Szeryng: Tartini, Vitali, Paganini, etc: Odeon OD 1008 (10" LP) - supreme rarity

$

300

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This handsome and extraordinarily rare 10" LP from Odeon (OD 1008, French pressing, red/silver label – ED1, mono) features a dazzling recital by legendary violinist Henryk Szeryng, recorded in the warm acoustics of the Studio Magellan, Paris, on 10 October 1952.

Szeryng is partnered throughout by the splendid pianist Tasso Janopoulo, who accompanied Jacques Thibaud, among many others.

Szeryng's exact program is as follows:

Antonio Vitali: Chaconne in G minor

Giueseppe Tartini (arr. Fritz Kreisler): Variations on a Theme by Corelli

Fritz Kreisler: Grave, in the Style of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

Henri Wieniawski: Scherzo-Tarantelle Op. 16

Nicolo Paganini: Caprice No. 24 in A minor Op. 1

There are fine liner notes (uncredited) on the reverse side of the jacket, printed in French only. The striking cover design is similarly uncredited.

CONDITION – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the jacket is EXCELLENT-. There is a slight bit of cracking (1") to the upper-right corner, though it is not a split. In the upper-left corner, not readily visible, a former owner right the number "114" in black felt tip ink. There is also minor corner wear and aging. However, there are no  seamsplits, bends, or other defects and the album remains solid, bright, and highly attractive – overall, still an excellent collector's copy. 

The condition of the LP itself is VERY GOOD+. Visually, there are some spindle trails and marks to the vinyl, though no scratches. In terms of sound, although surfaces are not perfectly silent, this is a fine copy and the playback remains enjoyable. However, if you must have a flawless or NM copy, then please do not buy this LP. Overall, rates as a very good collector's copy. Listening would undoubtedly improve with using a true mono cartridge.

*** NOTE: 

Although many may strongly disagree with this statement, in my humble opinion and based on 30+ years of collecting, the complete overuse of the grading "NM" I find to be wholly inaccurate and absolutely and knowingly unethical. Most of the LPs – from any label – pressed during the early 1950s have issues of surface noise. It was not until @ 1954 or 1955 that LP pressings substantially improved. There are countless sales listed on Popsike.com claiming a 1950-1953 pressing as being NM. Even with the best mono cartridge and sound system, I highly doubt this to be true in the vast majority of cases. However, sellers know that "NM" is what sells. What Popsike.com does not tell you is how many LPs were returned by buyers unhappy with the "NM" description claimed by a particular seller who was hoping to make a high-end sale.

My guess is that this particular copy sounds just as well as the supposedly "NM" copies that have sold for 600-900 Euros. However, in the interests of some semblance of accurate grading, I have listed the condition as VERY GOOD+. Surfaces are not silent. I do not believe there is a copy of the particular title anywhere that yields silent "NM" surfaces.

PLEASE NOTE:
All LPs are provided with a new Nagaoka (or Nagaoka-style) inner sleeve. The images I've provided are of the actual item you are potentially bidding on - these are not stock images or images I've taken from other sites. Bid with confidence!

PAYMENT:
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SHIPPING:
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FEEDBACK:
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REFUNDS:
Returns are honored, and any buyer you makes a return will be refunded in full. Please let me know before making a return.

Please see my other classical LP and CD auctions, and feel free to write with any questions, I'll be glad to help.