Britten / Rostropovich Debussy RARE U.K. 1962 Decca STEREO FFSS Wide Band EX

	£		120
	$		159

RARE, Original U.K. 1962 Black & Silver, Grooved, Wide-Band DECCA STEREO L.P. pressing of Mstislav Rostropovich and Benjamin Britten performing Britten’s ‘Sonata in C For Cello and Piano Op.65’, Debussy’s ‘Sonata for Cello and Piano’ and Schumann’s ‘Funk Stucke Im Volkston’ (Catalogue Reference: Decca Records SXL 2298).  This features a typically thin and flimsy, early 60s Decca U.K. sleeve.  Decca had disposed of the flipbacks by this point.  The front of the sleeve is laminated and this extends around the spine and onto the rear.  The print on the rear can actually be felt if you run your fingers across the sleeve.  The last comment to make regarding the sleeve is the curious spelling mistake with ‘Rostropovitch’ in large print on the front and then the spelling ‘Rostropovich’ seen both on the front (in the top right-hand corner) and the rear.  The record is stored inside a Stereophonic, poly-lined inner sleeve however, I don’t believe it to be original as there is an earlier catalogue reference in the top right-hand corner.  The pressing is weighty with wide-band, ‘grooved’ labels.  The matrixes read ‘ZAL-5296-3W’ (Side One) and ‘ZAL-5297-3W’ (Side Two).  This came from the same place as the unsold shop stock which makes up the bulk of what I currently have for sale.  The owner was clearly an individual of great taste and had assembled a personal collection in the 60s of the best quality pressings they could find.  This is a pretty stunning example of this rare L.P. which has clearly only seen very limited play.

CONDITION: EX (VINYL) / EX (SLEEVE): Like all my items this has been graded under an intense light.  I’d be surprised if this had been played more than a couple of times.  There are no obvious marks here.  Under an intense light sections of the playing surface display a concentration of ultra-fine hairline marks but the bulk of the playing surface is mark-free and this retains a great sheen.  The hairline marks which are present might be a product of a few fingers brushing across the surface but they are just as likely a by-product of withdrawal of the record from the poly-lined inner (personally I always note such fine marks on Decca pressings even when it is obvious that they have never been played).  The sleeve is very crisp.  The laminate really doesn’t look like it was applied over 50 years ago.  The corners are still pretty sharp.  There is a small diagonal crease in the top left-hand corner on the front of the sleeve which is likely a by-product of the spine having been ‘pinched’.  There is a similar crease in the top right-hand corner which is likely a product of this corner having been knocked at some point.  As you can probably see from the attached images the sleeve is very flat which is highly unusual for this type of Decca construction which generally don’t age well.  Perhaps the most obvious flaw is a small tear in the bottom left-hand corner on the rear of the sleeve.  The sleeve has yellowed very slightly on both sides.  In my opinion you will struggle to find a superior example of this sleeve.  Ultimately, a very fine example of a rare Decca STEREO L.P.!

GRADINGS – How I Grade

My items are visually graded under an intense light using my nearly 20 years of experience buying and playing records.  I am a record collector first and foremost.  I would say my grading is on the conservative side however, it is also realistic.  Realistic in the sense that sometimes even brand new records are not immaculate.  Some items are play-graded and where this is the case it will be noted in the Item Description.  Please note that it is my assertion that 99.9% of issues which might be experienced upon playback of a record can be identified through visual grading.  I’m a longstanding Ebayer so please feel free to check my feedback if you have any concerns about the quality of the items I list.  As always please review my images if you have any concern about the condition of a sleeve!  A picture speaks a thousand words!  

GRADINGS - Description

MINT – If used to describe the condition of a record the item will be sealed.  Mint will rarely be used to describe the condition of a sleeve however, it will mean the item is sealed and no storage damage is evident.

NEAR MINT – When used to describe a record it will mean that it is hard to discern that the disc has been played.  When viewed under an intenselight there might be the odd hairline mark however, you would really have to look hard for it.  Ultimately, the vinyl will look like it has just been made.  When used to describe a sleeve it will mean that the sleeve has no shelf-wear or storage damage.  The sleeve will look like new.

EXCELLENT+ - There will be an indication that the record has seen some play but not heavy play.  When viewed under an intense light only the tiniest, wispiest hairline markings will be present and not excessively so.  The vinyl will retain a great sheen.  A sleeve described as EX+ will display minimal shelf or storage wear including an odd crease or the stubbing of corners, slight fraying to the opening edge.  Ultimately, the sleeve will still be a superior example.

EXCELLENT – There might be an indication that the record has seen a reasonable amount of play and handling however, it has been well looked after.  Superficial surfaces scuffs may be present but no marks of real substance (i.e. which will affect playback).  Under an intense light it is likely that a relative volume of hairline marks are present.  A sleeve described as EX will display shelf or storage wear including creasing, loss of print (due to rubbing), possible stubbing of corners etc.  The sleeve will not display any substantial flaws.  Ultimately, it will be a solid copy.

VERY GOOD+ - I will rarely list vinyl for sale described as VG+.  Any vinyl listed as VG+ will have a detailed condition description included in the listing.  The description VG+ is more often used to describe sleeves.  Often VG+ describes the condition of a sleeve which was of very cheap manufacture (think 1970s EMI sleeves or Polydor late 60s/early 70s) and therefore more prone to display the vagaries of time.  A sleeve described as VG+ will not be a basket case.  It will likely display a reasonable volume of creasing, a reasonable amount of rubbing/stubbing and possible the odd substantial flaw.

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