Elvis Presley, "Golden Records," 1st Indy Press 1958 1S/2S, Complete w/Card WOW

$

103

Elvis Presley, "Golden Records," 1st Indy Press 1958 1S/2S, Complete w/Card! WOW!!

It's fair to call this a "rare" sample of this album because it comes complete as it did in late March of 1958. It has the original inner sleeve and, more importantly, the original mail-order insert that offered fans the opportunity to send in for free photos of Elvis. As this album prepares to turn 68 years old, there are very few of these around still in this condition.

The 1st edition cover is in excellent condition, with only a thin crease on the upper-right, front slick, and a small ding at the top of the backside (see pics). It otherwise retains its very vibrant colors and is clean throughout. The spine is solid and legible, and the edges are well-preserved.

Finally, the record is a true 1st pressing, with 1S and 2S stamped into the deadwax! It is in truly excellent condition. A few sleeve wisps and marks, but only small, superficial blemishes. It is a heavy, rigid record pressed by RCA in Indianapolis. It appears very clean and has most of its listenable life still ahead. The labels, likewise, are excellent with just a few smudges. There is virtually no discernable spindle wear, and they are very clean!

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Stay classy, and thanks for stopping by!

Grading

L.P.: Excellent

Cover: Excellent

Labels: Excellent+

Grading Scale (Albums graded visually. Will gladly play-grade upon request.)

Mint (M): Sealed only, with no signs of handling, damage, or wear to the cover. Such vintage albums hardly exist in my opinion.

Near Mint (NM): Virtually flawless, appearing mirror-like in unplayed condition and with no damage to the cover.  Labels will likewise be free of spindle marks. (Unplayed records cannot, by definition, have spindle marks!!!!)  There will be virtually no background noise, like loud pops or ticks, and will have a “just opened” sound. Although nearly all vintage records have some degree of insignificant warpage, NM L.P.'s will display only minimal amounts.

Excellent (EX): Still free of any significant defects, with only superficial flaws.  Such albums will show some minor signs of play and storage, but minimal wear, plenty of shine, and will still be considered in “collectible” condition. Background noise will only be audible during quieter portions of the album, if at all, and will not be prominent to the point of affecting sound quality.  Labels may have none, to only a few, spindle marks and covers will have only minor edge and corner wear, or discoloration.

Very Good (VG): An album that has obvious signs of wear, perhaps slight warpage, but plays through without skips, jumps, or long repetitive ticks.  It will be entirely playable with moderate background noise.  Covers might have small stains, edge, spine and/or corner wear.  Vinyl will have surface level scuffs that may affect playback but still allows the music to shine through.  Unlike most sellers, a grade from me of VG does NOT mean that the album is trash.  It will still be a “very good” listen.  

Good (G): An album that has had a full life but is still worth listening to.  Sound quality will be diminished by background noise, and perhaps some loud pops and skips.  Covers and inner sleeves will have stains, tears, or other signs of damage, but will still adequately protect the vinyl and acceptably present the original artwork. Labels will be diminished by spindle marks and other forms of damage.

Poor (P): An album on which the surface noise and skipping is too distracting to listen too enjoyably, and that has a cover with major stains, tears, or other significant defects.  I will sell an album in this condition ONLY when it is highly collectible because of its age and/or rarity.

(+/-): I will use plus or minus designations freely to nuance the grading of each album, and to bridge the gap in describing albums that fall in between grades.

 PLEASE NOTE:

1. I seek to grade ACCURATELY and strictly according to the grading scale above. Proper grading is my top priority. I am a grading “literalist,” and I strive to be as precise as possible. My ultimate goal is to be among the best record graders on eBay.
2. All records are cleaned on a VPI 16.5 using a 3-step, enzyme-based process.
3. All L.P.'s will be shipped separately from their cover's and placed in a replacement sleeve. They will also be well protected in an outer poly sleeve and safely packaged with more than adequate cardboard reinforcement. (No worries here, I promise.)
4. Sealed albums cannot be returned if opened, partially or completely.
5. I am not a wholesale collector or a large-scale seller. I’m just an average dude who loves vintage vinyl and has been collecting for many years. Be assured that I will always strive to be as accurate as I can with the grades I assign. I know how important that is to us vinyl enthusiasts, and how frustrating it is when albums come over-graded! If you disagree with my grading upon receipt, please contact me immediately for a resolution before leaving negative or neutral feedback.