Throwing Muses original 1984 Stand Up ep mint plus more

$

676

This is one auction for four items, all very early, rare and collectable Throwing Muses releases.

An original, mint condition 1984 Stand Up ep.
An original, mint condition 1985 Doghouse cassette.
An original, mint condition 1985 Fish flexi, with fanzine.
An original, mint condition 1989 Stand Up ep fanclub reissue.

If you’re a keen Throwing Muses collector and/or fan, you’ll know how infrequently these items come up on eBay. To get all four in one auction is unprecedented, and a unique opportunity.

I’m also selling a number of other Throwing Muses & Kristin Hersh rarities, please see my other auctions and look at the Q&A below for advice. I’m happy to answer questions by email.

Stand Up ep
The holy grail of TM collectors.
Self-released by the band in 1984 on ‘Blowing Fuses’. Around 100 copies are thought to exist, and are VERY hard to come by. This one is in magnificent condition, which is also rare – the sleeve isn’t frayed or creased, despite being oversize (10” for a 7” record). Also there are no markings on the sleeve, beyond some natural slight colouring due to age – it’s as good as they ever get. (Some of the sleeves were hand-coloured by the band, this one isn’t.) The vinyl is also in perfect condition, with no scratches or marks. (For a recent guide price, please see eBay item 200075555520, which despite some minor marks to the sleeve went for £202 (approx $394).)

Doghouse cassette
The recording that secured the 4AD deal.
Also self-released by the band in 1985. These recordings were later re-released on the ‘In a Doghouse’ CD (1998), but this original cassette is still scarce and highly collectable. Both sleeve and cassette are in great condition. If you’re unfamiliar with this item, the cover image may look ‘lopsided’ – it’s not, this is the way the band designed the insert. The tape has rarely been played.

Fish flexi
Another early rarity, from before the band had a record deal.
This square red flexi was pressed in 1985 for issue number 2 of Boston fanzine ‘Great Recipes for Hard Times’, dated Oct 1986. (The fanzine is also included in this auction.) Only 3000 of these flexis were pressed, and there can only be a handful still around. Together with the Stand Up ep and Doghouse cassette, this flexi completes the ultimate collection of early TM releases. Fish is accompanied by a Classic Ruins song. Both the fanzine and flexi are in excellent condition, with just some natural yellowing to the fanzine due to age.

Stand Up ep fanclub reissue
The Pink Vaults repressing.
While this isn’t as rare or valuable as the original (what is!), it’s still a limited piece of vinyl. Compared to the original ep, the sleeve here is a folded-over 7” square, in red, with a smaller area of artwork. The condition is very good, for both sleeve and record. (For a recent guide price, please see eBay item 200071317490, which despite a marked sleeve went for £56 (approx $109).)

Q&A
Why not sell each item separately?
Because I have around 60 TM items to sell, I’ve grouped things into a dozen lots to make life easier for bidders. (And for me too – otherwise I’d pay a small fortune in eBay listings, and spend my life going to the post office!) While I appreciate that some bidders may own one or more of these items already, I hope that there are many others who’d love to have all four. You could always consider selling on item(s) if you end up with duplicates.

What’s your reserve price?
Sorry, but I’d prefer not to reveal this. When I’ve done so previously, bidders have then seen it as the maximum they need to offer, rather than the minimum I’m prepared to sell for. The reserve is only there to protect me from parting with these items for less than I want.

Why are you selling these? You must be mad.
Sadly I’m not mad, I’m just getting married. And buying a house. Which means that life has caught up with me and it’s time to sell my lovingly-gathered collection of Throwing Muses rarities. It’ll pay for a wedding photographer. Or a new sofa. Ho hum…


Will post anywhere, via recorded delivery.

Thanks for looking, happy bidding. And remember to check out my other TM/KH auctions!