BOOTLEG LABEL 3X12" ONE SIDED OPERA DISCS 76218/24/25 Feodor Chaliapin Arias EX

$

36

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Description for THREE OPERA DISC ONE SIDED 12" 78 RPM RECORDS

Artist:  Russian bass FEODOR CHALIAPIN sings in Italian on all three, with orchestra accompaniment.  Chaliapin is often credited with establishing the tradition of naturalistic acting in his chosen art form.

74618:  IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (Rossini):  "La calunnia e un venticello" (Recorded by Gramophone April 26, 1912, in Milan)

76224:  LUCREAIA BORGIA (Donezetti):  "Vieni, la mia vendetta" (Recorded by Gramophone October 26, 1912, in St. Petersburg)

76225:  ERNANI (Verdi):  "Che mai vegg'io... Infelice"  (Recorded by Gramophone October 26, 1912, in St. Petersburg)

Remarks:   These U.S. labels bear "pirated" British recordings.  They were recorded by Gramophone, and duly issued on a variety of Gramophone's European  labels.  However, during World War I, the German branch of the Gramophone Company was seized by the German government as an "enemy concern."  After the war, the British company tried to regain its former subsidiary, with no luck; it had already been sold to Polyphon, and for some reason this sale could not be nullified. Therefore, there was the paradox -- exceedingly bitter to the Gramophone Co. -- that duplicates of many of its best masters were held by a totally foreign company.  Some of the high-class ones were offered on the international market by Polyphon.   In New York, the Opera Disc Company took them up.  Pressed in Germany and shipped to the U.S., they appeared in 1921 and continued until 1923, when legislation by Victor drove them out of business.  All out-standing Opera Discs were seized and handed over to Victor.  (Thanks to normanfield.com for the info). 

Condition:  All three records are in very similar condition;  somewhat grey with wear with a scattering of micro-blisters, and some light scuffs, mostly near the edges.  There's a small gouge on 25. 

Sound:  Surface noise is very, very low on all three, which surprised me; Chaliapin's expressive singing, and the orchestras, are very clear.  I heard a few ticks on each one; 25 had the most. 

Label:  The labels bear Gramophone catalog numbers.  These matrixes were never released in the U.S. by Victor, making them very rare here.  (78opera.com)

Sleeve:  The first sleeve has some top tears and is beginning to split at the bottom.  The other two are fine.

Records are graded using eBays’s grading scale, based mostly on the record’s surface appearance.  Grading is conservative but subjective.  Records are only moderately cleaned for photos and testing. Sound conditions are detailed above, and only very poor (or very good) sound may affect grading.  Labels and sleeves are not graded; see photos for those details.  Records are tested on an inexpensive, but modern, Crosely portable phonograph.  *Sometimes a small weight (1.5g) is added to the tone arm to enhance playback and tracking.

MINT:  A new record, sealed, or possibly never played.                  

NEAR MINT:  A used record that looks new -- shiny -- with negligible wear.

EXCELLENT:  May have some light scuffs and/or scratches, but still has most of its shine.

VERY GOOD PLUS:  Has some wear and may appear a little cloudy with light scuffs or scratches, but still has some shine.

VERY GOOD:  Record is quite cloudy, and/or has a few deeper scratches.

GOOD PLUS:  Record looks very cloudy, and has a deep scratches or other flaws.                      

GOOD:  Record is very worn and gray, scratched, or flawed, but is still playable.

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