MUSHROOM CEREMONY MAZATEC INDIANS ethnic Folkways NM LP

$

661

Artist: MARIA SABINA

Title: MUSHROOM CEREMONY OF THE MAZATEC INDIANS OF MEXICO

Label: FOLKWAYS (FR 8975)

Released: 1957

Cover: EX (bc/light cw/small cc/light rw)

Record: NM

Description: Like new first pressing of this sought after Folkways release; a landmark in the history of psychedelic research. Includes original stapled booklet with translations & background info. No reserve.

Wasson's studies in ethnomycology began during his 1927 honeymoon trip to the Catskill Mountains when his bride, Valentina Pavlovna Guercken, a paediatrician, chanced upon some edible wild mushrooms. Fascinated by the marked difference in cultural attitudes towards the fungus in Russia compared to the United States, the couple began field research which led to the writing of Mushrooms, Russia and History published in 1957.

In the course of their investigations, they mounted expeditions to Mexico to study the religious use of mushrooms by the native population. They became the first Westerners to participate in a Mazatec sacred mushroom ritual. In 1957, they published a Life magazine article (Seeking the Magic Mushroom), bringing knowledge of the existence of psychoactive mushrooms to a wide audience for the first time. Through his collaboration with Roger Heim, the mushrooms were subjected to scientific study, and Albert Hofmann, using material grown by Heim from specimens collected by the Wassons, identified the chemical structure of the active compounds, psilocybin and psilocin. Two species of mushroom, Psilocybe wassonii Heim and Psilocybe wassonorum Guzman were named in honor of R. Gordon Wasson.

"HERE IS A SHAMANIC PERFORMANCE COMPLETE. DR WASSON, A PIONEER IN THE STUDY OF THE ROLE OF MUSHROOMS IN RELIGIOUS RITUAL, GIVES US A TRANSCRIPTION OF AN AUTHENTIC "CONSULTATION" OF THE SACRED MUSHROOM, IN SOUND. THE OCCASION WAS THE ILLNESS OF A YOUTH. THE MUSHROOM, THROUGH THE MOUTH OF MARIA SABINA, A FEMALE SHAMAN, DECREED THAT THE BOY MUST DIE. HE HEARD THE BAD NEWS AND DIED DAYS LATER. DR. WASSON TAPED THE ENTIRE VELADA. DR. WASSON IS ABLE TO PROVE THAT THE WORDS AND UNDOUBTEDLY THE CHANT ARE PRE-CORTES, GOING BACK FOR MANY CENTURIES. NOTHING LIKE THIS RECORD HAS BEEN DONE FOR THE NEW WORLD; IT IS RIVALED IN THE OLD WORLD ONLY BY THE VEDIC CHANTS OF INDIA".

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ALL ALBUMS ARE ORIGINAL PRESSINGS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

GRADING:

All records are play graded conservatively - I have never had a record returned due to bad grading (and I'd like to keep it that way).

NEAR MINT (NM): Like new.

EXCELLENT (EX): Otherwise near mint but has slight cosmetic flaws that don't affect play. Close to perfect, with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident. The cover might have light ring-wear or minor denting to a corner, but should look close to new.

VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+): The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve, a slight scratch that does not affect play, or some of the original luster may be lost.

VERY GOOD (VG): Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise. Cover has heavy ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains.

VERY GOOD MINUS (VG-): Vinyl may have numerous scratches including heavy scratches that will tick, heavy surface noise. The cover might have large seam splits, tears, or writing on the cover that obscures the artwork. I usually don't list records in this condition unless it is an extremely rare title.

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GRADING ABBREVIATIONS:

auto: autographed / bc: bent corner / cc: cut corner / coh: cut out hole / cw: cover wear / H20: water damage / nap: not affecting play / obc: on back cover / ofc: on front cover / ol: on label / re: reissue / rw: ring wear / saw: sawmark / soc: sticker on cover / sol: sticker on label / sps: split seam / ss: still sealed / sw: seam wear (not split) / toc: tear on cover / tol: tear on label / ts: taped seam / wlp: white label promo / woc: writing on cover / wobc: writing on back cover / wol: writing on label

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SHIPPING:

All records are removed from the outer sleeve before shipping, and packed in a corrugated record mailer with cardboard spacers on either side to prevent damage. I do not use flattened Priority Mail boxes, padded envelopes, pizza boxes, etc. I collect records & know how I would want them shipped to me. I typically ship the day after I receive payment; turnaround time is usually 1 day to 3 days at the most.

For ALL locations double LPs & multi record sets count as 2 or more LPs.

And yes, I do combine shipping for multiple items, see below for prices.

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~ UNITED STATES ~

Media Mail: $4.00 for the first LP & $1.00 for each additional LP. 

Estimated delivery time: 1-3 weeks. I've never had any problems with Media Mail when mailing records (or buying them myself), but please don't ask me when the lp is going to arrive, ok?

Priority Mail: $7.00 for the first lp & $1.00 for each additional LP.

Priority Mail is insured for up to $100.00 & will get to you in 2-4 days. It will also provide a tracking number when the lp is shipped. REQUIRED for albums over $100.00 in value.

Insurance: Available to all US buyers for an additional fee of $2.50.

Registered Mail: Available for an additional $11.00.

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~ CANADA ~

First Class: $8.00 for the first lp & $1.00 for each additional lp.

Priority Mail: $14.00 for the first lp & $1.00 each additional lp. REQUIRED for albums over $100.00 in value.

Registered Mail: Available for an additional $11.00.

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~ MEXICO ~

First Class: $12.00 for the first lp & $2.00 for each additional lp.

Priority Mail: $24.00 for the first lp & $2.00 for each additional lp. REQUIRED for albums over $100.00 in value.

Registered Mail: Available for an additional $11.00.

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~ THE REST OF THE WORLD ~

First Class International: $14.00 for the first lp & $2.00 for each additional lp.

First Class mail can be slow, you have been warned. Expect to wait anywhere from 2-5 weeks.

Priority Mail international: $30.00 for the first lp & $2.00 for each additional lp.

Much faster, provides a tracking number & insurance up to $100. REQUIRED for albums over $100.00 in value.

Registered Mail: Available for an additional $11.00.

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