JAN DUKES DE GREY Sorcerers Ultra rare UK 69 Decca Nova

	£		103
	$		136

Hi, I am Mike, I am 46 and have been a music collector and enthusiast for over 33 years now. We all wish we could turn back the clock and buy those wonderful brand new records from the 60s and 70s, but alas, this is not possible; so I always try to offer the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. No vinyl/music lover really would choose to buy second-hand, but this is only way now to own these valuable, prized and ellusive items now. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any potential bidder and collector. You may notice I only submit records sparingly on Ebay - on average ONEADAY, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirity, not just bits to guess a grade (on a Rega 3 deck with Ortofon cartridge) - visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story - I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested reader – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean its good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in stunning near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are taken with a digital camera or scanned - they are NOT improved, cleaned-up or made better looking than they are with camera trickery or enhancing with digital programmes. What you see is what you get. The only thing I cannot guarantee one hundred percent is exact colour matching - this depends on the lighting at the time and that is out of my control, but I feel sure most items will be very close to the actual real item. Variation can sometimes occur too in colour of the label scans and labels taken next to the sleeve with a digital camera, the scanned full label pictures should be the most accurate. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. I am enthusiastic , and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items - bid with confidence - excellence comes as standard and so does Near Mint regularly. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps or sticks or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Please read all the information carefully - these adverts take an age to compile properly - so it’s well worth a few minutes of your time to read the details thoroughly. I really cannot take any responsibility if any bidder fails to read any facts that are clearly stated in the advert - Thankyou.

Artist or Band: JAN DUKES DE GREY

Album Title: Sorcerers.

Track Listing: Dragons; Rags, Old Iron; 28th June, Village Song; High Price Room; Sorcerers; Ode to a Schoolgirl; The Cheering Crowd; Out of the Eastern Hills; MSS; Texas; Yorkshire Indian Sitting in the Sun; Wonder Child; Dominique; Trust me Now; Forms; City After 3.00am; Butterfly; Turkish Time.

Label/Format: Decca Nova – Turquoise and Silver format (similar to the 60s mono Deccas).

Label Condition: Virtually mint labels that show hardly any spindle marks and no wear at all. (Please see label scan for all information needed, apologies for the less than perfect picture, these types with silver text never scan well due to reflection, side two is just as clean).

Cat Number: SDN 8.

Mono or Stereo: Stereo (this apparently exists in mono as well, I would guess even rare still).

Country of Manufacture: England, UK

Rarity: Very Rare as most of the obscure artists are on this very collectable label.

Original Year of Release: 1969

Matrix Nos: ZAL 9272.P-1W and ZAL-9273-1W

Stamper Codes: 1U / 1C

Brief Artist & Album Info: As featured in the current issue of Record Collector magazine. I quote from the back sleeve as my knowledge of this duo is very limited indeed, its the first copy I have ever seen or heard. ‘Derek Noy and Mick Bairstow come from Yorkshire and their music is basically vocals backed by 12 string guitar with either flute or clarinet playing against the melody line, however they both play a variety of instruments which they use on stage as much as possible, but in recording of course these extra talents can be used to greater advantage. Derek wrote all the songs on the album and they are mostly based on experiences he has had over the past few years.’ This was recorded between 8th-11th October, 69. This truly is a superb listen and its a very rare record, it will be seldomly seen or offered and its sure to interest collectors of the rare and unusual. Musically not too disimiliar to the Incredible String Band or Dr Strangely Strange, the quoted cover notes do not mention enough the varied instruments used here, but there are many. Conditionwise this is very strong, the actual record looks virtually mint, it does have a little light very low level surface sound in odd places but I emphasise light and very infrequent. This is a fairly delicate low volume album predominately and any faint blemishes will sound just that little bit more, but again I state minimal and very light indeed. The cover is very strong EX with little to fault. So a rare progressive folk album that I would bet many collectors have never ever seen before either.

Cover Grade and Format: EX, at the very least, a plus is probably appropriate really. Its a single format and laminated on the front with Clarifoil. Printed in England by Senol Printing Limited. This original cover has the mono/stereo peep-hole on the top right back along with the UK Patents Applications No.

Lamination: Very shiny indeed with little traces of any dulling at all. No major creases at all and few marks. The top right has taken a very light knock which has left a tiny corner crease and a small chip to the cover edge and laminate. No other peeling or dry areas at all and this laminate looks fantastic and makes the deep scarlet red artwork look really amazing.

