E Berliner's Gramophone 7 Inch 78 RPM Record 1759 "Abide With Me" S Porter 1897
$
239
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Description
Collectors, here is an incredibly rare disc, E Berliner's Gramophone 7 inch #1759. Baritone Steve Porter sings "Abide With Me", with piano. Record has the date "JUL 30 1897" at the bottom of the label. The record has an announcer and plays amazingly well, there is some surface noise but it is not excessive, you will be pleased overall. Of course, this is early in the era of recorded sound, Mr. Porter sounds "nasal" and the piano sounds like a modern toy piano.
Mr. Berliner marketed the first disc phonograph records, from 1894 to 1900. He was tricked out of his patents and company and relocated to Montreal. According to Mr. Sherman's reference book "Collector's Guide to Victor Records" (book written in 2010): "Slightly fewer than two million Berliner records were sold in the U.S. between 1994 and 1900...It is probably safe to assume that only around 1% of the original issue survives, and many of the surviving examples are now in institutions, archives and libraries". The printed (not handwritten) label is in line with Mr. Sherman's specifications for a 1897 Berliner record. His book also has a chart that shows that about 1,600,000 of the 2 million Berliner records were issued in 1898, 1899, and 1900. Total production of records in 1897 appears to be less than 250,000.
As for rarity: off the charts. Probably even more of these records are now put away in places that will never sell them. As I list this, there are only a few Berliner records for sale on eBay from sellers in the USA.
If this is what you like and want, jump on this, the chances of you finding another one are not good. Reasonable buy it now price given what this is, go for it!!
P.S.: I received my October 2021 Nauck's record auction catalog. Among the thousands of records offered, there are only seven Berliners like this one! Minimum bid is $250.
Shipping to USA addresses only. $5.00 first class postage and handling fee, record will be carefully packed and shipped in a new box. Please pay within 24 hours of purchase and I will leave you positive feedback when I ship the record, your positive feedback appreciated!! See my store for other early 78s and thanks for looking!!
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