Ducretet-Thomson DTL-93077 COUPERIN/Trois Lecons De Tenebres – JOUVE/BOUR

$

27

Title: COUPERIN/Trois Lecons De Tenebres – Andre JOUVE/Ernest BOUR (Ruby Collection)

Label: Ducretet-Thomson DTL-93077 Pressing Made in England

Condition: Record:  NM- (play-graded)

Condition: Jacket:  VG++ (Original record inner-sleeve included)

Description:  Superb original heavy weight (200+ grams) London Ducretet-Thomson pressing of a superbly performed series of vocal compositions by Couperin.  The recording is superb with the voices floating in perfect time with the organ and cello.  Make no mistake this is a sensational achievement in sound recording.  Sadly the collaboration between The French Ducretet-Thomson Co. and The Decca Record Co. was short-lived over the period from 1954-1958 but left us with the superb performances impeccably pressed on heavy weight 200+ gram vinyl with the upmost in quality in their production.  The sleeve is laminated on both front and back covers as was characteristic of Decca releases of the period. This London Ducretet-Thomson series of titles was aimed at the high end of the record buying market with a befitting fit and finish.  Alas, the mid 50’s were a time of rebuilding in Europe and England and hence sales of these titles were modest at best making them very rare and collectible.  This copy comes from the collection of Dr. and Mrs. Victor Ruby and is the only copy I have ever seen or am likely to see in future.  A vocal tour de force.  Includes original record inner-sleeve/  Highest recommendations!

History: Like Pye and Philips in the UK, The French Ducretet-Thompson Company were a well known manufacturer of radio and Televisions and began pressing classical music on their own imprint in the early 1950’s.  Initially they had a close relationship with Philips, their first London address being Philips Stanhope House Offices. In May 1954 it was announced from France that Decca was to distribute Ducretet-Thompson records in Britain and the label would be called "London Ducretet-Thompson". Better manufacturing availability at Decca could have been the reason. The first list of titles turned up in October 1954 and continued to 1958.  Their output was aimed at a selective audience and their retail prices were higher that the norm.  Ducretet-Thompson specialized in recordings of French and Spanish music but later branched out into other styles and even recorded visiting US Jazz musicians and Charles Aznavour became one of their big names.

History:  This LP came out of a large collection owned by Dr. and Mrs. Victor Ruby in Atlantic City, NJ.  During the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, Victor has a weekly radio show where he played classical recordings of interest and often interviewed an artist, conductor or composer.  Many artists, including Michael Rabin, Ida Haendel, Artur Rubinstein, among other, stayed at the Ruby House a block from the boardwalk and Atlantic Ocean in Atlantic City, NJ.  Frequently, the artist would give the Ruby’s a memento – often a signed photo or LP to commemorate the occasion.

COUPERIN

TROIS LECONS DE TENECRES

MOTET DE SAINTE SUZANNE

It is our desire that you are completely satisfied with your purchase.
Please understand that this record is likely to be 35-50 years old.  It is likely to have minor flaws. 
If you wish to purchase a Mint, New, Unplayed LP, please look for that description. 
A used record will not be in the same condition as a new or mint one.

The item listed here is from the personal collection of Michael Hobson who founded Classic Records in 1994 and reissued hundreds of rare and collectible recordings as high quality vinyl pressings.  Hobson was a fanatical reissue label owner with a reputation for pursuing the highest quality possible in the mastering, plating, pressing and packaging of Classic Records reissues.  In the same fashion Hobson's pursuit of original pressings was equally fanatical in terms of seeking out the best possible copies and pressings of the legendary records Classic Records chose to reissue over more than 17 years before being sold to Acoustic Sounds.  Many of the records from Hobson's collection are the copies used to compare to the original master tapes during the mastering and cutting process involved in the hundreds of Classic reissues.  These copies, certified to have come directly from Michael Hobson's collection, offer a unique opportunity to own a piece of Classic Record's history which will likely grow in collectability and value over time.

All items from Michael Hobson's personal collection will ship with a letter of authenticity signed by Michael Hobson.

