NAT KING COLE JUKEBOX CAPITOL 33RPM STEREO 5 CHRISTMAS DISCS TITLESTRIPS SLEEVES

$

34

     This auction is for a rare NAT KING COLE CAPITOL COMPACT 33 JUKEBOX SINGLES SET IN ORIGINAL SLEEVES + TITLE STRIPS + JUKEBOX ALBUM COVER INSERT.   I have seen this described as a "salesman sampler" packet.  This was released in 1960 in conjunction with "The Magic of Christmas" album...obviously for jukebox use.

     Let's begin, since there are many parts to this lot!

     First off, the entire set is housed in an outer envelope from Automatic Music Incorporated, and this states that it contains complete selections from the Capitol "The Magic of Christmas" album  This is in poor condition!  All edges are browned and crumbling, and there is writing on the front of the envelope.

     Next is a miniature copy of the album cover, 7 3/16 across by 6 9/16 inches.  It looks like this has been folded at one time about a third of the way down, and has a crease on the bottom right corner.  There are multiple creases and wear all over the cover.  This is only in good condition.  On the flipside, it looks like there is tape residue near the top, and some browning on the top corner.  This may have been displayed in the top part of the jukebox.  See photos #2 and #3 for the front and back views of the outer envelope and album cover copy.

     There are multiple copies of the title strips for each of the discs.  Each title has one non-separated title strip (two title strips still attached...see photo #4 on the left side).  Also, each disc title has three separated title strips...except "Caroling, Caroling", which has two  (see right side of photo #4).  Some of these are in excellent condition and still white in color.  Some have browning to parts of them. 

     The black Capitol sleeves have some wear along each edge, but there are no seam splits.

     Before I play-tested each of these discs, I expected them to sound bad.  Each disc has what I would call "surface swirls".  These would be from when the jukebox arm would place the record down on the platter to be played.  The turntable would already be spinning, the disc would drop, and the swirls would occur.  Even though these discs are in used condition, it was quite a surprise to hear that they actually sounded great...for being fifty-five years old!  No bad wear, no sounds of burning, silence between tracks...They are all in VG++ condition.   Review of each disc follows;

     1.   JOY YO THE WORLD - HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING / ADESTE FIDELES -- Slight crackling of voice near the end of Adeste Fideles.

     2.   GOD REST YE MERRY, GENTLEMEN - I SAW THREE SHIPS / SILENT NIGHT -- Small pop near end of God Rest Ye, and one pop on Three Ships.

     3.   O, LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM / O HOLY NIGHT --Small pop at the beginning of O Holy Night, and some light voice crackling about halfway through this song.

     4.   AWAY IN A MANGER / THE FIRST NOEL -- One pop on Away In A Manger.

     5.   CAROLING, CAROLING / O, TANNENBAUM -- Tannenbaum has some play wear to it, but still sounds fine.

     If you have any questions about this item, please feel free to email me.  Also, check out my other auctions going on NOW of various other items of interest (mostly more Christmas singles).  Thanks again for looking...during these most troubled times...

SHIPPING RATES (all rates include cost of shipping materials):

Shipping rates for 7" records

U.S. First Class to Media Mail ***

$ 4.00 1st record. 50 cents per additional.

*** Single 7" packages ship as First Class which only qualify to a light weight. Adding items take the package to Media Mail - a little slower - but economical. If you are adding items and want a shipping upgrade - perhaps to Priority - let me know.

US Priority Mail

$ 8.00 up to 6 singles, $ 1.00 each additional.

Canada

$ 9.95 1st single, $ 1.00 each additional

Worldwide (First Class International)

$ 14.95 1st single ***, $ 2.00 each additional (up to six total).

NOTE: ***SHIPPING UPGRADES ARE REQUIRED ON ALL INTERNATIONAL PACKAGES OVER $ 100 US. (Such as Priority with Tracking, Registered, etc. Rates and services vary by country). Please contact me in advance if you want more specifics.

Cost of postage includes $ 1.50 for shipping materials.

Record Grading:

MINT (10) Perfect! Still sealed albums are presumed MINT, but covers may not be. I will not grade any opened album as "mint", since there's obviously been some handling.

NEAR MINT (9.5) ---- Close, but one or two tiny flaws that do not impact play. Vinyl may have a barely visible scuff mark, but no scratches. Label is bright, clean and unmarked. Covers close to perfect with very minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident.

EXCELLENT (9) ----Disc plays near-perfect. There could be scuffs or a hairline scratch or two that does not impact play. Vinyl is bright and shiny. Label is clean and unmarked. Cover may have some slight corner creases or minor ringwear.

VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS (8) ---- Record handled and played occasionally, but very carefully. Very minor scratches and/or scuffs that should have little impact on the sound quality, or minor label imperfection---noted, but otherwise clean. VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS records may have some light surface noise during quiet passages or between tracks. Covers: one or two minor wear issues such as writing on cover, corner creases, some ringwear, minor staining, etc. (All noted).

VERY GOOD PLUS (7) ----The record has been cared for, but has some minor flaws. Light scratches and/or marks/scuffs that won't make a big impact. Light surface noise here and there, but nothing to overwhelm the listening experience. Covers may have a few minor defects (duly noted). Those who are looking for pristine-only might not be pleased, but most music fans would be happy to have a collectible album in this condition.

VERY GOOD (6)---- The record has been played often with some care, but also a little neglect. Record displays visible surface wear---scratches or scuffs that will cause some minor to perhaps occasionally moderate surface noise. Vinyl could be "dull" at this point and not "shiny', or still perhaps shiny, but then a little more scratched-up. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc. Most music fans would be happy to have a highly collectible album in this condition.

VERY GOOD MINUS (5) ---- Well-played with little luster and moderate surface noise, but skip-free. Lots of scratches/scuffs or fewer but more deeper marks. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork---seam splits, significant ring wear, tears, cuts, taping (all noted). I will only sell RARE "VERY GOOD MINUS" records.

GOOD (4) --- Pretty beat-up with lots of scratches, but not dead yet. Record should still appear not to skip, though it's possible it can. Surface noise is moderate to occasionally heavy. Seam splits are usually a bigger issue around this level with the records better off in a plastic sleeve. I only sell VERY RARE "GOOD" records. They are certainly "good enough" until another copy comes along.

GOOD MINUS (3) --- Even more beat with tons of scratches and LOTS of surface noise. Skips are possible, though I wouldn't intentionally sell a record that does. Given the right moment, fans could probably enjoy a GOOD MINUS record, but might also be irritated by it at times. I will only sell VERY VERY RARE "GOOD MINUS" records. Covers are hanging together by a thread (seams shot) but not intentionally defaced.

FAIR (2) ----FAIR records appear and sound lousy (significant surface noise, horrific scratches). I won't sell these, unless I find something that is SO INCREDIBLY RARE. Expect skipping or a very unpleasant listen. Covers may be defaced, seamless, stained beyond belief.

POOR (1) ---- Unlistenable and undisplayable.

11-15-15