BERNSTEIN MAHLER 9 SYMPHONIES LIMITED EDITION 15 LPs

$

427

Title: The Nine Symphonies of Gustav Mahler Leonard Bernstein New York Philharmonic The London Symphony Orchestra

Label: Columbia GMS765 Stereo 14 LPs plus special Gustav Mahler remembered Reminiscenses by Mahler's Associates and by musicians who played under his baton Special Limited Edition number 969

Condition: Record: Mint-: 1LP; NM+: 4LPs; NM: 4LPs; NM to NM-: 4LPs;  NM-: 1LP;

Condition: Jacket/Box: NM

Description: Symphony #8 The Leeds Festival Chorus, LSO, Highgate School's Boys Choir, Spoorenberg, Gwyneth Jones, etc, #4 with Reri Grist Soprano, #3 with Lipton Mezzo-Soprano, Women's Chorus of the Schola Cantorum, Boys' Choir of the Church of the Transfiguration, #2 with Lee Venora soprano and jennie Tourel mezzo-soprano, The Collegiate Chorale.

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References:  The Penguin Stereo Record Guide Second Edition critiques thousands of classical records, particularly European pressings, with some American pressings-often as its European pressing counterpart. Records are judged on a 1 to 3 star basis with a special ‘Rosette’ for truly extraordinary discs.  Johnathan Valin is the author of ‘Living Stereo-The RCA Bible’ in which he critiques the RCA catalog, as well as explaining the record manufacturing process.  James Mitchell wrote The Golden Age of RCA Records in which he discusses and rates the RCA catalog on a 1-10 basis with a 10+ and 10++ for extraordinarily good discs.

RECORD GRADES:

SEALED: Sealed. As collectors know, not necessarily a guarantee of condition.

MINT: Not used by me.

MINT MINUS (Mint-): Used only for a super, super clean looking and sounding disc.

NEAR MINT (NM): A record that is almost perfect, does not have any visual flaws, and  audio flaws limited to a very slight and isolated tick.

NEAR MINT MINUS (<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />NM-): Occassional visual flaws that are non-sounding, and very minimal noise-slight occasional mild tick- that does not intrude on the music (for 99% of listeners).

VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS, VERY GOOD PLUS (VG++,VG+): A record that may have some slight flaws, occasional ticks, very few repeating light ticks, etc. VG+ same as VG++ but more pronounced.

VERY GOOD (VG): May have additional ticks or background noise that is audible in lower and middle volume passages and scratches that cause mild and moderate noise. May be noticeable but generally the music is still appreciable and enjoyable for many listeners. I rarely sell records with this grade unless it is an extremely rare or valuable record with some redeeming value.

I try to grade records fairly and conservatively. I try to mention specific defects as I hear them.  However variation exists in playback systems and even in the ears of different listeners. Some pressings are known to have background noise that are inherent in the original tapes and pressings. Older monophonic records and even new records made from older (78) records or tapes also have inherent noise in them. I play grade all records but cannot possibly listen to the whole program. I do spot check visual flaws as I see them. My system is a Linn LP12-Lingo Turntable with a Graham 2.2 tonearm/Van den Hull  Frog cartridge with Standard Exposure amp-preamp and Thiel speakers. My system is very transparent and reveals a lot of detail in the music which can include surface noise.  A friend of mine who also has a Linn LP12 with Krell amps and Linn tonearm and cartridge routinely grades my records a half to full grade higher than I do. And they actually do sound different (mellower-better?) on his system.  Please check my feedback and you will see customers who are happy with the quality and description of the records purchased.  However I am only human and may occasionally miss something. Therefore I do offer a full refund if not satisfied, less shipping charges of course.

SHIPPING:

Please check out my other auctions. I will combine shipping charges for multiple purchases.

All USA buyers will have packages shipped by Media Mail: $4 for the 1st LP and $1 more for each additional LP with a $.65  charge for delivery confirmation for tracking purposes.

International customers, especially those who pay with Paypal, must have their package shipped with tracking and/or insurance to cover postal mishaps. Air Parcel and Economy Parcel Post (to most countries) have recently begun to include insurance-for $62.84 and up depending on the weight of the package-for no additional charge. Air Parcel is much quicker and my preferred choice. If you want quicker service let me know. Air Letter Post and Air Economy Post are cheaper but do not offer insurance, and sending them with tracking-only available for air letter as registered mail costs an additional $7.90. Having insurance and/or tracking is especially necessary for Paypal buyers who are automatically covered for loss by Paypal’s buyer protection policy.  This means that if the buyer claims they never received the package AND the seller cannot prove delivery was made Paypal will reimburse the buyer from the seller’s account. This happened to me after a buyer specifically requested a cheaper shipping alternative without insurance or tracking, and I was out the full purchase price (plus the cost of shipping). Therefore the requirement for insurance and/or tracking can only by waived by me.

Please note that if a buyer wants to waive their paypal buyer protection they cannot do so

legally at present. So if I agree to ship without insurance or tracking I am taking your word that you will not use your Paypal protection policy. According to Paypal no matter what you say or write in an email if you can still turn around and use the paypal guarantee. I would love to trust everybody and I will occasionally ship without insurance-tracking but only at my discretion. If you have any questions please consult with me prior to bidding. And if you think that there should be a way for a buyer to waive their Paypal guarantee please petition Paypal to make it possible.