**This item will ship with a letter of authenticity from Michael Hobson that this record comes from the Ruby collection.

--------------
GRADING
(most records are play-graded, and if so indicated above, and have been graded by a sampling of the beginning of both sides of the record)

Still Sealed/New: Never opened...still in original shrinkwrap and brand new....any tears in the shrinkwrap will be noted in description.

 
NM : Played once or twice, no flaws, but a remote ever-so-slight amount of that shiny luster may be gone.  Jacket will be virtually flawless, slightest signs of wear, maybe one bumped corner, or a hint of edge wear.  Shrinkwrap, if still on, may have some stickers on it or minor tearing.

 
VG++: (eBay equivalent: EX) Record may have some marks (very, very light scratching or some light sleeve scuffing) that may sound briefly in a quieter passage.   The jacket may have the very lightest signs of ring wear, some light corner or edge wear, maybe an old price sticker or two, that should peel off with the proper guidance.

 
VG+: Record will have some light marks (light scratches and light sleeve scuffs), and it might make an occasional pop or crackle in parts, but will not even come close to overwhelming the listening experience.  Still a very desirable grade.. As for the jacket, it will start to show more signs of wear than a VG++ jacket, the ring wear may be slightly  more evident, the edge wear or corner wear may be more defined as well.

 
VG: Record may have several scratches and scuffs, though aside from some popping and crackling, will still be an enjoyable listen. No skips here. The jacket will have far more wear than the previous grades, such as:  edge wear to the point of some seam splitting(the kind that can be repaired with tape or other means), ring wear(not terrible, but still distracting from the image), edge and corner wear, minor writing or a few stickers, or other similar defects.

 
VG- : Not terrible, usually represents 1 or 2 "ugly" marks or scratches, might be a little sketchy in a few spots, other than that would fair as a VG record.  The jacket will show significant wear - ring wear, seam splits(still should be able to be taped up for repair), some writing and/or stickers, edge and corner wear, or other similar defects.

 
Good/Fair/Poor: Filler only, not recommended for listening.

___________________________________________________
Thank you for visiting our eBay shop...

Refund Policy:
Photos are of actual item up for auction. No returns or exchanges on all items. Items are sold "as is" and cannot be guaranteed against defects of any kind once opened. If an item is not as described, an exchange can be granted for the correct item. Please pose any pertinent questions regarding your item of interest prior to placing your bid.

Packaging:
All records are padded and shipped in special record mailers of hard cardboard made for LPs.  The record is always packed OUTSIDE of the cover.

Shipping & Payments:
We ship worldwide. 

Shipping costs will be calculated after the winning bid is submitted to ensure that costs are accurate depending upon resident's address, the item's weight and type of shipping service.

Combined shipping is available.
Multiple purchases can be consolidated into one shipment. Items must be paid together in a single transaction for the combined rate to apply. Please request an invoice at the end of the auction, so that we may provide you with the discounted shipping rate. We suggest that you wait for us to invoice you first because more than likely your international shipping cost will be reduced from eBay's shipping calculator once we verify the actual weight and adjust the shipping price.

State tax will be charged to California residents. These costs will be included in your final invoice for payment.

Payment must be completed within 7 days of purchase or auction win. Items ship within 2 business days of receiving cleared payment.

Shipping Services:

-Domestic Flat Rate*
USPS Media Mail: $4.00 (2-9 business days/ Includes Delivery Confirmation)
UPS Ground : $10.00 (1-5 business days/ Includes Tracking Number)

*Domestic flat rates are for 1-2 LPs (<2lbs.) Please add $2 for each additional LP.

-International**
USPS Priority Mail (6-10 business days/ Includes Tracking Number + Insurance)
USPS Express Mail (3-5 business days/ Includes Tracking Number + Insurance)

**Please refer to the shipping calculator for approximate international shipping rates.

Note for International Buyers
For customs purposes, all items will be declared at closing auction price. Custom delays could be expected on high priced items. Duties and taxes are the responsibility of the buyer.

Customer Service
We appreciate our customers. If you have questions regarding any of our items, please feel free to contact us. Questions are generally answered within 24 hours. We appreciate 5 star feedback and will do our best to work with you to earn it. Those who leave positive feedback will receive it in return.


Happy shopping!