12" 78 CROSS OF GOLD SPEECH on GENNETT 40000 Very Rare
$
400
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Description
78rpm WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN on Gennett 40000 "THE CROSS OF GOLD SPEECH"
The most famous speech in American political history was delivered by William Jennings Bryan on July 9, 1896, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The issue was whether to endorse the free coinage of silver at a ratio of silver to gold of 16 to 1. (This inflationary measure would have increased the amount of money in circulation and aided cash-poor and debt-burdened farmers.) After speeches on the subject by several U.S. Senators, Bryan rose to speak. The thirty-six-year-old former Congressman from Nebraska aspired to be the Democratic nominee for president, and he had been skillfully, but quietly, building support for himself among the delegates. His dramatic speaking style and rhetoric roused the crowd to a frenzy. The response, wrote one reporter, “came like one great burst of artillery.” Men and women screamed and waved their hats and canes. “Some,” wrote another reporter, “like demented things, divested themselves of their coats and flung them high in the air.” The next day the convention nominated Bryan for President on the fifth ballot. [Note on the recording: In 1896 recording technology was in its infancy, and recording a political convention would have been impossible. But in the early 20th century, the fame of Bryan’s “Cross of Gold” speech led him to repeat it numerous times on the Chautauqua lecture circuit where he was an enormously popular speaker. In 1921 (25 years after the original speech), he recorded portions of the speech for Gennett Records in Richmond, Indiana. Although the recording does not capture the power and drama of the original address, it does allow us to hear Bryan delivering this famous speech.]
This copy is generally G- to V playing-wise. The first inch or so of the first side is badly damaged with needle wear (F) and although the speech is still audible, the surface noise is very heavy. After that badly worn part of the record, the remainder of side one sounds V-, still a lot of surface noise, but the speech is easily clearly heard. Side 2 is in considerably better shape, V to V+ on the VJM scale below.
Labels are in wonderful condition, one side has white writing on it.
I pack 12" 78's between cardboard, bubble wrap and padding in an approximately 15" x 15" x 5" box which is taped up tightly.
The VJM Grading System
N (78) As new and unplayed (there are virtually no 78s that can categorically be claimed to be unplayed).
N- (78) Nearly Mint, but has been played. No visible signs of wear or damage.
E+ (78) Plays like new, with very, very few signs of handling, such as tiny scuffs from being slipped in and out of jackets.
E (78) Still very shiny, near new looking, with no visible signs of wear, but a few inaudible scuffs and scratches.
E- (78) Still shiny but without the lustre of a new record, few light scratches.
V+ (78) V+ is an average condition 78 in which scuffs and general use has dulled the finish somewhat. Wear is moderate but playing is generally free from distortion. Surface noise not overly pronounced.
V (78) Moderate, even wear throughout, but still very playable. Surface noise and scratches audible but not intrusive.
V- (78) Quite playable still, but distortion and heavy graying in loud passages. Music remains loud in most passages. Surface noise and scratches well below music level.
G+ (78). Grey throughout but still serviceable. Music begins to sound muffled. Heavy scratches.
G (78). Quite seriously worn and scratched, but music level is still higher than surface noise.
G- (78). Music still prominent, but wear and scratch damage extensive.
F (78). Most of music remains audible over surface noise, but listening now uncomfortable.
P (78). Unplayable.
NB: Damage to labels should be noted whenever present
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