Sold Date: May 18, 2017
Start Date: May 13, 2017
Final Price: $25.03 (USD)
Bid Count: 4
Seller Feedback: 1975
Buyer Feedback: 48

SS: Still Sealed
Label: RCA Living Stereo
Catalog Number: LSC 1806
Product Condition: N/ New

This auction is for a STILL SEALED, NUMBERED (5 of 5 MH) single LP from the Classic Records 180gram reissue of Strauss' "Also sprach Zarathustra" with Fritz Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This pressing has special significance and collectability because it comes from the Michael Hobson ARCHIVES. This is a truly one of a kind collectible of one of the most valuable and highly sought after Classic Records pressings.

From the start of Classic Records in 1994, Michael Hobson, insisted on having as complete a "personal archive" as possible, of all varieties and issues of Classic Records' various releases (180g, 200g, Blue Vinyl, etc)  as a reference of what had been done.  This Archive was one of the few things Acoustic Sounds did not acquire as part of the deal to buy Classic in 2010 albeit Chad Kassem has pursued Hobson to buy it ever since.  Still intact, in its entirety (with only a few holes) sits the Archive which will be offered exclusively on this shop by special arrangement with Michael Hobson.

Each piece has an official Classic Records “MH" Archive Sticker on it and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity hand signed by Michael Hobson personally to assure authenticity and enhance the collectibility over time.  Generally,  only 5 numbered “MH archive" copies, most often from the first stamper, were added to the Hobson archive.  In the case of  popular titles, there are various versions because of the use of different plants (RTI, Bill Smith, Classic Pressing Plant) which offers the possibility to have comparisons of various machines the copies were made on - all of which sound different because of various vibrations from the different machines that are "pressed" into the vinyl.  Yes, according to Hobson, you can hear the difference is machines among the various Test Pressings and production pressings for that matter.  Further, the Classic Records folklore is that Hobson, insisted on the “best copies” from the “sweet spot” of the pressing run for his personal archive of 5 numbered copies of each release!   It is reported that Hobson personally selected the copies of the records that went into his archive by listening to 1st stamper pressings to determine when the “stamper” was in the “sweet spot” and pressing the best sounding records during the run.  Further, these records have not been moved from Hobson’s own climate controlled air-conditioned storage for all these years. This is not only a unique opportunity to own a piece of Classic Record's history but also the chance to have some of the best production pressings  of Classic's various issues over time. Ridiculously collectible and likely a better investment than the stock market!  
Note: We will put all of the #5 of 5 copies from the MH Archive first and then do the same for all #4 of 5 copies and so on.  If anyone is interested in a “complete” numbered set please contact us.
Good luck!

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