Strauss Tod & Metamorphosen Klemperer U.K. Columbia Turquoise/Silver STEREO EX

	£		45
	$		60

RARE Original U.K. Turquoise & Silver Label Columbia STEREO pressing of Richard Strauss ‘Tod und Verklarung’ & ‘Metamorphosen’ with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Otto Klemperer (Catalogue Reference: Columbia Records SAX 2437).  Obviously, this is pretty rare.  It features a heavy-duty, flip-back sleeve which is front-laminated.  The stereo designation on the front of the sleeve is in large, lower case.  The vinyl is stored in the original, pictorial, poly-lined EMI inner sleeve.  This is a really solid example of this.

CONDITION: EX (VINYL) / EX (INNER SLEEVE) / EX (SLEEVE): The vinyl has seen some play but I wouldn’t say it has ever seen heavy play.  You should be able to see the labels in the attached images and the spindle-hole is pretty crisp in appearance and these labels are actually quite delicate and show up handling with ease.  There are two light and small surface scuffs on Side Two but otherwise the surfaces really shine and you’re going to need an intense light to see any marking.  Under an intense light I can see a relative volume of the finest, thinnest hairline markings but I really have to look quite hard to see them.  This is due to how the surfaces shine and how fine these markings are.  These marks are likely a by-product of withdrawal of the vinyl from the poly-lined inner.  The obvious flaw to note is that there is a ‘token’ stuck to the label on Side Two indicating that the item is ‘second hand’ and shouldn’t be returned to the manufacturer.  At some point this token was also replicated on the rear of the sleeve but more on this later.  The pictorial inner sleeve is pretty crisp displaying only the kind of bending and creasing which results from being stored inside the sleeve.  I think the inner sleeve reinforces the idea that this copy hasn’t seen very heavy play.  The laminate on the flip-back sleeve still retains a certain sheen.  The more a laminated sleeve is handled the more it dulls.  Aside from a couple of brown spots in the top left-hand corner the rear of the sleeve is still pretty damn white.  There are a couple of minor flaws.  As mentioned above there was a ‘token’ attached to the rear of the sleeve in the bottom right-hand corner which matched the ‘token’ on the Side Two label however, this has long since been removed and has ripped a small amount of the top layer of the sleeve.  The bottom right-hand corner of the sleeve displays a reasonable volume of fraying and has ultimately split by about 5 millimetres.  There is similar damage to the top left-hand corner with a spilt measuring approx. 10 millimetres.  I have a suspicion that this flip-back has come loose at some point and been stuck back down.  There is fraying evident in the remaining two corners but not as substantial.  There are two bends to the spine which has resulted in small laminate bubbles having formed.  What I have just described is a collection of rather minor storage-related damage and it doesn’t detract from what is ultimately a lovely, solid example of this rare Columbia stereo L.P.

GRADINGS – How I Grade

My items are visually graded under an intense light using my nearly 20 years of experience buying and playing records.  I am a record collector first and foremost.  I would say my grading is on the conservative side however, it is also realistic.  Realistic in the sense that sometimes even brand new records are not immaculate.  Some items are play-graded and where this is the case it will be noted in the Item Description.  Please note that it is my assertion that 99.9% of issues which might be experienced upon playback of a record can be identified through visual grading.  I’m a longstanding Ebayer so please feel free to check my feedback if you have any concerns about the quality of the items I list.  As always please review my images if you have any concern about the condition of a sleeve!  A picture speaks a thousand words! 

GRADINGS - Description

MINT – If used to describe the condition of a record the item will be sealed.  Mint will rarely be used to describe the condition of a sleeve however, it will mean the item is sealed and no storage damage is evident.

NEAR MINT – When used to describe a record it will mean that it is hard to discern that the disc has been played.  When viewed under an intense light there might be the odd hairline mark however, you would really have to look hard for it.  Ultimately, the vinyl will look like it has just been made.  When used to describe a sleeve it will mean that the sleeve has no shelf-wear or storage damage.  The sleeve will look like new.

EXCELLENT+ - There will be an indication that the record has seen some play but not heavy play.  When viewed under an intense light only the tiniest, wispiest hairline markings will be present and not excessively so.  The vinyl will retain a great sheen.  A sleeve described as EX+ will display minimal shelf or storage wear including an odd crease or the stubbing of corners, slight fraying to the opening edge.  Ultimately, the sleeve will still be a superior example.

EXCELLENT – There might be an indication that the record has seen a reasonable amount of play and handling however, it has been well looked after.  Superficial surfaces scuffs may be present but no marks of real substance (i.e. which will affect playback).  Under an intense light it is likely that a relative volume of hairline marks are present.  A sleeve described as EX will display shelf or storage wear including creasing, loss of print (due to rubbing), possible stubbing of corners etc.  The sleeve will not display any substantial flaws.  Ultimately, it will be a solid copy.

VERY GOOD+ - I will rarely list vinyl for sale described as VG+.  Any vinyl listed as VG+ will have a detailed condition description included in the listing.  The description VG+ is more often used to describe sleeves.  Often VG+ describes the condition of a sleeve which was of very cheap manufacture (think 1970s EMI sleeves or Polydor late 60s/early 70s) and therefore more prone to display the vagaries of time.  A sleeve described as VG+ will not be a basket case.  It will likely display a reasonable volume of creasing, a reasonable amount of rubbing/stubbing and possible the odd substantial flaw.
Payment is expected within 3 days of auction end.  I am relatively relaxed but if it is expected to take longer to make payment I expect the buyer to be proactive about maintaining a dialogue with me.  Payment is possible via PayPal and Personal Cheque.  Other forms of payment will be considered.
I have had to bring my postage charges in line with Royal Mail Terms & Conditions effective April 2013.  This means items with a start price <=£20.00 and which complete with a price< =£20.00 will be sent via standard post.  Items with a start price >£20.00 will be advertised with insured& tracked postage.  Items which have a start price <=£20.00 but whose final price is >£20.00 will be subject to extra insured postage costs.  Multiple purchases will be consolidated usually at a reduced price to the buyer.  Please don’t make payment until you receive an invoice from me.  If you have special shipping requirements please don’t contact me after you’ve made payment with an extensive (expensive) list.  I would expect such requests to be made prior to payment.  Overseas buyers welcome!  If either domestic or overseas buyers want me to confirm postage charges then please contact me before the auction’s end.  Proof of Postage is always obtained and retained.



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