ULTRA RARE NOT ISSUED 1958 UK Decca STEREO 4xtests Queen Of Spades OS25164 - 7 EX,
Item History & Price
Extremely Rare! UK Decca Test pressings for a recording that was not issued in stereo at the time. 4 single-sided ED1 "Pancake" Wideband groove pressings (so half of the opera, up to part way through Act 2), from 1958. Vinyls looks NM and plays EX+ to NM
PLEASE NOTE - you are bidding on original 1950s vinyl - this will not have completely silent surfaces, even when in unplayed condition - but the sound and recording quality is generally excellent. If you are lo...oking for absolutely perfect blemish-free reproduction, please bear this in mind.
The recording was made in the Belgrade Dome of Culture in August 1955, so a very early Decca stereo recording (by Roy Wallace).
4 UK Decca Stereo heavyweight 180g single-sided Factory Test Pressings, from 1958 but never issued.No SXL or OS stereo issue at that time in UK or US, although these tests have London opera numbers OS 25164-67 so a stereo issue was obviously planned for the US market.
The recording was issued on mono on LXT 5179-82 in May 1956 in UK (and XLL 1413-16 in US in 1957), Only eventually issued in stereo (but remastered on 3 discs, on GOS 568-70, with mothers ZAL 8610-15, in April 1969 in UK).
All four are Wide band "pancake" (edge-groove) pressings, so very early stereo pressings (stereo pancake pressings I think all date from 1958)
First four sides, from I assume eight sides of this opera, had it been issued in stereo at that time (I don't have the 4LP LXT set to hand, to check if the music corresponds to those side breaks).Stampers/mothers ZAL 2968-1D, ZAL 2969-1D, ZAL 2970-1D, ZAL 2971-1D
Tchaikovsky Queen of SpadesSung by Alexander Marinkovich, Jovan Gligor, Dushan Popovich, Melanie Bulgarinovich, Valerie Heybalova, Biserka Tczveych, and the Belgrade National Opera Orchestra and choruses, conducted by Kreshimir Baranovich
180g vinyls all appear NM excellent gloss, no marks obvious under bright light. PInk and Blue test pressing labels are NM
Fully play tested all six sides EX+ to NM, with lovely early stereo recording, mostly quiet surfaces, just light "static" background as normal for 1950s vinyl. No wear and no distortion (even on loudest passages at ends of sides), seems hardly played. On side 2 there are some moderate scattered ticks in the first minute of the side, which I think are in the pressing (no signs of scratches or damage) and a few odd light ticks at start of sdei 4, not very disturbing.
Original 1950s "mono-issue" poly-lined inner sleeves with "Sample Record - Warning" stickers across opening edges, all EX with handwritten mother numbers and other information at top corners
More photos available on request
I will combine postage for multiple items (even if ebay says I won't!) - please contact me if you are intending to bid on further LPs.
Payment please within seven days of auction ending; foreign bidders please wait for invoice.
These LPs are all from my personal collection, which has grown much too large, and so I am thinning down, as I won't be able to listen to all of them in one lifetime. I will be putting up for auction mainly classical LPs from the advent of LP in the early 1950s until the 1980s, but principally early stereos (late 50s and 60s), rare repertoire, and often first or early pressings. There will also be some 1960s-80s rock, pop, blues and jazz
The description will state if the LPs have been fully auditioned (for rarer material, or when the visual grading is unclear), spot-auditioned, or if not otherwise stated, just visually graded.For listening tests, stereo LPs are played either on LP12/Ekos/Dynavector Karat17D2 or Garrard 301/SME 3009/Denon DL103R, while monos are tested on Thorens TD160/SME 3009/Denon DL102, all through Quad QC24/Quad IIs/ESL63 system ). Visual grading is under tungsten-halogen spotlight or direct sunlight (when available in England!)A few LPs will have been professionally cleaned, and this will be stated in the description. In my experience, most used LPs will benefit from professional cleaning which reduces background surface noise and often removes many of the pops and clicks, especially when these are due to debris, grease etc on the surface. GRADING (obviously slightly subjective and often dependent on original pressing and vinyl quality) - see description of each LP for more detail. Mint Only used for sealed and unopened records (which may of course have pressing defects which are not visible until unsealed).NM Visually perfect, no scuffs or other marks, and plays without any problems, and barely audible surface noise (depending on date and pressing). No spindle trails on label. Jacket (sleeve) or box will be almost perfect.EX+ The occasional extremely light mark, fingernail scuffs etc that should not make any difference to the sound, possibly a few spindle trails on the label. Playback should be similar to NM. Jacket or box may have very minor defects such as slight creases, or ring-wear but these will be not very noticeableEX Only one or two very minor marks