Elizabeth Cotten "Folksongs & Inst's" LP Folkways NM

$

65

I am listing records that are part of my personal collection. These records have been properly stored and cared for and, for the most part, are promotional records that were distributed at or before the actual street date of the release. Bid with confidence.
*************************************
You are bidding on a RARE Elizabeth Cotten "Folksongs and Instrumentals with Guitar" LP from Folkways Records. The image shown is the actual cover. Track listing available upon request. Please read ALL the details, including bidding, payment, shipping, return and grading policies:

Label/Number: Folkways Records FG 3526
Country - US
Visual Grade:  Cover/Record - NM/NM - This is a well-cared-for record and includes the lyric sheet with guitar tunings.
         
Here's some info:

Elizabeth Cotten was among the most influential guitarists to surface during the roots music revival era, her wonderfully expressive and dexterous finger-picking style a major inspiration to the generations of players who followed in her wake. Cotten was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in the early weeks of 1893; after first picking up the banjo at the age of eight, she soon moved on to her brother's guitar, laying it flat on her lap and over time developing her picking pattern and eventually her chording. By the age of 12 she was working as a domestic, and three years later gave birth to her first child; upon joining the church, she gave up the guitar, playing it only on the rarest of occasions over the course of the next quarter century. By the early 1940s, Cotten had relocated to Washington, D.C., where she eventually began working for the legendary Charles Seeger family and caring for children Pete, Peggy and Mike.

When the Seegers learned of Cotten's guitar skills a decade later, they recorded her for Folkways, and in 1957 she issued her debut LP, Folksongs and Instrumentals. The track "Freight Train," written when she was 12, became a Top Five hit in the U.K., and its success ensured her a handful of concert performances. The great interest in her music spurred her to write new material, which appeared on her second album, Shake Sugaree. As Cotten became increasingly comfortable performing live, her presentation evolved, and in addition to playing guitar she told stories about her life and even led her audiences in singing her songs; over the years, she recalled more and more tunes from her childhood, and in the course of tours also learned new material. Cotten did not retire from domestic work until 1970, and did not tour actively until the end of the decade; the winner of a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship Award as well as a Grammy -- both earned during the final years of her life -- she died on June 29, 1987.

Folksongs & Instrumentals with Guitar. This first LP collection by a widely influential guitarist includes her classic "Freight Train."
© 2008 Macrovision Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

BIDDING:
Unfortunately, I have had a lot of non-payers recently so IF YOUR FEEDBACK SCORE IS ZERO, I WILL CANCEL YOUR BID - DO NOT BID IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY FEEDBACK.

PAYMENT:
PayPal or Money Order only, please. NO CHECKS!  PAYMENT IS DUE WITHIN 7 DAYS OF THE AUCTION END. IF PAYMENT IS NOT RECEIVED WITHIN 7 DAYS,  I WILL RE-INVOICE YOU  ONCE,  WAIT 24 HOURS AND THEN FILE A NON-PAYMENT DISPUTE.

SHIPPING:
Your product will be packed appropriately. Albums are packed between two cardboard pads and shipped in a professional LP mailer. Most packages weigh over 1 pound. Check my feedback - I have lots of happy customers!

In the US, records will ship MEDIA MAIL.  DELIVERY CONFIRMATION IS INCLUDED IN SHIPPING RATE.  I will combine multiple purchases and provide the cheapest cost based on weight and delivery location.  PRIORITY MAIL IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

INSURANCE IS RECOMMENDED FOR U.S. CUSTOMERS. 

INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS:  SORRY, BUT INSURANCE IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS WITHOUT A BIG INCREASE IN SHIPPING COSTS. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR NON-DELIVERY OF UNINSURED ITEMS. 

SHIPMENTS TO ITALY ARE NOT GUARANTEED. ONCE I SHIP IT TO ITALY, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. 

RETURNS:
Records are visually graded unless noted. I have graded conservatively.  I guarantee what I sell to be as described. Any returns must be approved before shipping and must be returned within 14 days of approval. ITEMS DAMAGED IN SHIPPING ARE NOT GUARANTEED - YOU MUST BUY INSURANCE TO PROTECT YOUR ITEM FROM THE POSTAL GORILLAS.

IF YOU HAVE AN ITEM DAMAGED IN SHIPPING, YOU MUST SAVE THE ORIGINAL PACKING MATERIALS AND THEN CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY.

GRADING GUIDELINES:

Mint (M): Absolutely perfect in every way - certainly never played, possibly even still sealed. (More on still sealed below). Should be used sparingly as a grade, if at all.

Near Mint (NM or M-): 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 shows no obvious sign of wear. A 45 rpm sleeve has no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling.
An LP jacket has no creases, folds, seam splits or any other noticeable similar defect. No cut-out holes, either. And of course, the same is true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves, and the like. Basically, Near Mint looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap.

Very Good Plus (VG+): Shows some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show some slight signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sign are OK.
The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but is should be barely noticeable. The center hole is not misshapen by repeated play. Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turn-up corners, or a slight seam-split. An LP jacket my have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount.
In general, if not for a couple of minor 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 are more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise is evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during the song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as will light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound.
Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. 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 jacket or sleeve has seem splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object. If it's a common item, you'll probably find another copy in better shape eventually. Pass it up. But if it's something you have been seeking for years, and the price is right, get it.

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/or writing. The LP jacket barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split, and written upon.
Except for impossibly rare records otherwise unattainable, records in this condition should be bought or sold for no more than a few cents each.

Still Sealed (SS) : Let the buyer beware, unless it's a U.S. pressing from the last 10-15 years or so. It's too easy to reseal on. Yes, some legitimately never-opened LPs from the 1960s still exist. But if you're looking for a specific pressing, the only way you can know for sure is to open the record. Also, European imports are not factory-sealed, so if you see them advertised as sealed, someone other than the manufacturer sealed them.