ROYAL BALLET ANSERMET RCA-6065 ORIGINAL LIVING STEREO

$

462

The Royal Ballet Gala Performances Royal Opera House Orchestra Ernest Ansermet, Conductor

DESCRIPTION:   RCA Soria Series LDS-6065 (2) Living Stereo Shaded Dog. Original issue. Booklet on the Royal Ballet, insert with contents, and the original record sleeves are all included. The Living Stereo Holy Grail. I know this is highly sought after, so I will describe it as thoroughly as I can. The vinyl trail-off information is as follows. Side 1: J2RY7958-1S  A3  I;  Side 2: J2RY7959-1S  A1  I;  Side 3: J2RY7960-1S A2  I;  Side 4: J2RY7961-1S A1 I. I will decipher these as best I can, according to Jerry Osborne (whom we all owe a great debt for tracking all this information down) If I am correct, the J stands for the year of recording, 1958 (or release. I'm uncertain. There is no copyright date on the booklet either, but there is a date of June 1958 in a picture caption) The 2 indicates this is a popular or commercial release (as opposed to demonstration or promo) R indicates size and speed---12-inch 33-1/3 rpm; and Y is Living Stereo. 1S is First Stamper. A1 is the first mold from the first master. A2 is the second mold from the first master. A3 is the third mold from the first master. I is for Indianapolis, and means the records were pressed at the Indianapolis plant. Basically, what all this means is that these are First Pressings, all made from the first set of parts. The numbers after the first 4 characters are the serial numbers. The first eight characters are also on the labels. The most critical information is the A for the first master and the 1S for the first stamper. These mean that the records were made very early in the process, and are First Pressings. Everyone knows how glorious these recordings are. Wonderful sound, wonderful music, wonderful performance. This is simply the best of the best.    

CONDITION:  The box and wooden/cardboard holder for the records and inserts are VG++ with a little rubbing, chipping and soiling. No seam splits. The booklet on the Royal Ballet is VG because of 1" tears on the back cover and last page at the top near the middle, and a 1/2" piece missing at the lower-right corner on the back cover and last page. Otherwise VG++ with bumped corners, some creasing and wrinkling. The insert with titles is VG- with bumped corners, edgewear, a 1" tear, wrinkling and creasing at the upper-right, and  also creasing at the upper-left. One record sleeve is VG with a 1/4" tear close to the hole, with some material pulled away but still there, on one side, and some chipping on the other. The other record sleeve is VG+. Both have foxing, creasing, and a little soiling. The vinyl grades as follows: Side 1: Visually is VG++ with some press marks, rubs and scuffs. Plays VG++ to M- with a couple pops and some pulses on La Boutique Fantasque in the Andante, a little surface noise here and there. No clicks;  Side 2: Visually is M- with a few rubs and scuffs. Plays VG++ with some surface noise here and there, a little more exposed in the quiet passages. No clicks;  Side 3: Visually is VG+ with press marks, rubs and scuffs. One of the scuffs is quite long. Plays VG++ with some surface noise here and there, a little more exposed in the quiet passages. No clicks;  Side 4: Visually VG++ with some press marks, rubs and scuffs. The Tchaikovsky plays VG++ to M- with a little surface noise here and there. The Chopin plays VG+ to VG++ with some surface noise and a few pops here and there, with a few pulses near the end. No clicks. Overall, I think the vinyl is a very solid VG++. On a 1-10, probably 7.5 to 8. I know grading is VERY subjective and I believe in strict grading. I think these grades are fair. Shipping and handling for this auction will be Priority Mail or Airmail and is free. No reserve. Good luck!       

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