***SIGNED*** EARL WILD LP -- Tchaikovsky No. 1 -- HOWARD HARRINGTON Provenance
$
56
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Description
This 12-inch 33 RPM LP contains Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor" played by pianist Earl Wild with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Anatole Fistoulari. And it is, according to the labels, Record # 3 from the 1964 Reader's Digest boxed set titled "Treasury of Great Music."
What's interesting, however, is not the content, but the packaging and the provenance, so let's dig a bit deeper into that.
First, the record has been separated from the rest of its boxed set and sleeved in a plain white cover with a 6-1/2" x 6-1/2" pasted-on label that accurately describes the content as follows: "Pianist Earl Wild with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Anatole Fistoulari Conducting - Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor." And in the upper left corner is the signature "Earl Wild." And, although I have no provenance, I have no reason to doubt the signature's authenticity.
Also on the front of the cover is the smudged ownership signature "Howard Harrington", and that name comes up again on the ex-library sticker on the cover's lower left corner. Further research reveals that Howard DeWitt Harrington was manager of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra from 1951 through 1971, so he and Earl Wild probably crossed paths at some point. After Harrington died in 1974, the record's provenance or chain of title seems to have passed from his widow, Edna Merritt Harrington, to Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, from where it was at some point discarded into the public marketplace. The full text of the ex-library sticker on the cover reads "Bowdoin College Library. A gift of Edna Merritt Harrington in memory of her beloved husband Howard DeWitt Harrington, whose life was music and who worked tirelessly to share it with others." The markings on the back cover - including a barcoded sticker - appear to be library markings added later.
The record looks to be in lightly used and worn condition, still nice and shiny, but with a few surface scuffs and scratches and manufacturing blisters. I've played both sides on my Audio-Technica turntable, and there were no skips or jumps and mostly just negligible to lightly audible background noise, with some scattered pops or clicks of light ticking. Because of variations in tracking ability, filtering technology and needle weights, I can offer no guarantees as to how well it will play on your equipment.
The cover is in solid and functional condition, with the seams all intact, and just typical light surface soiling and edge wear. It comes with a clear plastic inner sleeve.
Please see our seller list for other records with similar provenance or connections to Howard DeWitt Harrington.
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