Cover Front: This looks fantastic and has a wonderfully spooky design. Clean with little wear this front will be hard to find significantly better. A faint pressmark top and bottom, almost inevitable from the massivel thick record inside but even this hardly shows.

Cover Back: Little wear or significant discolour, a few faint traces of grubbiness near the perimeters where the cover gets more handling but as light as it gets really. No rubbing or ringwear this 33-year-old back is still pretty exceptional. The peep-hole is is pretty much perfect with no fraying, splits and a clean cut circle. The blue original inner is blue denoting this is a stereo copy. This lined inner is superb with just one corner crease only. A very clean and clear window and the lining very solid and fully intact. Some minor gum toning only.

Top Edge: Unworn.

Bottom Edge: Virtually unworn, slight flattening to the back edge where it has been cut fractionally long in manufacture (a minor blemish).

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with no wear or feathering. Record entered on right outside edge.

Spine and Text: Solid and square with little wear, text is perfect and unworn under largely uncracked laminate – a couple of hairline cracks only that do not encroach over the text..

Corners: All four show little wear and even the top right where the small knock occured is till virtually perfect, the small knock looks fractionally below the actual corner tip.

Cover Summary: A very strong all round example of this very rare late 60’s cover, one that could prove very difficult to find significantly better. This strong item should please most, if not all collectors.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: Mint(-) A superb visual copy. Super clean, shiny, jet black and very solidly pressed. Barely a mark to be seen, this looks really lovely and visually could pass for new. A copy with minimal plays on all the evidence. Visually a super record that should please most collectors.

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This super record generally plays up to its high visual grading with little major to fault. Rich detailed sound and quality is high, one song features a deep big bass drum that is as deep as any real percussion I have ever heard on record, its as deep as distant thunder. Any unwanted sounds are minimal indeed, very low level and very infrequent – the vast majority of this quite long album plays perfectly, no pops or clicks were noted, and I am being very critical. I still feel few copies will play significantly better than this in real terms, I have never had another copy to compare it too, but without any doubt this record has been played very lightly and has been generally well stored and looked after, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Little, if anything spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this very rare record. A delicate mainly acoustic and vocal album that will please collectors of the genre. This copy could still prove difficult to find significantly better (if indeed you can find it at all).

Mono vs Stereo, an overview: Always a matter of opinion which is better or more important. For any serious collector where there is a choice e.g. Beatles, Stones, Hendrix etc. both are essential. True Stereo albums give great imagery and presence whereas mono albums usually are more dynamic, louder and present the detail more clearly. Mono albums are far harder to find in genuinely top playing condition. Most were heavily played, particularly the truly great bands and artists, often covered in mark and scratches, many severe and labels that were a mass of spindle marks. The majority were played on vintage and unsubtle decks with heavy tonearms and thick styli (often sapphire, not diamond, that chipped more easily) that rendered heavy wear in a very short time to many a fine classic record. Wear to the delicate groove walls, particularly the innermost tracks to the labels were most vulnerable where the tracking angle became more severe and the backdrag actually stripped the delicate groove walls. This resulted in surface noise and mild/moderate distortion or worse. These old decks tracked by sheer weight and little of any refined engineering. Next time you see such a deck at a local record fayre, feel the weight of the arm, it almost makes you wonder how any records survived at all. The point of this paragraph is emphasise that when a truly clean, lightly played and great sounding 60s mono album (or stereo come to that) is offered, treasure it, because for sure they are truly getting vary rare and precious - beware - demand only play-graded records. As a general guide to rarity, mono was the far more common format from 61–65; Around 66–67 the balance was roughly equal, then from 68-69 the balance swung more to stereo, making monos from these dates far scarcer, even rare - this guide is important and effects values greatly.

Album Played For Grading: Yes.

Final Summary: A very rare one-off album on the scarce Decca Nova series, they made one other on Transatlantic which is even rarer still, never seen that one ever. This is a fantastic album too, poor sales and obscurity does not mean a poor record in this case – far from it believe me – this has hauntingly beautiful songs and fine musicianship. So a rare opportunity to own what has to be in real terms one of the scarcest progressive folk albums I have yet offered, if you collect this type and label, dont lose this one. – Mike.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance. Item wants are always welcome - email me with anything needed, you never know - I may just have a copy in stock. I by quality single items and collections also (Email me please if you have quality items for sale).

