2 ONE SIDED PRIVATE TEST PRESSINGS VICTOR 3039 (NOT ISSUED) Bori & McCormack

$

40

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Description for TWO ONE SIDED 10" 78 RPM RED TRANSLUCENT VINYL PRESSINGS VICTOR #3039

Artist:  Spanish soprano LUCREZIA BORI and Irish tenor JOHN MCCORMACK sing in English, with orchestra accompaniment.

3039 A:  NIGHT HYMN AT SEA (Hemans-Thomas), recorded December 24, 1925.

3039 B:  INTO THE WOODS (Schumann, op. 34, no. 3), recorded December 18, 1925.

Remarks:  These records were found with unmarked labels or sleeves.  Stamped on the lead-outs is 3039A (or B), and the Victor symbol for an electric recording; VE in a circle.  Both 78opera.com and the DAHR notes that #3039 was an unpublished Victor Red Seal.  Although never released, the DAHR notes that "John Bolig's Red Seal vol. 2 notes that copies of the unissued disc are extant."  And that's what these are, copies of the matrixes used for that record.  They were released by various record companies on CDs in the 1990s.

To confirm this, I found both duets on YouTube, and sure enough, these are those songs.

These were obviously pressed from an original master (the stampings prove this), but there is no telling by who, for whom, or when.  The collector, noted below, had many test pressings for both IRCC and HRS, but there's no indication on any mainstream discography that notes these matrixes were issued by any of those two companies.  So the mystery as to their origin and purpose remains.

Condition:  The records have no scuffs or scratches. 

Sound:  My needle did not like these records and did not track well.  I added a little weight to the tone arm, and that helped.  I added more weight (3 grams) and the needle tracked beautifully.  Both have a momentary "swishing" surface noise at their beginnings, which soon disappeared.  The music is loud and clear.  There were no ticks.

Label:   They are blank.

Sleeve:  Collector's sleeves have no tears or splits. I wrote the song information on each for reference. 

Records are graded using eBays’s grading scale, based mostly on the record’s surface appearance.  Grading is conservative but subjective.  Records are only moderately cleaned for photos and testing. Sound conditions are detailed above, and only very poor (or very good) sound may affect grading.  Labels and sleeves are not graded; see photos for those details.  Records are tested on an inexpensive, but modern, Crosely portable phonograph.  *Sometimes a small weight (1.5g) is added to the tone arm to enhance playback and tracking.

MINT:  A new record, sealed, or possibly never played.                  

NEAR MINT:  A used record that looks new -- shiny -- with negligible wear.

EXCELLENT:  May have some light scuffs and/or scratches, but still has most of its shine.

VERY GOOD PLUS:  Has some wear and may appear a little cloudy with light scuffs or scratches, but still has some shine.

VERY GOOD:  Record is quite cloudy, and/or has a few deeper scratches.

GOOD PLUS:  Record looks very cloudy, and has a deep scratches or other flaws.                      

GOOD:  Record is very worn and gray, scratched, or flawed, but is still playable.

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