals with quantities. Any upgrade such as expedited, priority, overnight or insurance will cost more but can be done. With expensive items I will often just get insurance for the shipping.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING:  I am currently NOT shipping to China, Italy or Russia, I have not posted an auction for almost 2 years so I will have to get the wrinkles out of the settings here but I believe 20 US dollars may be the average to ship an lp to Europe or South America, probably more to Australia -I have no real numbers to offer other than I will charge no more than 3 US dollars for handling added to  the actual cost of shipping worldwide. You can try the shipping calculator or message for a quote. Multiple purchase will increase cost per weight.  In any event please wait for an invoice at auction end.
                                            

GRADING: Because listening to every disc is nearly impossible it should be assumed that the grade given is visually done under very bright and revealing light. If a play grade is mentioned in the description that play quality is factored into the grade for better or worse. So the grade is visual with a description given to help understand the grade, and if I have played it recently and can add that impression I will, but I don't expect to listen to everything. 
I adhere to Goldmine, and most known or international standards with some elaboration on degrees of excellence or lack thereof between VG+ and NM.

SS
(STILL SEALED) Sealed at factory and never opened. Disc is assumed to be undamaged and mint. Cover and shrink may show some shelf or handling wear that would be noted or as seen in a photo.

M
(MINT) Perfect, no flaws, defects, marks or otherwise indications of being handled or played. Has a glossy, new like sheen (some pressings are glossier than others though). Hairline marks or otherwise disqualify discs from this category. Labels, cover and inners are like new.
 
M-, or NM
The vinyl is virtually flawless, bright and shiny. A very minor, barely visible scuff or two may be permitted, these often come on new mint records -but no scratches. The disc should play like new with no audible surface or groove noise. The label is bright, clean and unmarked. Covers, etc are still like new save for extremely small and few signs of handling.

VG++ or EX (Excellent!)
(VERY GOOD ++) This is can be a broad grade that covers items that are obviously almost NM or at least better than VG+
(VG+ used to be an excellent grade range covering discs that approach NM in condition but with signs of handling in varying degrees.
Some local shops still use it this way but online VG+ typically means marked up but playable with the envelope of the + aspect being pushed to it's limit, usually without knowing if it plays nice or not which to me means VG, if it is a tough call between VG or VG+ visually then it needs a listen to hear if it deserves VG+). Excellent or VG++  Discs should play close to or as good as NM or better with no faults that can't be deep cleaned from the grooves.
Discs may have very minor paper scuffs that do not interfere with the sound quality. There can possibly be a hairline mark or two but nothing feelable or affecting play. Vinyl has full gloss, label is clean and virtually unmarked possibly showing a light spindle mark or two. Covers and inners likewise are in extremely nice shape save for minimal and minor flaws.

VG+
(VERY GOOD PLUS) Some visible surface wear, still a nice disc with very minor scratches and scuffs (if any can be felt with a fingernail in this grade they would be very small and barely feelable with little or no impact, while the rest of the disc is excellent).
Any marks would have minimal to no impact on the sound quality. Vinyl will still have nice gloss or luster, labels may have minor imperfections but otherwise clean (Again if it is a tough call between VG or VG+ visually then it needs a listen to hear if it deserves VG+). Covers etc. are intact, clean and in relatively nice shape allowing for typical wear but still very presentable.

VG
(VERY GOOD) Vinyl will have noticeable marks, scratches or scuffs that cause minor surface noise, but do not overpower the music. Feelable marks if any should be minimal and not interfere with play save for some light ticks -anything fitting that description would get a lesser grade depending on the impact of the mark balanced against the condition of the rest of the disc. There will be no skips or sticking. Vinyl may have a diminished sheen (less gloss). Labels may have small tears, tape marks, writing, etc. but still easily legible. Covers etc. May have a combination of ring wear, shelf wear and or splits to varying degrees of still decent but flawed presentability.

VG- grade indicates that there are enough negative variables to bring the grade down a notch from VG but retaining mostly a VG aspect.

G, G+ and G-
(GOOD) Well-played,with a weak sheen or gloss, with many scuffs or possibly deep scratches and wear causing distracting surface noise (hisses, pops, crackle galore) but not to the degree of being unplayable. The record will still play through without any serious skips or popping through radical cliffhanger scratches. Labels and covers etc. may be significantly defaced or damaged but intact enough to be somewhat decent.

Fair or Poor grades pretty much have a self explanatory title with Fair being playable but possibly with a dead dull sheen and likely many issues like noise, lots of crackle and yet maybe not a skip, stick or cliffhanger scratch but lots of scuffing and scratches etc. Poor would be MAYBE playable but not without the agony of lots of tics, pops and maybe sticking or skips. Poor is enough of those issues we don't want that it gets out of control. Covers, labels and inners are pretty grim at these grade levels with massive splits, deteriorated, torn and just plain missing parts, loads of ringwear to the point of obliteration, severe water damage, large or numerous writings or even using the cover as a sketch pad etc. -I avoid records in this grade like the plague  and do not plan on trying to sell anything in this condition (I try to only bring out records that are VG+ minimum for sale). Possibly a disc in this condition goes with a nice, rare cover that someone might want.

Bad is basically the ultimately toasted record in many ways, something the dog wouldn't play with...

Phew! ..'nuff said.