SAX 2446 -2450 Blue/Silver - Bach - St Matthew Passion - Klemperer EX+ 5 LP set

	£		176
	$		233

SAX 2446 -2450 Blue/Silver - Bach - St Matthew Passion - Klemperer EX+ 5 LP box set      

Having listed many of my rock, jazz, folk etc LP's over recent months, I am now going to thin out my (small) classical collection before I get back to listing more of the aforementioned
These records are all from my personal collection built up over almost 50 years. Some were bought new, others pre-owned so condition will vary. Please do read and understand the detailed description which is my honest personal assessment - you can always check how good or bad that is by checking my feedback. My attempt at grading is based on the commonly used Record Collector grading system. Questions are welcome if anything is unclear. Happy bidding

Bach
St Matthew Passion
Fischer-Dieskau, Pears, Schwarzkopf, Luwig, Gedda, Berry
Philharmonia Orchestra & Choir
Otto Klemperer
Stereo 1962

on Columbia SAX 2446 2447 2448 2449 2450 Ist press blue/silver labels

Includes original box, single page track listing, 32 page libretto booklet, original inners and packaging

Condition:
I have included twelve pictures to help show the condition of these records, so please look at all the photos as well as reading the description.
Cover & packaging:  The records are housed in a box, strong and clean with just minor knocks and scuffs from its 50+ years of use. Colours are still good and there are no stickers (apart from original factory label) or writing. The box also contains some  original packing material - cardboard and tissue paper separators, suggesting that the records have not been removed too often. All records are housed in their original illustrated EMI poly-lined inner sleeves, all in fine condition with no splits, stickers or writing. Also included is the 32 page illustrated libretto and a single card insert detailing the tracks, both in excellent condition.
Labels and stampers: Original issue Columbia blue/silver labels, all beautifully clean and bright with no evidence of spindle marks, no writing or stickers. Excellent. Dead wax mothers and stampers, so far as I can make out, are 1A/1O/1O/1G/1R/1P/1R/1M/1P confirming the early edition and indicating that all records were among the first 1500 or so to be pressed. (only 9 sides are recorded, one is marked 'do not play this side' & the vinyl stamped with Columbia logos)
Vinyl: The vinyl is in great condition. All nine recorded sides have just a small few of the expected faint paper marks, there are no serious marks or scratches anywhere. I just played part of all sides of this set and they play excellently with just an occasional hint of very light background crackle, almost certainly caused by 50 years worth of dust / static. I have never deep-cleaned this copy, so, as with many records of this age, a clean on professional grade equipment might well improve sound quality even more.

Overall:
This is a superb version of this recording, hardly played and in fine condition. I don't like to see the term 'near mint' applied to something of this age, so I'd guess that the set might be professionally graded at (packaging / vinyls) of EX / EX+/EX+/EX+/EX+/EX+

Terms:
Please note that I try to test-play at least part of each record before listing, but do not have time to play fully in all cases. I just played much of this one, but if you do discover a problem which I might have missed, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will do all I can to rectify the situation.

Postage: This whole set will ship at close to 2 kilos so postage will be expensive. It will also need to be signed for and insured to safeguard against loss -

UK £7 - Ebay's arbitrarily imposed ceiling - so I will pay the extra to cover full insurance atc..

Europe £21.55 signed-for and fully insured. 

Rest of world £31.30 signed-for and fully insured.

These amounts are actual Royal Mail cost for first class or air mail

Payment by Sterling cheque / money order, or via Paypal

I have decided to sell my whole vinyl collection as I know it won't be appreciated by my daughter or grandchildren, so I'm shifting it myself and hope I find good homes for it. Listed items are selected at random so there should be a decent if not particularly logical mix coming up over the next few months if you keep an eye on my other items now and in the future.
Thank you to all who have already given new homes to my precious vinyl, and may you continue to enjoy these records for years to come.