V-Disc V Disc 78 WWII Box WW rare UN-OPENED

$

261

This auction is for a rare unopened box of 10 World War II V-Disc 12 in. 78 RPM recordings. The box is labeled “WW V-Disc Phonograph Records” and “This box contains ten assorted 12-inch records and 100 needles for use on any standard phonograph together with one HIT KIT OF POPULAR SONGS.” The label lists the included records as:

• 806. Dvorak Fifth Symphony (Second Movement)
  NBC Symphony—Dr. Frank Black
• 807. George Gershwin Memorial
  The Man I Love
  Swanee
  Embraceable You
  Strike Up The Band
  Someone To Watch Over Me
  Paul Whiteman Conducts
• 808. Dancing In The Dark
  You Are Too Beautiful
  Andre Kostelanetz Orchestra
  Narcissus
  The Peanut Vendor
  Howard Barlow Orchestra
• 809. Readings by Art Ford
  Laura—Harry Bluestone
• 810. Peg O’ My Heart
  Harmonicats
  Buddy Clark
  No Greater Love
  Lynne Stevens
  That’s My Desire
  Frankie Laine
• 811. Bloop Beep—Woody Herman
  Cottontail—Harry James
  Tell Me, Tell Me, Dream Face
  Charlie Barnet
  Tone Bone—Tommy Pederson
• 812. That Old Black Magic – Dick Farney
  National Emblem March
  Ray Bloch and Orchestra
  Peanut Buttter—Peanuts Hucke
• 813. Lady Be Good
  Ella Fitzgerald
  Wedding In Gold—Liederkranz Stars
  Basie Strides Again
  Count Basie and Crew
• 814. A Tribute to Irving Berlin
  All By Myself
  Alexander’s Ragtime Band
  Easter Parade
  Bing Crosby and Al Jolson
  Sitting Under The Apple Tree
  Doris Day
  Just a Little Bit Longer
  Dinah Shore
• 815. Sweet And Lonely
  Eddie Heywood at the Keyboard
  Pretending
  Louise
  Les Paul and Trio

Condition: Because the box is still sealed across the top, bottom, and partially on the sides (one side is split along the top edge and the other is partially split along the top side), I can only assume that it's contents are intact and all records are near mint and unbroken.

Shipping: My plan is to ship the box "as is" in a box large enough to surround it with 4 to 6 inches of styrofoam peanuts. The winning bidder has the option of having me open the box and ship with each record separated by cardboard. If I open the box and any records are damaged, the winning bidder will have their choice of a full refund or partial refund based on the extent of the damage.

Shipping Charges: Within the U.S., the winning bidder is to pay shipping and handling based on 9 lbs. for media mail. Insurance will be extra. International bids are welcome but shipping rate will vary--buyer to pay actual shipping and buyer assumes any additional costs including any related to currency conversion.

Payment Options: Payment can be made by money order, cashiers check, or Paypal. I will contact the winning bidder within 48 hours of the auction end with instructions. Upon email notification of your winning bid, payment should be received within 7 days. I normally ship items immediately upon receipt of payment, but I reserve the right to ship twice weekly.

A Very Brief History of V-Discs

During World War II to boost troop morale, the decision was made to distribute music recordings to the U.S. Armed forces. The ultimate morale booster would be newly recorded music, but, at that time, the American Federation of Musicians was on strike because of a dispute with the recording companies over royalties. Because of this, no new recorded music was being produced. After negotiation, the American Federation of Musicians agreed to volunteer its members’ services on the condition that the recordings not be used for any commercial purposes, that the records not be sold, and that all recordings were to be destroyed after the war. Subsequently, ‘V-Disc’s were recorded and distributed free of charge to the U.S. Armed Forces in the European and Pacific Theaters of Operation. Popular musicians at the time contributed to these recordings, in some cases only recording together on these V-Discs! After the war ended, the Armed Forces set out to honor the original AFM agreement by destroying these records. Eventually this was stopped and, along with discs brought home by soldiers, some of these rare recordings have survived.

For further information, enter “World War II V-Disc” in any search engine. There are a number of websites that give a full history.