JONI MITCHELL Blue STRONG VG++ Reprise 1st Press Original

Sold Date: December 18, 2014
Start Date: December 13, 2014
Final Price: $20.00 (USD)
Seller Feedback: 2926
Buyer Feedback: 22


Gatefold with original blue inner sleeve (clean except for a couple inch split to left side extending from opening).

Record: Strong VG++ (MINIMAL paper scuffing; would be easy M- save for very small shallow mark that ticks VERY lightly for 6 revolutions toward the end of California)
Jacket: VG (no tears or splits, but a bit more ringwear than i accept on a VG+ jacket, and a bit of color rubbed from bottom)

Handling cost is for shipping materials: heavy duty cardboard mailer with 2 cardboard insulators, poly jacket cover, and poly lined inner sleeve.

Wait for shipping email for multiple items, as total will be less.

Please note my huge feedback total. I have not sold anything for a couple of years, so my ebay stats do not reflect my 100% positive rating for all of those sales.  Please scroll through the history of my feedback to read people's comments, and then bid with confidence.  I CAN PROVIDE MP3 SAMPLES OF ANY RECORD UPON REQUEST.  Please check my other listings; I try to offer numerous records in the same genres at the same time.  All records I sell are first cleaned and then strictly and conservatively Goldmine graded (see below).  Portion of record not in photo is protected by poly-lined sleeve.  I have collected, traded and sold records for 35 years and all records are, of course, guaranteed.  All records are mailed in a brand new heavy duty Bags Unlimited cardboard box mailer with appropriate insulation, poly-lined paper sleeves for the records and a plastic slip cover for the jacket.  Record and jacket are separated for storage and mailing.  GRADING  Goldmine grading is different from UK Record Collector Grading in that there is no Excellent grade.  The grades are M, M-, Vg+, Vg, G and P.  I AM ASTOUNDED BY HOW POORLY MANY DEALERS GRADE.  I HAVE SEEN RECORDS GRADED VG+ WITH THE EXPLANATION THAT THERE IS ONE LONG SCRATCH ON A SIDE.  A RECORD WITH A LONG SCRATCH IS NOT VG+.  I HAVE SEEN RECORDS GRADED M- DESCRIBED AS HAVING A FEW LIGHT SCRATCHES.  M- RECORDS DO NOT HAVE ANY SCRATCHES!  AS A BUYER, I HAVE OFTEN BEEN DISAPPOINTED BY INFLATED GRADING.  YOU WILL NOT BE WHEN BUYING FROM ME.  MY FEEDBACK REFLECTS THAT I MEET AND OFTEN EXCEED EXPECTATIONS OF RECORD QUALITY. SO DO NOT LET MY GRADES AND YOUR PAST EXPERIENCE FOOL YOU.  I GRADE CONSERVATIVELY AND I DESCRIBE ALL DEFECTS. Here is Goldmine's (AND MY) explanation of the grades

 

Mint (M)
Absolutely perfect in every way - certainly never played, possibly even still sealed. Should be used sparingly as a grade if at all.  Only a truly flawless record will earn this grade from me.

 

Near Mint (M-)

 

A nearly perfect record.  Many dealers won't give a grade higher than this, implying (perhaps correctly) that no record is ever truly perfect.  The record should show no obvious signs of wear.  A few barely visible and certainly inaudible paper scuffs is the most wear that would merit this grade.  I use this grade for records that look unplayed save for one to three non-feelable and barely visible under bright light paper scuffs.  An LP jacket should have no creases, folds, seam splits, or any other noticeable similar defect.  No cut-out holes, either.  And of course, the same should be true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sheets and the like.  Basically, an LP in Near Mint condition looks as if you just got it home from a retail record store and removed the shrink wrap.

 

Very Good Plus Plus (VG++)

 

This grade is between M- and VG+, and is a record with minimal paper scuffing (up to six hairline paper scuffs) but nothing even remotely approaching a feelable mark.  A jacket graded VG++ might have minimal ringwear or be M- with a bit of sticker residue, but it would certainly have nothing even approaching a tear or split.  All defects are noted for this and any grade below M-.

 

Very Good Plus (Vg+)

 

A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it.  Record surfaces will have minor to moderate paper scuffs and no feelable marks, or be M- save for one or two very shallow, small and discrete scratches.  All such defects will be described.  So I will give this grade for minor to moderate paper scuffing with no feelable marks, or a record that has very minor and presumptively inaudible paper scuffing and one or two small, very shallow scratches - identified in parenthetical following grade if applicable.  Slight warps that do not affect sound are OK.  The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable.  The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play.  LP inner sleeves will have some slight ring wear, lightly turned-up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP jacket may also have slight signs of wear and may be marred by cut out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at discount.  In general, if not for a couple of minor things wrong with it, this would be Near Mint.  All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a Very Good Plus record highly acceptable.

 

Very Good(Vg)

 

Many of the defects found in a Vg+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc.  Light but non-distracting surface noise may be occasionally noticeable upon playing, especially during soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise.  This may be caused by a few isolated incidents of groove wear, or light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail but by no means deep gauges that would cause skips) that will affect the sound.   I give this grade for heavy paper scuffing, or minor to moderate paper scuffing and a few shallow but feelable and presumably audible scratches OR a few small patches of groove wear.  Any more than a few discrete feelable but not too deep scratches OR a few bits of shallow groove wear drops it below this grade.  Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached.  The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers.  However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.