Victor 584 GEORGE W. JOHNSON Laughing Coon

$

36

Victor 594 by GEO. W. JOHNSON  recorded in 1903, is an important early recording indeed. George W. Johnson may not be a household name, but he has a singular place in music history -- the former slave and New York City street performer is, according to most accounts, the very first African-American recording artist. Johnson was born to freed slaves, sometime in the early 1840s. He was an actual slave in Virginia, but was freed in 1853 and lived through the Civil War. He drifted to New York in the 1870s and attracted small bits of money whistling on ferry boats for a living, which is how he was discovered and recorded. Johnson led a controversial life and was also accused of killing and murdering his alcoholic girlfriend. His trial was quite a sensation in the early 1900s
 Johnson tracked a rendition of "The Laughing Coon ( a genuine Minstrel tune)," as early as 1891 ( 1903 version offered here) , that recording helped give birth to what we now know as the record industry.  ....nice EE- copy for a 109 year old record!
  PLEASE READ OUR GRADING AND SHIPPING INFO BELOW  NOTE: Do not pay until you have been invoiced by us! PAYMENTS BY PAYPAL ONLY...PLEASE DO NOT BID WITHOUT A PAYPAL ACCOUNT  GOT RECORDS TO SELL OR CONSIGN?? - CHECK OUR HISTORIC MUSIC WEBSITE FOR INFO!!
                   
           NOTE: WE GRADE VISUALLY UNLESS THERE IS A DEFECT WHICH REQUIRES US TO PLAY THE RECORD TO PROPERLY GRADE IT ( like a needle dig of bad crack)
 - we follow the standard 78 rpm VJM/JJJ grading system:
N- = like new (a 9 1/2 to 10 out of 10!), E+ = a virtually perfect copy with only minor signs of having been played ( a 9 out of 10), E = very slight signs of wear, maybe some minor scuffing and/or light scratches but a very clean copy with little groove wear ( 8 out of 10),E- = slightly above average copy, some groove wear and minor blemishes but a very decent copy ( a 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 out of 10), VG+ = an average copy, signs of use, some groove wear but still a decent copy ( 5-6 out of 10), VG = wear, scuffing, light scratches but a very playable copy ( 4 out of 10), VG- getting scary!...will play but is quite worn ( 3 out of 10), G+ = a playable copy but very very worn ( 2 out of 10), G through G- = in the words of my pal RUSS SHOR " a wall hanger!" P = a hunk of shellac which once might have been a phonograph record!

SHIPPING
our standard domestic shipping method is media mail with a delivery receipt
We use a BRAND NEW strong box, new cardboard packers, peanuts, and labels...we buy this material in large batches and must pay substantial trucking fees to get the material delivered to the rural island we live on. PLUS we pay a packer. MEDIA MAIL FOR ONE 10 or 12 inch 78 is $7.08 for our materials and packing, each additional item is .50 cents...If you prefer, PRIORITY ( with delivery receipt ) is $10 for the first item and $1 for each additional.CANADA is $11 for the first item and $1 for each additional up to 4 pounds. Above 4 lbs we will advise you as to the S&H with your invoice. ...EUROPE / UK & MOST OTHER COUNTRIES is $21 for the first disc and $1 for each additional up to 4 lbs ..then we will advise..INSURANCE IS UP TO YOU AND MUST BE CALCULATED BY YOU....if your item is lost or broken in the mail and you DO NOT have insurance we ARE NOT LIABLE to repay you......