GILES, GILES AND FRIPP LP THE CHEERFUL INSANITY OF UK DERAM 1st SML 1022
£
92
$
122
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Description
GILES, GILES AND FRIPP LP "THE CHEERFUL INSANITY OF" Issued in the UK in 1968 on the Deram label Cat No. SML1022. Front laminated non-flipback sleeve is in VERY GOOD+ condition - very minor half-inch tear at bottom opening edge, some discrete handling evident overall and as seen in photos sleeve presents very well.
Tragically the vinyl does not compare to the sleeve, being only in FAIR condition on account of an extensive amount of surface marks and scratches - very few are feelable so 99% of these marks may only be classed as surface which is just as well because the record plays broadly OK, still a pleasant listen, no sticks or skips and not really any loud clicks - a bit crackly and fuzzy in places, so hopefully my start price will get the correct price for this record and not the price I paid for it at an auction house that bills itself as [one of] "the UK's leading auctioneers of vinyl records and our specialist department is headed up by Director & Auctioneer XXXXXXXXXXX who is himself an avid collector" [so he should know better I say!] I paid £140 for it on the basis that it was stated to be graded as "VG". And I know, as per the guidance in the blurb of this auction house that grading is "subjective", yet I am still somewhat horrified that experts who label themselves as "leading" fell so far outside of the rational parameters of subjectivity to present this LP as "Very Good" - unless they regard only a sealed LP as MINT, an unmarked LP as EXCELLENT and absolutely everything else as VERY GOOD - such as this record which looks like it's spent its life loose amongst the brillo pads such are the quantity of marks across all the vinyl. How hard is it to take it out of the sleeve and look at the vinyl and instinctively say "Ooh, that's really marked...shame"? And I know it is "buyer beware" and I know I agree to bid on the basis that I "satisfy myself that I have an opportunity to inspect these items" but they should not add sloppy grades from an apparent position of credibility only to then rely on their own small print to avoid disgruntlement.
Anyway, I still look for an original copy of this LP which I will one day be happy to have and for now I will move this one on, it does need a new home (it's hard not to have a soft-spot for this great LP which I've enjoyed on CD for many years) but as long as this copy remains with me it reminds me of the bad taste of my auction experience, as described above, and in order to get something positive from it I will donate whatever the end price is to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation so hopefully some good will come of it.
And in future I won't be bidding on any more records from this particular "leading auction house" because if I can't trust their "VG" I may not be able to trust their "EXCELLENT" or even their "MINT".
Records are posted with sleeves and vinyl separated, including from any special printed inner sleeves (plain inner sleeve used), and posted in proper LP mailers using cardboard stiffeners. All records are played and visually inspected as part of grading.
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