Lot 288: A Collection of approximately 60 to 100 Vintage 78 rpm Gramophone Records including His Master's Voice and Columbia Labels
A collection of approximately 60 to 100 vintage 78 rpm shellac gramophone records, featuring a variety of classical, operatic, and vocal recordings from the early to mid-20th century. The collection includes both 10-inch and 12-inch formats. One visible disc bears a printed circular label in black, white, and red reading HIS MASTER’S VOICE RECORD with the Nipper dog and gramophone logo, and text including Softly awakes my heart (SAMSON AND DELILAH – SAINT-SAENS), EDNA THORNTON (Contralto), Cat. No. D 282, and THE GRAMOPHONE CO. LTD., HAYES, MIDDLESEX. A second disc features a printed dark blue circular label with gold text for Columbia including the Magic Notes trade mark, HUMORESKE (Dvorak), CELESTA SOLO by MADAME SORANO, and catalogue number 3242, with the mark MADE IN ENGLAND. Several records are housed in printed local retailer sleeves for NEWTON’S, located at 59/61, FORSHAW STREET, BARROW-IN-FURNESS (Proprietor: W. R. Ray). A paper sleeve bears handwritten ink inscriptions reading Ellwood and Live Laugh Love (photo 2). The collection is stored in three open cardboard shipping boxes, one of which has a printed white adhesive label reading BOOTHS with a barcode (photo 1). Small orange adhesive stickers are present on the boxes and some record sleeves.
Condition report:
Sleeves: Graded Poor to Fair. The paper and card sleeves show significant yellowing, creasing, and tattering at the edges throughout the collection (photo 4). Tearing and structural degradation are visible on several sleeves (photo 3). Media: Graded Fair. The shellac discs exhibit visible surface dust and signs of handling across the stacks (photo 4). As shellac is a brittle material, it is noted that while no major cracks are visible in the storage configuration, the discs have not been individually play-tested or inspected for hairline fractures, edge chips, or heavy groove wear. Packaging: The non-original cardboard boxes show general wear, scuffing, and structural softening (photo 1).
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