Sold Date: February 16, 2024
Start Date: February 7, 2024
Final Price: $42.49 (USD)
Seller Feedback: 270
Buyer Feedback: 0

A top copy of this country classic. A 1963 pressing based on 1) The Columbia 2-eye labels with the black "Stereo 360 Sound" text with arrows and 2) the inscriptions in the deadwax: Side A runout: XSM 47135-1BC IIHH5; Side B runout: XSM47136-1BH HHIIW5 (or SWHHII?); This exact version is not in discogs because the bottom right corner of back cover is blank - it does not contain a "3" or other letter/number like other 1963 pressings.

Visual Grading:

Media - NM: Disc is unplayed with no visible wear on disc surface or labels.

Sleeve - NM: In full tight shrink wrap with no splits or tears to allow for wear or staining under the shrink wrap. It does have a very small bump in the lower right corner and a small bend in the lower right corner, most likely caused by the tension in the shrink wrap over the past 61 years.

I do my best to grade all items fairly and objectively using the following guidelines:

Media grading:

M (Mint) - Only used for sealed records that are "assumed" to be in mint condition. 

NM (Near Mint) - Records with no visible signs of wear.  No scratches on media (hairline or otherwise).  Clean, vibrant labels with no spindle marks. 

EX (Excellent) - Records with only the slightest signs of wear.  Could almost pass for NM, but may include up to several hairlines, paper scuffs and/or spindle marks, but nothing that detracts from the visual or sound quality of the record.

VG+ (Very Good Plus) - Records that still look and sound fantastic but may have a few more hairlines or very light scratches (that don't affect play) and/or may have slight wear on the label.  No records with drill holes or other similar blemishes will ever be graded higher than VG+, even if they are otherwise in NM condition.

VG (Very Good) - Records that contain a larger number of the imperfections found in VG+ records.  They will most likely contain more hairlines and light scratches, although typically not deep enough to be felt with a fingernail, and possibly more label wear.  The surface marks on a VG record will most likely cause some background noise during playback.

VG- (Very Good Minus) - Records similar to VG, but with even more hairlines/scratches and/or label wear.  A scratch may occasionally be deep enough to be felt with a fingernail, but typically that would bump the grading down to G+ or lower.   The marks on a VG- record would definitely cause some background noise during playback.

G+ (Good Plus) - More and/or deeper scratches than a VG-record.  May contain multiple scratches deep enough to be felt with a fingernail, but should still play through without skipping, although with background noise.

G/F/P (Good/Fair/Poor) - I don't expect to be listing many records that would be graded as G or below.  However, if I do, I will attempt to carefully document all of the condition issues leading to the low grade.

Sleeve Grading:

M (Mint) - Only used for sealed records, and only if there are no blemishes, rubbing, creasing, etc. to the sleeve under the original shrink wrap.

NM (Near Mint) - Sleeves in NM condition show no signs of wear and look like they were just removed from their original shrink wrap (and in many cases still retain their original shrink wrap).  Colors are vibrant with no bends, creases, rubbing, etc.

EX (Excellent) - Sleeves with only the slightest hint of wear, possibly a very small corner bend or light rubbing on a corner or seam.  An EX sleeve will not have visible wear on the front or back of the sleeve.

VG+ (Very Good Plus) - Sleeves in this condition still look great, but may have a few minor issues such as minor creasing or corner "bumps", very light seam wear, slight beginnings of ring wear, or small/light writing.  Any sleeve with a cut corner, saw cut or hole punch will never be graded higher than VG+.

VG (Very Good) - Sleeves in this condition have a greater number of issues such as moderate seam wear or ring wear, more pronounced creasing, more visible writing or small seam splits.

VG- (Very Good Minus) - Sleeves in this condition have all of the issues of a VG sleeve, but to a greater degree. 

G+ (Good Plus) - Sleeves in this condition are not much to look at.  They may have extensive wear, splitting, and/or writing that make them visually unappealing.

G/F/P (Good/Fair/Poor) - I don't expect to be listing many records with sleeves that would be graded as G or below.  However, if I do I will attempt to carefully document all of the condition issues leading to the low grade.