SIGNED MEMO w/ Count Basie "Not Now, I'll Tell You When" Mono Vinyl LP R-52044

$

26

TITLE: Count Basie & His Orchestra, "Not Now, I'll Tell You When" w/ signed memo!

VINYL GRADE: VG-

COVER GRADE: VG-

DESCRIPTION: This LP came with a small, typewritten memo inside that is dated the 19th of September, 1960 and is headed as "Memo From: Count Basie". It is addressed to a Mr. Montgomery and goes on to talk about the title track. At the bottom, it is signed in ink by Count Basie. It was likely original black ink which has ever so slightly faded into a more purple color. By looking at the back of the memo, you can clearly see it was typewritten and not printed/reproduced by some of the ink bleed through.  The signature is much more difficult to ascertain... there is no bleed through from the ink on the back of the memo.  And if I look very carefully with strong light at the right angle, I'm pretty sure I can see light indentation on the back of the memo from the pressure of the pen, but it's difficult to be certain.  We are selling this item with the full admission that I cannot guarantee this is Count Basie's signature, but it certainly looks real and authentic.

The paper the memo is on is in very good condition.  Only the bottom right corner has a little bending.  There are no tears or stains.

It'd be nice to dream and think that "Mr Montgomery" is Wes Montgomery and that this album passed between the two of them, but clearly there is no way to know that, nor any reason to legitimately think that.  Nor are we insinuating that this is the case.

As for the album itself, I'll grade the LP a VG.  There are some very light hairlines, a little loss of luster, plays with a little light surface noise, an occasional tick or pop.  Nothing overpowering and certainly no skips. The LP has been both ultrasonic and Nitty Gritty vacuum cleaned.  The cover art is strong but there is edge wear: the spine has chipping/peeling in the center, the top seam is just beginning to fray at the opening edge and the bottom seam has already split about halfway.  

USED LPs: All used LPs have either already been cleaned on an ultrasonic cleaner or will be ultrasonic cleaned before shipping.  All used LPs are placed in a fresh paper sleeve after being cleaned, and original inner sleeves are placed back inside the cover with the new sleeve if present and if printed (not just plain paper or rice paper).  We will place more expensive records in an audiophile, anti-static inner sleeve instead of paper.  We have, in most cases, play graded LPs before listing but some LPs have been visually graded. We do our absolute best to accurately grade every LP and to grade conservatively for ultimate customer satisfaction.

HOW WE SHIP: All LPs are shipped in a square LP mailer with 2 extra cardboard pads for protection.  All open/used LPs are shipped with the album outside the cover in a poly sleeve to prevent seam splits during transit.  We will open new LPs for this same treatment UPON REQUEST.  All LPs being shipped domestically are done so with USPS Media Mail. Our $5.85 shipping rate is our exact cost of media mail shipping on all LPs weighing less than 2 lbs. packed (most) + an LP mailer and two cardboard pads; we are making no profit on this shipping charge.  All international shipments are sent USPS 1st Class Airmail. We ship out 6 days/week: Monday through Saturday. A tracking number is provided with all domestic shipments. International shipments are sent the customs form number.

ABOUT US: We are a brick & mortar record store located in North Carolina.  We have been grading, selling, and shipping LPs for going on 20 years.  Bid and/or purchase from us with complete confidence that the item received will match our description, be accurately and conservatively graded, and be properly packed for transit.

ABOUT OUR AUCTIONS: As a brick & mortar store, our focus is on selling our inventory to our local customers.  In almost all cases, any LP we post for auction will run one time and, if unsold, not run for a second time.

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