Mosaic: 66 lps Commodore Records: Volumes I, II, & III

$

660

NOTICE:  READ THE FULL DESCRIPTION BEFORE BIDDING
TITLE:  The Complete Commodore Jazz Recordings, Volumes I, II, and III
FORMAT: 66 lps
LIMITED EDITION:  The sets were issued in an edition of 2,500, but the booklets are unnumbered.

MUSICIANS: Cow Cow Davenport, Fletcher Henderson, Stephane Grappelli, Django Reinhart, Eddie Condon, Bud Freeman, Buck Clayton, Freddie Green, Walter Page, Jess Stacy, Teddy Wilson, Lester Young, Chu Berry, Roy Eldridge, Willie the Lion Smith, Jelly Roll Morton, Stuff Smith, Fats Waller, Wild Bill Davidson, Mel Powell, Coleman Hawkins, Art Tatum, Big Sid Catlett, Edmund Hall, Sidney De Paris, Albert Ammons, Hot Lips Page, Doc Cheatham, Billie Holiday, Vic Dickenson, Max Kaminsky, Joe Bushkin, Pee Wee Russell,, George Zack, Muggsy Spanier, Jack Teagarden, Red Norvo, Shorty Rodgers, Slam Steward, Gene Krupa, Charlies Ventura, Don Byas, Jonah Jones, Ralph Sutton, Bob Wilbur, Sidney Bechet, Frank Wess

PROVENANCE:  I bought these three sets used on ebay sometime around 1999 or 2000/

INSPECTION:  I examined each record under halogen lighting.  As I have noted before, I have not had a turntable in many years so I am unable to test defects.  I listened to about five albums in the three sets once and at the time I had a Sota turntable.  Since the mid-90s, I limited most of my listening to cds.  I can't say how much the person who owned these sets before me listened to these records, but based on the condition of the vinyl and absence of obvious fingerprints, I'd say very little.

VINYL CONDITION:  With the exceptions to be noted, the vinyl is in pristine condition.  It is clean, black and shiny.  
Volume III has no problems.  
Volume II has no problems, except Side B of Record Four.  There is a thin scratch that is on Cut 5, not on Cut 6 but on Cut 7.  Whatever happened here happened as a result of the same incident.  The is not deep, but it is there.  I suspect that when played, the record will play through, but I suspect you will hear a click, but no guarantees.
Volume I.  Is the most troubling of the three.  Overall, its vinyl is in very good condition, but several of the records have small brown splotches on the cuts.  When I say small, it almost has the appearance as if someone sneezed on the records--these are generally small droplet-like spots.  I suspect that this is from the manufacturing process because in many instances the spots on side A appear to be in the same position on side B.  I never noticed these until I looked at the records under a bright halogen light.  When I looked at them under another lamp, I had to work to locate them.  But they are there.   Here are the results of my observation. Record 1--Sides A & B--small spots Record 2--Sides A & B--this is the most noticeable records with around 13 Record 3--Side A & B--1 spot Record 4--Side A & B-- 1 spot Records 5, 6, and 7--nothing Record 8--Side B, 2 spots, Side A 1 spot Record 9  Side A & B several spots Record 10--1 spot Record 11--OK Record12, Side B, Cut 6, small brown dirt particle in vinyl.  Probably will clean up Record 13--Side A & B 2 or 3 spots Record 14--Side A & B--1 spot each side, same position Record 15--OK Record 16--OK Record 17-Side A & B, several spots Records 18 and 19, no spots Record 20  Slight dimple in vinyl on cut 4 of Side B--grooves appear to undamaged Record 21--Side A & B, one spot each side Records 22 and 23, no spots
I have tried to be honest, inspecting each record twice.  If you buy and find additional spots, I simply didn't see them or miscounted. 
There is no visible warpage, but I don't have a turntable so I can't watch how they spin. I did examine several of the disks on a sample basis to look for warpage.   In all candor, I may have missed something in the inspection.  There are 66 disks, but nothing was obvious.  It took about 2.0 hours to inspect just the vinyl.
SLEEVES:  The sleeves are the sleeves that typically come with Mosaic sets.  They are in very good condition.

BOX CONDITION:  The boxes are in excellent condition.  As you know, they are black, which means they do show an occasional minor/light scuff mark, but overall, they are in excellent condition.  

BOOKLET:  Each of the three sets comes with a typical Mosaic detailed booklet.  These also are in excellent shape.  The booklet for Volume I does show some slight scuffing.  Volume III also contains a separate discography booklet for all three volumes.  I checked each booklet--no marks, writing, or obvious bends or creases.

REASON FOR SALE:  Change of hobbies

SHIPPING OVERRIDE: Buyer will pay shipping.  I will pay the insurance, but only in the 48 domestic United States.  Foreign and other buyers will pay insurance. In the 48 continental states, I will ship either media or priority mail.  I will calculate the cost and put it on the invoice.  The dollar amount shown in the shipping utility is for one box for one volume.  The price will be approximately three times that amount.  My preference is to ship the volumes in three separate packages.

SHIPPING CONTAINER.  Unless the buyer has a strong objection, I plan to ship each volume in a separate box.  Given the weight, I do not want the volumes putting pressure on each other.  

RISK OF LOSS:  I bear risk of loss if package is lost or destroyed in transit.  In case of damage or loss in transit, you don’t pay, but I don’t have to find a replacement set.  In other words, auction is null and void.  In case of loss, damage, or destruction of package, you agree to cooperate with me in filing the insurance claim.  What that means is that I will file the claim, but the Post Office apparently requires that the damaged package remain with the buyer until the Post Office can inspect it.

Please feel free to submit questions.  

As you might suspect, this is my last Mosaic unless I find the Otis Spann that went missing once I began selling the collection off in December.  I don't even care about the money on that one, I just want to know where it went.  For those who are interested, I am keeping the Django Rheinhart, which is my favorite, the Count Basie with Lester Young because it is still in print and would bring little (plus the music is great), and the Complete Master Jazz Piano because one of the cuts skips as a CD.  As a result of all this craziness, I have been able to buy the camera I wanted (along with lenses) and I still have plenty of music to listen to so I thank all who purchased my Mosaics.

SLIGHT DELAY IN SHIPPING:  My auctions close on Saturday and I ship on Monday.  With this auction, I will not be able to go to the Post Office until Wednesday so there will be a two-day delay in shipping.  This assumes prompt payment.