that might give the occasional low level pop or click but no serious scuffs or scratches and the record should play without any distortion or serious problems. Surface noise may be slightly more apparent than NM but still not at all distracting. Jacket or box may have some minor defects, slight distortions or edge knocks, small amount of discolouration or slight laminate peel etc. VG+ Minor surface marks that will give occasional background noise or a few repeating click and pops for a short period, or more noticeable surface noise, but on the whole the record should play without serious problems, and will still be enjoyable to listen to. Sleeve or box may have noticeable defects (laminate peel or loss, small edge splits or repaired tears, staining or discoloration, slight sticker damage etc), but no major tears, losses, or bends.VG: There are marks that will cause some deterioration in the sound, such as repeating clicks from shallow scratches, or higher levels of background noise but this will not be serious enough to cause a major distraction to the listener. Very slight inner groove or "side-end" distortion may be present on loud passages. Sleeve or box might have splits (repaired or otherwise), pronounced ring-wear, tears, sticker damage, writing, or noticeable creases or bends. Only very rare records will be offered for sale in less than VG condition; the description will give details of all the defects in such cases. Postal charges: Calculated by weight, including packagingUK: Royal Mail "signed-for" 1st class (insured up to £50)up to 1kg (normally 1-3 LPs) £5.00 up to 2kg (normally 4-7 LPs) £6.50Over 2kg, Parcelforce Express 48 prices (insured up to £100):Up to 5kg £13Up to 10kg £16Additional insurance can be purchased, please ask for a quote.Europe signed and tracked postage (insured up to £50):1 LP £12.00 2 LP £13.003 LP £14.004 LP £15.005 LP £16.00Rest of the World (except USA and Australia) signed, and tracked if available, air mail (insured up to £50):1 LP £15.50 2 LP £18.003 LP £21.004 LP £23.005 LP £25.00Tracked and signed-for postage to the USA and Australia has unfortunately recently become more expensive:1 LP £19.50 2 LP £22.00 3 LP £24.50 4 LP £27.50 5 LP £31.00 · Larger quantities, please ask for a quote. · Boxed sets - the box generally adds the weight of one extra LP. Please remember that earlier pressings will usually weigh more than later ones (some early mono LPs are more than 200g). · For all packages insurance is required and I can provide a quote for higher value packages (over £50). I will always retain proof of postage. · LPs will be well packed, with extra stiffeners, and with the LP removed from the outer sleeve to prevent seam splits. High value items will be double-boxed. · Honest mistakes in grading can occur occasionally, so if the LP is not as described, please contact me within 14 days to arrange return and refund (buyer pays return postage)
PLEASE NOTE - you are bidding on original 1950s vinyl - this will not have completely silent surfaces, even when in unplayed condition - but the sound and recording quality is generally excellent. If you are lo...oking for absolutely perfect blemish-free reproduction, please bear this in mind.
The recording was made in the Belgrade Dome of Culture in August 1955, so a very early Decca stereo recording (by Roy Wallace).
4 UK Decca Stereo heavyweight 180g single-sided Factory Test Pressings, from 1958 but never issued.No SXL or OS stereo issue at that time in UK or US, although these tests have London opera numbers OS 25164-67 so a stereo issue was obviously planned for the US market.
The recording was issued on mono on LXT 5179-82 in May 1956 in UK (and XLL 1413-16 in US in 1957), Only eventually issued in stereo (but remastered on 3 discs, on GOS 568-70, with mothers ZAL 8610-15, in April 1969 in UK).
All four are Wide band "pancake" (edge-groove) pressings, so very early stereo pressings (stereo pancake pressings I think all date from 1958)
First four sides, from I assume eight sides of this opera, had it been issued in stereo at that time (I don't have the 4LP LXT set to hand, to check if the music corresponds to those side breaks).Stampers/mothers ZAL 2968-1D, ZAL 2969-1D, ZAL 2970-1D, ZAL 2971-1D
Tchaikovsky Queen of SpadesSung by Alexander Marinkovich, Jovan Gligor, Dushan Popovich, Melanie Bulgarinovich, Valerie Heybalova, Biserka Tczveych, and the Belgrade National Opera Orchestra and choruses, conducted by Kreshimir Baranovich
180g vinyls all appear NM excellent gloss, no marks obvious under bright light. PInk and Blue test pressing labels are NM
Fully play tested all six sides EX+ to NM, with lovely early stereo recording, mostly quiet surfaces, just light "static" background as normal for 1950s vinyl. No wear and no distortion (even on loudest passages at ends of sides), seems hardly played. On side 2 there are some moderate scattered ticks in the first minute of the side, which I think are in the pressing (no signs of scratches or damage) and a few odd light ticks at start of sdei 4, not very disturbing.
