Sold Date: May 15, 2023
Start Date: February 25, 2023
Final Price: $38.50 (USD)
Seller Feedback: 6991
Buyer Feedback: 0

RUSSIAN / USSR ~ 2 x 78rpm ~ DOUNJA & HYMN OF SOVIET UNION

Estate find, read on...

US seller, these records are usually found emanating from Eastern Europe, Ukraine, Bulgaria etc...I'm in Upstate New York, not as exciting or glamorous, but at least - for shipping purposes - it's in the same country as you may well be to start with...

* The details for this record are all in Cyrillic, which tragically I have about 1% fluency in, but, luckily, at some distant point in the past the original owner - who appears to be much more at home with the language of the Steppes than I am, kindly labelled his 78rpm sleeves with what seems like fairly accurate translations, so the details I am using for performers, titles and any other incidentals have been taken from the 'sleeve notes'...

So, for your consideration, it's what looks like a pair of 1940's, maybe earlier, 10" 78rpm discs, Made In The Soviet Union (that's the only English on the label, probably made for export) with the rest of the details in Cyrillic, each side of the labels has a library index sticker, which may come off with persuasion - I'd leave it - and, from the details handwritten on the sleeve we appear to have the following...

It's a pair of approx. 75+ year old original Russian-issue 78rpm discs, both Folk music and Classical on offer..full details for each, below.

Most of the details, when Googled, appear to come up as being probably correct.

Various pictures uploaded, sleeve close ups, front and rear, disc - apologies for the tripod reflection - and views of the label details. Check them over carefully, they are part of the description, too...

Please read the record grading guide below and familiarize yourself with the grades used. Goldmine standards adhered to, plus full description in all aspects.

I strive to grade fairly, and have never sold a record without listening to it first.

Visual grading is not an option at all.

Tracklisting, for both -

- See pictures of either the sleeves, or the label details for tracks.

First up...

Hymn of the Soviet Union

Shellac grading - VG

Sleeve grading - Good

Two versions of the Hymn of the Soviet Union, one with a choir, the Red Flag Orchestra, conducted by AV Alexandrov, basic version, and, on the other side, another version, more expansive and dynamic, again, of the Hymn of the Soviet Union, performed by the Orchestra of the State Opera, conducted by AM Pazovsky.

Released on - USSR

Catalogue number - 11954 and 11955

Duration - 3 minutes per side, approx.

Matrix numbers -

Side One - 11954/6 F497

Side Two - 11955/3 F488

This record I have graded as being in VG condition. Both sides play through with no jumping, skipping or any other audio horrors. 

The CCCP company sleeve I have graded being in Good condition with light scuffing to the edges, minor bumps to the corners, no seam splits and a glued on panel, pink paper with track and other details.

The labels are in good condition, each side has an index / library label stuck on, see close-up pictures uploaded.

Next up...

Dounja - The Fine Spinning Girl / Kalinka

Vinyl grading - Acceptable

Sleeve grading - Good

Folk music, with the Red Flag Orchestra, conducted by JV Louguovoy or AV Alexandrov, plus vocal and choir...

A couple of minor issues with this one...on each side there is a small surface flake, lying in the direction of rotation, with the shellac lamination having 'lifted' slightly...at the moment, on each side, the needle plays through it - I played each side once, to check quality, but no more than that, as at some point each 'flake' will probably fail - so in the meantime, it's use this one as a master copy, get the mp3 turntable converter on the go and enjoy it that way - or just play the heck out of it when you're in the mood for some vintage Russian Folk...one side, Dounja, has the larger flake - shown in one of the pictures - and the other side, Kalinka, has a much smaller flake and consequently it didn't photograph well.

So, each side plays through, clicks at the flake points for a few seconds and the rest of playback is VG, as per 78rpm VG grading.

Released on - USSR

Catalogue number - 7695 & 7696

Duration - 3 minutes per side, approx.

Matrix numbers -

Side One - 7695/3 1581

Side Two - 7696/4 1580

This record I have graded as being in Acceptable condition. Both sides play through with no jumping, skipping or any other major audio horrors - as noted, a small flake is evident on each side, the shellac still present, although with damage.

