SEA ISLAND SPIRITUALS ( Penn School- St. Helena's Island) rare SET E+ 78 rpm

$

86

 LABEL:  Hathen Productions
CATALOG NUMBER: 1 thru 12 ( no 2 & 7 in numbering!)
ARTIST:   SEA ISLAND SINGERS (unnamed)
TITLES: A. See below
                 B.  see beow
PERFORMANCE/ ARTIST INFO: Sea Island Gullah Hymns.

Private 5 10” 78 rpm records in album. E/E+

Unnamed performers

St. Helena is at the South Carolina end of the Sea Islands clustered along the coast of South Carolina and Georgia at the center of the Gullah culture, an important area of black studies. I’m offering a set on 78 rpm records of 10 spirituals sung by descendants of the original Sea Island plantation slaves. They were recorded at the Penn Normal Industrial and Agricultural School at Frogmore on St. Helena’s Island.

Private donors commissioned a fund-raising 16mm 35 minute color film, “To Live as Free Men” in 1941, supervised by John A. Silver, one of the donors. These records were also made at that time as the film’s sound recording equipment was available. The performances are built around the school’s touring vocal quartet, apparently all Hampton graduates, with students and teachers voices contributing. They are unaccompanied.

The set was offered in the Penn School newspaper in January, 1942. There were special showings of the film in New York, Washington and Philadelphia. The film includes a “Praise House” scene.

After each showing, sets of these records were offered to the attendees at $ 5.00 per set. As this occurred during the first year of World War II, it’s not surprising that most of the public’s attention was focused elsewhere, which may account in part for the extreme scarcity of this set.

Apparently, the recording was done on film, then transferred to lacquers which were duly processed so pressings could be made. More was recorded than issued since the records have side numbers with gaps when all 10 published sides are accounted for. These 78s, with their content and arrangements chosen by those deep within the community, are unrelated to the better known group of Gullah recordings made by Alan Lomax, a sympathetic outsider. They are possibly the earliest ethnic audio artifacts going back to beginning of recording to be unsupervised, unfiltered choices made by the culture itself.

6 Leanin’ on De Lawd
8 I’m Goin’ to Sings a New Song

10 Tree Planted By de Water (1 light scratch)
12 Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow

4 Ride On, Jesus
5 All My Sins Done Taken Away

1 The Lonesome Valley
9 Every Time I Feels de Spirit

3 Nobody Knows de Trouble I’ve Seen (1 scratch, may sound)
11 Fader, Praise Fader

The 5 10” two-sided 78 rpm records are in a blue faux-leather album which is labelled on the front, “Sea Island Spirituals. Limited First Edition.” There is no printing on the spine. I'm including a xerox set of the notes.

Except where so indicated, the records are in E+ or better condition. There is almost no wear at the center holes and no spindle trail marks.
GRADE:  Side A:  E+ all though disc 4 ( sides 6 & 8) has a larg internal pressure crack - strengthened with glue - plays with no problem
                 Side B:    "      "
OTHER:     ..some minor discolorization on edge of front booklet cover and a 2" tear in binding - as illustrated -  a self made label was added to spine for reference

ABOUT ME: I have been collecting pre-war 78s and related ephemera ( Jazz, Rag-Time, Vaudeville,  Country, Blues, Gospel, some Pop and Ethnic) for 45 years and have been a dealer for 30 years. In that time I have purchased or consigned some of the greatest collections in this field. No need to worry about packing and we strive to give a fair deal to all. IF you have a collection to sell or  would like to know bout our consignment service please contact me. We have realized some of the highest prices in the pre-war 78 field.  contact me through ebay and I will send you to my old78s site for details!

NOTE ABOUT MY GRADING: I grade VISUALLY unless I spot a defect like a dig, stressed groove, bad lam, crack,  et cetera which requires me to play the record to properly evaluate it. When I do play a record I use a 3.2 mil stylus and DO NOT use any EQ.  My grading follows  the recognized VJM standard ( see below )

The VJM Record Grading System is an internationally-used and recognized system for grading both 78s and LPs. It is used by virtually all serious record dealers and collectors alike, with an easily understood sequence of letters to show grades and a system of abbreviations to show faults and damage.

The VJM Record Grading System.

N (78)  As new and unplayed (there are virtually no 78s that can categorically be claimed to be unplayed).

N- (78)  Nearly Mint, but has been played. No visible signs of wear or damage.

E+ (78) Plays like new, with very, very few signs of handling, such as tiny scuffs from being slipped in and out of jackets.

E  (78) Still very shiny, near new looking, with no visible signs of wear, but a few inaudible scuffs and scratches.

E- (78)  Still shiny but without the lustre of a new record, few light scratches.  LP: Some wear, scratches and scuffs, but no skipped or repeat grooves.

V+ (78)  V+ is an average condition 78 in which scuffs and general use has dulled the finish somewhat. Wear is moderate but playing is generally free from distortion. Surface noise not overly pronounced. LP: Below average with scuffs and scratches on fewer than half the tracks. No skips or repeat grooves.

V (78)  Moderate, even wear throughout, but still very playable. Surface noise and scratches audible but not intrusive.

V- (78) Quite playable still, but distortion and heavy graying in loud passages. Music remains loud in most passages. Surface noise and scratches well below music level. LP: Lowest Grade. Audible scratches, etc. on more than half the tracks. Listening uncomfortable.

G+ (78). Grey throughout but still serviceable. Music begins to sound muffled. Heavy scratches.

G (78). Quite seriously worn and scratched, but music level is still higher than surface noise.

G- (78). Music still prominent, but wear and scratch damage extensive.

F (78). Most of music remains audible over surface noise, but listening now uncomfortable.

P (78). Unplayable.

NB: Damage to labels and jackets (LP) should be noted whenever present.

Abbreviations

sfc = surface; lbl = label; nap = not affecting play; scr/scrs = scratch/scratches; lc or lam  = lamination crack; cr = crack; gv/gvs = groove/grooves; hlc/hc = hairline crack; wol = writing on label; sol = sticker on label; fade = faded label; gr/grs = groove/grooves; eb = edge bite; ec = edge chip; ef = edge flake; cvr = cover; s = stereo; rc= rim chip; rf = rough; aud/inaud = audible/inaudible; lt = light.

SHIPPING
our standard domestic shipping method is media mail with a delivery receipt and is $7.08 for one 10" or 12" record. If we are able to send additional records for the same price we do it...often we are able to get 2-4 records safely in a domestic/media mail box without adjusting the fee. If we can do it, we will!
We use a BRAND NEW strong box, new cardboard packers, peanuts, and labels...we buy this material in large batches and must pay substantial trucking fees to get the material delivered to the rural area we live in.  MEDIA MAIL SHIPPING/PACKING  is $7.22 ..If you prefer, PRIORITY ( with delivery receipt ) is between $10 & $13 depending upon the are it is going to.  CANADA is $16 for the first item and $3 for each additional up to 4 pounds. Above 4 lbs we will advise you as to the S&H with your invoice. ...EUROPE / UK & MOST OTHER COUNTRIES is $23.00 for the first disc and $4 for each additional up to 4 lbs ..then we will advise..INSURANCE IS UP TO YOU AND MUST BE CALCULATED BY YOU....if your item is lost or broken in the mail and you DO NOT have insurance we ARE NOT LIABLE to repay you......