Original 1950s "mono-issue" poly-lined inner sleeves with "Sample Record - Warning" stickers across opening edges, all EX with handwritten mother numbers and other information at top corners
More photos available on request
I will combine postage for multiple items (even if ebay says I won't!) - please contact me if you are intending to bid on further LPs.
Payment please within seven days of auction ending; foreign bidders please wait for invoice.
These LPs are all from my personal collection, which has grown much too large, and so I am thinning down, as I won't be able to listen to all of them in one lifetime. I will be putting up for auction mainly classical LPs from the advent of LP in the early 1950s until the 1980s, but principally early stereos (late 50s and 60s), rare repertoire, and often first or early pressings. There will also be some 1960s-80s rock, pop, blues and jazz
The description will state if the LPs have been fully auditioned (for rarer material, or when the visual grading is unclear), spot-auditioned, or if not otherwise stated, just visually graded.For listening tests, stereo LPs are played either on LP12/Ekos/Dynavector Karat17D2 or Garrard 301/SME 3009/Denon DL103R, while monos are tested on Thorens TD160/SME 3009/Denon DL102, all through Quad QC24/Quad IIs/ESL63 system ). Visual grading is under tungsten-halogen spotlight or direct sunlight (when available in England!)A few LPs will have been professionally cleaned, and this will be stated in the description. In my experience, most used LPs will benefit from professional cleaning which reduces background surface noise and often removes many of the pops and clicks, especially when these are due to debris, grease etc on the surface. GRADING (obviously slightly subjective and often dependent on original pressing and vinyl quality) - see description of each LP for more detail. Mint Only used for sealed and unopened records (which may of course have pressing defects which are not visible until unsealed).NM Visually perfect, no scuffs or other marks, and plays without any problems, and barely audible surface noise (depending on date and pressing). No spindle trails on label. Jacket (sleeve) or box will be almost perfect.EX+ The occasional extremely light mark, fingernail scuffs etc that should not make any difference to the sound, possibly a few spindle trails on the label. Playback should be similar to NM. Jacket or box may have very minor defects such as slight creases, or ring-wear but these will be not very noticeableEX Only one or two very minor marks that might give the occasional low level pop or click but no serious scuffs or scratches and the record should play without any distortion or serious problems. Surface noise may be slightly more apparent than NM but still not at all distracting. Jacket or box may have some minor defects, slight distortions or edge knocks, small amount of discolouration or slight laminate peel etc. VG+ Minor surface marks that will give occasional background noise or a few repeating click and pops for a short period, or more noticeable surface noise, but on the whole the record should play without serious problems, and will still be enjoyable to listen to. Sleeve or box may have noticeable defects (laminate peel or loss, small edge splits or repaired tears, staining or discoloration, slight sticker damage etc), but no major tears, losses, or bends.VG: There are marks that will cause some deterioration in the sound, such as repeating clicks from shallow scratches, or higher levels of background noise but this will not be serious enough to cause a major distraction to the listener. Very slight inner groove or "side-end" distortion may be present on loud passages. Sleeve or box might have splits (repaired or otherwise), pronounced ring-wear, tears, sticker damage, writing, or noticeable creases or bends. Only very rare records will be offered for sale in less than VG condition; the description will give details of all the defects in such cases. Postal charges: Calculated by weight, including packagingUK: Royal Mail "signed-for" 1st class (insured up to £50)up to 1kg (normally 1-3 LPs) £5.00 up to 2kg (normally 4-7 LPs) £6.50Over 2kg, Parcelforce Express 48 prices (insured up to £100):Up to 5kg £13Up to 10kg £16Additional insurance can be purchased, please ask for a quote.Europe signed and tracked postage (insured up to £50):1 LP £12.00 2 LP £13.003 LP £14.004 LP £15.005 LP £16.00Rest of the World (except USA and Australia) signed, and tracked if available, air mail (insured up to £50):1 LP £15.50 2 LP £18.003 LP £21.004 LP £23.005 LP £25.00Tracked and signed-for postage to the USA and Australia has unfortunately recently become more expensive:1 LP £19.50 2 LP £22.00 3 LP £24.50 4 LP £27.50 5 LP £31.00 · Larger quantities, please ask for a quote. · Boxed sets - the box generally adds the weight of one extra LP. Please remember that earlier pressings will usually weigh more than later ones (some early mono LPs are more than 200g). · For all packages insurance is required and I can provide a quote for higher value packages (over £50). I will always retain proof of postage. · LPs will be well packed, with extra stiffeners, and with the LP removed from the outer sleeve to prevent seam splits. High value items will be double-boxed. · Honest mistakes in grading can occur occasionally, so if the LP is not as described, please contact me within 14 days to arrange return and refund (buyer pays return postage)
