V-Disc 78 RPM: Complete Box from WWII - Very Rare. Sinatra,Duke Ellington,& More

$

35

This is an original, complete, and very rare box of Victory Discs (V-Disc) from World War II.  The Department of Defense authorized and issued a small number of these sets to distribute to service men and women during WW II to improve morale, and they are classic.  This box includes all 15 records that were part of the original set; the complete list can be read on the label and also further down in this description.  These are all 78 RPM records and are in good condition given their age.  All of these records will show smudges, scratches, and marks from the original paper wrappers (also included), and none of them are cracked or broken.  I assume they will play through but I do not have a 78 turntable and the condition is As Is, with no returns.  The only exception is a single record that has what looks like a cigarette burn on the side, which I assume will not play (unless you move the needle to the inside of the burn mark).  This set also comes with the original box, and the original shipping/contents label which you will see in the picture on the side.  The box does have the word "Records" written on the side in red marker (which was not original).
This set includes artists such as Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Major Glen Miller, Harry James, Spike Jones, Bing Crosby, Woody Herman, Gene Krupa, and others - truly a classic.
You will see individual records on eBay for prices ranging from $10 per record to $25 per record and more, but I have yet to see a complete and original box set.  This has been in my family since WWII, we are the original owners, and it is now time to sell to a new owner.  The complete list follows below: Those interested in more background on V-Discs should do a Google search, there are some fascinating stories out there.
Shipping will be paid by the buyer.  Given the weight of this package (old 78s are heavy, especially these which were designed to withstand a lot of hard shipping and adverse conditions) so be sure to factor that into your decision.  I have learned that eBay shipping estimates that you will see (and even USPS or UPS calculators) online are usually much less than the price you have to pay when you are standing at the window with the box - Seller will pay the actual shipping cost, regardless of estimate.
Let me know if you have any questions, or if you would like additional pictures.  I have a picture (close up of the label and a wider shot of the record) of the A and B side of each of these records, 30 sides/pictures in all, as well as pictures of the original box.

Number

Name

Artist

Comments

531A

Fingal’s Cave

Boston Pops Orchestra

531B

Fingal’s Cave (Part Two)

Boston Pops Orchestra

532A

Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

532B

Intermezzo

Naila Waltz

Howard Barlow and his Orchestra

533A

Songs My Mother Taught Me

Peggy, the Pin-Up Girl

Major Glenn Miller and the AAFTC Band

533B

My Melancholy Baby

Mus 1/c Sam Donahue and the Navy Dance Band

534A

Diminuendo in Blue

Crescendo in Blue

Duke Ellington and his Orchestra

534B

Sent for you Yesterday

Jimmy’s Boogie Woogie

Count Basie and his Orchestra

535A

Autumn Serenade

It’s Been a Long, Long time

Harry James and his Orchestra

535B

I’m Gonna Love That Guy

Clarinade

Benny Goodman and his Orchestra

536A

Stardust

No More Toujours L’Amour

Billy a Dick

Hoagy Carmichael

536B

Dancing in the Dark

Just One More Chance

Penthouse Serenade

I Can’t get Started

Carmen Cavallaro

537A

You’ll Never Walk Along

The Charm of You

Frank Sinatra

537B

Bakery Blues

Jo Stafford and her V-Disc Play Boys

538A

Solitude

Dave Matthews and his Orchestra

538B

Four or Five Times

Trummy Young and the Guys from V-Discs

539A

A Ghost of a Chance

Basin Street Boogie

Will Bradley and his Orchestra

539B

Daybreak Serenade

It’s Only a Paper Moon

Jess Stacy and his Orchestra

540A

Blue Danube

Toot Toot Tootsie, Goo’bye

Spike Jones and his City Slickers

540B

How High the Moon

Begin the Beguine

The Les Paul Trio

541A

That Feeling in the Moonlight

I’d Do It All Over Again

Hal McIntyre and his Orchestra

541B

Whistler and his Dog

Mama Inez

The Milt Herth Trio

542A

Honey

Jack Leonard and the V-Disc Volunteers

542B

The Waiter, the Porter, and the Upstairs Maid

Wait Till the Sun Shines Nellie

Bing Crosby, Mary Martin, Jack Teagarden

543A

Ah, Your Father’s Mustache

Woody Herman and his Orchestra

543B

Jose Gonzalez

Ooh, How Dawg

Gene Krupa and his Orchestra

544A

They Didn’t Believe Me

Where or When

Dick Haymes

A thumb size mar – possibly a cigarette burn – is on the side of this album.  Probably not playable.  See photo.

544B

Let Him Go – Let Him Tarry

Evelyn Knight

A thumb size mar – possibly a cigarette burn – is on the side of this album.  Probably not playable.  See photo.

545A

The Devil is Afraid of Music

I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

US Maritime Service Training Station Band

545B

Cradle Song

I Know That you Know

Army Service Forces Dance Band