78rpm Blues Record HOLY GRAIL Joe Dean Vocalion 1544 Only Known Example For Sale
$
799
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Description
Very Rare - Joe Dean 78RPM Blues Record From 1930 - Only Known Example In The World Currently For Sale Or Auction...ANYWHERE!
Joe Dean - Vocalion 1544 - I'm So Glad I'm Twenty-One Years Old Today / Mexico Bound Blues
From thorough & extensive research I have done, I have discovered that there are no other examples of this record for sale or auction anywhere worldwide, and there have been none available publicly for decades. I believe that this is the first time any example of this 78 record has been offered for public sale or auction since the 1960's.
Currently, no dealers, websites, auction houses, stores, galleries, record sellers or online sellers have an example of this record for sale or auction. Upon my dozens of inquiries across the globe, most have replied that they have never even seen a copy of this rare record in person, and none had an example for sale or auction this century.
This is one of the rarest of all Pre-War Piano Blues 78's or Vocalion "Race Record" Series 78's remaining in existence.
The only confirmed reference I have ever found of another example of this record existing at one time relates to blues music historian/archivist & risque cartoonist Francis Wilford-Smith ("Smilby" of Playboy Magazine fame) and his late 1970's series of Piano Blues records compilations using his renowned personal collection of 78's as the source material.
While other copies may very well exist, if they do then they are likely locked away in the private collections of individuals or university/museum archives and unavailable for sale, auction or even confirmation of their existence. Other than the actual images of the record in this listing, and a search engine result of a b&w/sepia photocopy of the labels (most likely from Wilford-Smith's collection), there are no other unique & unaltered images even available for confirmation of other copies of this record.
This is when extreme rarity dictates price as there is no reference for value due to unavailability at public sale or auction, and it may be decades before another example of this near 85 year old record surfaces, if ever. This may be the only chance a serious collector will have to add this 78 to their collection in their lifetime!
Joe Dean ("From Bowling Green") (1908-1981) was a Blues pianist & vocalist from St. Louis, Missouri. This was his only released work. He was featured in a story and on the cover of Blues Unlimited Magazine #127 from November/December 1977 in the UK. Although not as well known as many of his contemporaries, Dean most certainly has a place in St. Louis Blues history.
Year Of Issue: 1930
Record Label: Vocalion (Race Record 1000 Series)
Condition: Good - I am not a record grading expert, so although I feel that the condition is better, I will leave that up to the buyer. There is moderate wear and a check mark written above the word "old" on the label. Also, the number "1544" is underlined on the Mexico Bound Blues side. I am not sure if it was done at the factory to note the B side, or done afterwards, but it does appear to be part of the label. Please see the enlarged scans.
Please contact me with any questions.
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