Velvet Underground & Nico LP, "1968 Stereo" cover w/intact banana, Beautiful
$
585
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Description
Up for bids: this lovely early specimen of "The Velvet Underground & Nico" (1967), Verve V6-5008 (Stereo). This auction also includes a free custom made frame for displaying the record as a work of art on your wall.
I bought this album at a used record store in San Diego in 1974, and I can attest that it is in the exact same condition now as the day that I added it to my collection 39 years ago.
Considering it is 45 years old, this album is in exceptional condition. The front cover (known to collectors as the "1968 Stereo" variant) is clean and white as can be, has no snubbed corners or noticeable creases, and has only very minor surface wear on the reverse side (see photos). (I've always kept this treasure in a protective poly sleeve.) The banana sticker is fully intact. The cover's edges are also all intact, and I will make sure they stay that way when I pack the record for shipping. The cover's only significant mar is that, on the reverse side, there is a scratch at the bottom right that runs parallel to the spine (see photo). Also, as you can see, the two edges of the gatefold cover do not line up exactly. (This was very common with gatefolds from the '60s.) The lettering on the spine is also slightly off-center, but you can still read it with no problem. The inner sleeve is not torn, but it is very crinkled, and yellowed with age. It is, however, the sleeve that originally came with the record, so I never replaced it. For shipping, though, I will place the vinyl in a brand new poly-lined inner sleeve.
The vinyl is also in excellent condition for its age. The surface has no scratches, though there are a couple of visible blemishes on Side 1 on the songs "Femme Fatale" and "Venus In Furs," but there is no audible noise associated with them. Verve records from the 1960s were rather notorious for being noisy during playback. This record plays as quietly as any old Verve I've ever heard, though there are normal clicks and pops throughout, and there is some crackling in the audio in the higher frequencies. I've never found any of this to diminish my listening enjoyment, though.
For the serious collectors out there, I should mention that, for some unknown reason, the label on the record does not go with the "1968 Stereo" cover. The label is known as the "Hollywood" variant, and it dates to 1969, one year later than the cover.
Regarding the frame - these were custom made in the 1970s specifically for displaying record albums like framed art, and since the cover of this album actually IS a signed work of art by Andy Warhol, it looks pretty darned cool hanging on your wall (see photo). I should make it clear, though, that the album cover is NOT mounted in the frame, or physically attached to it in any way. You put the cover in the frame yourself (it slides easily in and out at the top). In fact you can display any regular-thickness LP in this frame - it doesn't have to be this record specifically.
Also, you don't have to take the frame if you don't really want it. It's just a little something extra that I thought would be nice to offer to the winning bidder.
Finally, there is a reserve price of $225 on this auction. I don't like reserves, myself, but that seems to be the average amount that this record in this condition sells for on eBay, so I think that's fair.
Domestic shipping with delivery confirmation and full-value insurance is free; international shipping varies by country. I pack my records very carefully, with cardboard mailers that are custom made for shipping record albums. As I mentioned above, I put the record itself in a new poly-lined inner sleeve and pack it in such a way as to prevent the record from busting through the edges of the cover during shipment. (That is the #1 way records get damaged in the mail.) I want to make sure this album gets to you in exactly the same condition you see it in the photos.
GUARANTEE: If you are not 100% satisfied with this item when you receive it, return it to me by insured USPS Priority Mail (or USPS Global Express Mail) within 7 business days in its original condition and packaging, and I will refund the full amount of your high bid. I do my best to describe any defects I see/hear (see description of condition above), but in lieu of my money-back guarantee, I will not compensate the buyer for defects they may perceive in the cover or record after it has left my hands. (In other words, no partial refunds.) If you don't like the record as is, you return it according to the terms stated above, and you get your high bid price back, it's as simple as that. If this item is lost in transit or damaged by the shipping carrier through negligence, however, the guarantee as stated above is void, and you must file an insurance claim with the shipper yourself in order to obtain compensation.
California residents pay 7.25% sales tax on the final bid amount.
I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have, but please read the description thoroughly before asking.
Thanks for your consideration!
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