Strauss - Horn Concerto; Mozart - Clarinet Concerto. SAX 2536 Magic Notes

	£		105
	$		125

Composer(s): Strauss, Richard;  Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

Titles: Strauss - Horn Concerto No. 1 in E Flat Major, OP. 11

            Mozart - Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622

Performance: Myron Bloom (Horn);  Robert Marcellus (Clarinet)  with The Cleveland Orchestra Conducted by George Szell

Label: Columbia

Catalogue No.: SAX 2536  - An EPIC Recording on the Magic Notes label.

Recording First Published: 1962

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Record Condition: VERY GOOD+

Cover Condition:   VERY GOOD+

Please note that the highest rating after Near Mint (NM) is Very Good + (VG+). I do not use Excellent! (see below).

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LP and Cover Condition Grades (Adapted from Goldmine record price guide publications, with thanks)

Mint (M)   Absolutely perfect in every way. Certainly never been played, possibly even still sealed. Should be used sparingly as a grade, if at all.

Near Mint (NM or M-)  NM records are shiny with no visible defects.  A nearly perfect record. Many dealers won't give a grade higher than this implying (perhaps correctly) that no record is ever truly perfect.

The record should show no obvious signs of wear. A 45 RPM or EP sleeve should have no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling.

An LP cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits or other noticeable defects. And of course, the same should be true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves and the like.

Very Good Plus (VG+)  

A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it has been played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it.

Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experiences. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are "OK".

The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The centre hole will not have been mis-shapen by repeated play.

Covers and inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. A small amount of ring wear may be visible.

In general, if not for a couple things wrong with it, this would be Near Mint. All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a Very Good Plus record highly acceptable.

Very Good (VG)  

Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable and light scratches present that will affect the sound (ticks). Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached.

VG Covers will have more signs of wear such as minor seam splits. The most common areas for seams to split are the bottom centre, the middle of the spine and at the upper and lower right where the record is removed from the cover. Also minor writing, tape or stickers will detract from the cover. Other signs of handling will be more evident, such as ring wear that affects the entire cover to a minor degree, in VG when compared to VG+.   However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.

Good (G), Good Plus (G+)  

Good does not mean Bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear.
A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object.

LPs in this category are common to find. You'll probably find another copy in better shape eventually. Maybe it would be better to pass it up! But, if it's something you have been seeking for a long time and the price is right, get it...but keep looking to upgrade.

Poor (P), Fair (F)  

The record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and writing. The LP cover barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split, crinkled, and written upon. Only the most rare of records in this condition sell!