Debutant Bidders: Many sellers refuse first time buyers: I do not follow this practice (everybody has to start somewhere), but I would appreciate any first timer letting me know their intentions of their intended payment method and very prompt communication, preferably before any bid or soon after the auctions ends. This gives confidence that their intentions are honourable, and I in return guarantee extra special good feedbacks to get zero rated Ebayers off to a flying start to help them with future transactions. NOTE: I WILL NOT ACCEPT BIDS FROM UNREGISTERED USERS, I will cancel them immediately, and sorry, I cannot give valuations on people’s personal items just for their own curiosity, no item can be accurately valued blindly.

Having the Powerseller Logo: This is recognition from Ebay for the highest possible customer services, satisfaction and quality, it should reassure any potential bidder that all items are described, graded and shipped to the highest standards possible. Customer care of the highest order is a standard feature here and I am proud to have achieved this recognised standard of excellence from Ebay with help from collectors and buyers from all over the World - I thank you all.

Payment Details please read carefully - I know its boring but essential:

UK First Class: = £3.00; Recorded Delivery (Recommended) = £5.50 Special Delivery (Next day, insured up to £250), the best service available = £7.00

Europe Air Mail: = £4 Insured: £8.00

Overseas, non-Europe e.g. USA, Japan, Australia etc. Airmail:= £7; Insured with recorded delivery (where available) = £11.00

Singles: (Packed to the high standards of the LPs)

UK First class: = £2.00 Insured: £4

Europe Air Mail = £3.00 Insured: £5.50

Overseas, non-Europe (as above) Airmail £3.50 Insured: £6.00

Doubles add extra £1, triples add extra £2. Box sets add extra £3 (£4 overseas and Europe)

Any item that sells for over £85 will be sent Special Delivery in the UK at no extra cost. Items over £125 get the same service Overseas. This is gives peace of mind for the winning bidder and myself for valuable items. Reduced postage of course for multiple items.

The winner bidder chooses his/her posting method and if uninsured is chosen, its their decision and they have to stick with it, I can accept no responsibility if an item is lost in the post. I can only try to claim at standard levels if no enhancement is chosen (£28). PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT use surface mail, its too slow, with a higher risk of loss and damage.

Mailing Details: Please note I do NOT profit on postage (my packing standards are high and the package weighs a little more and I often actually lose money on this part of service - I simply refuse to compromise with poor packing. All records are sent in plastic covers with the record taken OUT of the sleeve and sent in professional mailers with FOUR professional stiffners for extra protection (if space allows), I do NOT use old cardboard boxes or cereal packets for protection. More expensive items are also inserted into a de-luxe heavy duty padded bag AS WELL to give that extra protection. I truly want ALL my items to arrive to their destination in the same condition they leave me. I will also include in most cases a brand new lined inner, but will include the original inner if available and in a condition to be worthwhile.

I can accept cash for payments worldwide in UK Pounds Sterling, Euros or US Dollars - but this at the senders OWN risk. Please send registered and insured if this method is chosen. I cannot accept responsibility if any cash payments do not turn up. This system is very reliable and rarely goes astray. The same goes for any shipped uninsured item, I can only try to claim for any undelivered or damaged article at basic insurance levels if no enhanced insurance is requested and paid for (unless the value threshold is high enough for me insure as standard, see above)

Overseas bidders please note conversion rates for Pounds to Dollars and Pounds to Euros will be charged at 1.7 to cover PayPal or cash conversion costs.

PLEASE NOTE: Any PayPal user can now pay me with UK Sterling if they wish with no need to convert to US dollars (although they still can if they wish to). Any instant PayPal transaction from anywhere in the world will mean the item will be sent immediately - it makes deals fast and very efficient.

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. I now only accept PayPal, International money orders or cash from overseas bidders (UK Sterling, US dollars or Euros). Cash, cheques, postal orders and PayPal are fine from the UK. I allow maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if this does not happen I will relist the item and may send negative feedback unless an explanation is given. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask. Please keep watch on my Ebays, I have other interesting items coming very soon. Thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: As listening to every single record I offer all the way through is difficult timewise, can I make it clear if any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund minus the Posting and All Ebay costs as long as the item detail has been read and understood. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer. I still endeavour to play all the items in their entirity for grading if at all possible and is usually the case.