DONIZETTI: Lucia Di Lammermoor - NIXA 3-LP SET - SUPER-RARE COMPLETE UK ORIGINAL

	£		20
	$		27

DONIZETTI: Lucia Di Lammermoor (Nixa, ULP 9232-1, ULP 9232-2 & ULP 9232-3, 3-LP set)
Anselmo Colzani; Dolores Wilson; Gianni Poggi; Mario Carlin; Silvio Maionica; Ebe Ticozzi; Gugliemo Fazzini; Orchestra & Chorus of the Opera di Milano; Franco Capuana.
Note that this includes the first scene of Act 3, a Hall in the castle of Ravenswood, which the earlier (2-LP) Columbia release left off. Gramophone magazine also thought that Anselmo Colzani outdid the Tito Gobbi on the Columbia version…and Dolores Wilson also gets praise above the Callas performace on the Columbia version in one place at least!
This is the super-rare UK three-record set of the US recording originally issued in the US on the Urania label. If it wasn't already rare, it is even rarer in this mostly lovely and complete condition.
All three records are in the original PVC inners (even if one has been cut down to make it easier to get it back into the sleeve!) and all still have a bright shine, looking as though they have been well looked after. The sleeves are in far better condition than you might expect for a 1954 copy of the set. There are only a couple of small Sellotape stains (though no seam splitting, so the reason for the Sellotape is unknown) and a few light creases and age stains. Very nice overall - see the photos to get a better idea of the sleeve conditions.
The records have for the most part light background rumble and occasional light crackle/background pops (and, record 2 aside, I mean light). Remember that early microgroove records were not silent even on first play, though a damn sight better than 78s. Apart from that, some light random foreground pops here and there and what you basically have is probably the best overall condition copy of this that you will ever see or hear. It is over seventy years old and is a thoroughly enjoyable listen all the way through, even if side 2 lets things down by having more background throughout (no visual reason for this, and settling down during the second half).
If you demand mint records, keep well away, because it isn't, but if you like a record that is in probably in the best overall condition it can possibly be based on what it is (seventy years old and not 'mint' in today's terms even when new and unplayed) and still be a lovely listen, then this one's for you.
Note that I have only cleaned the records with a quick once-over of squeegee and water prior to play testing, so a proper clean may make this set better than it already sounds! It will certainly digitise well with only sparing use of anti-click software needed.
Also note that this is an auto-coupled set, meaning that side 1 is backed with side 6 and so on!
*    *    *    * Records generally have hairline marks from going in and out of sleeves - I do not mention these unless they cause audible noise. All records are play tested unless explicitly stated otherwise. Most of the records I am selling play at "Excellent" or "Very Good" as per Record Collector grading. Any specific defects are otherwise described in the listing. Please look at the photos carefully for condition of sleeves/labels. 
All items won, up to a value of £50.00, will be sent as Royal Mail 'signed for'. If items are bid above £50.00 (or multiple items combine to more than £50), they will be sent as Royal Mail Special Delivery, so that parcels are correctly insured against loss or damage in transit. If you win multiple items, please wait for me to invoice with correct postage. Note that the postage costs stated include packaging costs. Where possible, packaging will be recycled but sturdy/secure.
Combined postage *for UK buyers only* - 6 single LPs costs the same to post as 1 single LP. Note that if you win items in multiple formats, (e.g., an LP and a CD), these have to be sent as multiple parcels (though I can bundle up 7" records with an LP).
*Non-UK bidders* please note that I use eBay's Global Shipping Programme, which means every item won has to be packaged and sent separately so combined postage is not possible.
Non-paying high bidders will be blocked from bidding on future items.
*    *    *    * Unless stated otherwise, all items are from my own collection. Most has been in storage for nearly 20 years. Lockdowns made me wonder why I have multiple copies of records that I will never listen to. There are about 8,000 more items to come from my rambling progressive, jazz fusion, folk, blues, 1950s stereo classical and easy listening, psychedelic, reggae, ambient, spoken word, comedy, railway, field recordings, electronic and occasionally just plain 'out there' collection.