The CCCP company sleeve I have graded being in Good condition with light scuffing to the edges, minor bumps to the corners, no seam splits and a glued on panel, pink paper with track and other details.

The labels are in good condition, each side has an index / library label stuck on, see close-up pictures uploaded.

Any questions, email and I'll help if I can.

Two vintage discs, a variety of Russian music, Folk and State, one convenient package...what's not to like?

Thanks for looking!

:o)

Buy-it-Now, $38.50

Postage - USA - Free Shipping...nice!

Overseas orders welcome - $34, wherever.

* Records are posted in dedicated record mailing boxes with 2 corrugated cardboard stiffeners.

GRADING GUIDE. (Goldmine Standard)

* Gradings range between - for example - VG, VG+ and VG++. In some cases, for example again, VG- may be used.

MINT (M) Absolutely perfect in every way. Often rumored but rarely seen, and if it is not just out of the pressing plant it is unlikely that, personally, I would ever use this grading.

NEAR MINT (NM OR M-) A good description of a NM record is ?it looks like it just came from a retail store and it was opened for the first time.? In other words, it?s nearly perfect. NM records are shiny, with no visible defects. Writing, stickers or other markings cannot appear on the label, nor can any ?spindle marks? from someone trying to blindly put the record on the turntable. Major factory defects will be absent. If played, it will do so with no surface noise. NM covers are free of creases, ring wear and seam splits of any kind.

VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+) or EXCELLENT (E) A good description of a VG+ record is ?except for a couple minor things, this would be Near Mint.? VG+ records may show some slight signs of wear, including light scuffs or very light scratches that do not affect the listening experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK. Minor signs of handling are OK, too, such as telltale marks around the center hole, but repeated playing has not misshapen the hole. There may be some very light ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable.VG+ covers should have only minor wear. A VG+ cover might have some very minor seam wear or a split (less than one inch long) at the bottom, the most vulnerable location. Also, a VG+ cover may have some defacing, such as a cut-out marking. VG++ is a step up from VG+ generally.

VERY GOOD (VG) Many of the imperfections found on a VG+ record are more obvious on a VG record. VG records lack most of the original gloss found on factory-fresh records. Groove wear is evident on sight, as are light scratches deep enough to feel with a fingernail. When played, a VG record has surface noise, and some scratches may be audible. Minor writing, tape or a sticker can detract from the label. They remain a fine listening experience, just not the same as if it were in better shape.VG covers will have many signs of human handling. Ring wear in the middle or along the edges of the cover where the edge of a record would reside, is obvious, though not overwhelming. Some more creases might be visible. Seam splitting will be more obvious; it may appear on all three sides, though it won?t be obvious upon looking. A small pen or ink mark, or an original price sticker may be noticeable.

GOOD (G), GOOD PLUS (G+) or VERY GOOD MINUS (VG?) Good does not mean bad! The record still plays through without skipping, so it can serve as filler until something better comes along. But it has significant surface noise and groove wear, and the label is worn, with significant ring wear, heavy writing, or obvious surface damage to the label. A Good to VG? cover has ring wear, has seam splits obvious on sight and may have even heavier writing.

POOR (P) and FAIR (F) Records that have obvious damage, they are cracked, impossibly warped, or skip and/or repeat when an attempt is made to play them.

Please note :-

A word about Shipping and Delivery times.

I offer Free Shipping on nearly all of my Buy-It-Now items, and on Auction items a fairly priced Shipping charge (which includes USPS service and the cost of a dedicated mailer suited to the particular item).

Items are shipped within 3 day of the order being placed. Sometimes they are shipped the same day, sometimes on the third day.

It's 'shipping within 3 days', end of.

Records, all formats, 45's, vinyl LP's and 78's are all shipped by Media Mail, which is an Economy service and, in general, can take a few days longer.

However, if you want it delivered Priority or 1st Class, ask beforehand, it's not a problem and I can make the necessary adjustments.

Thank you for reading this.

:o)