Vinyl: J. R. MONTEROSE ORIG. MONO BLUE NOTE 1536 in NM+ condition

J. R. MONTEROSE ORIG. MONO BLUE NOTE 1536 in NM++ condition. This is the original FIRST PRESSING LEXINGTON AVENUE deep groove FLAT EDGE with RVG and the EAR stamped into the runoff vinyl on both sides. This legendary, nay mythical, first pressing is the rarest of the original Blue Notes and is almost impossible to find. What makes this copy so incredible is that it is in astounding condition. The cover is near mint. The labels are near mint. The record is in AS NEW condition. It not only looks beautiful, it plays AS NEW. The vinyl has serious heft, heavy and thick as a first pressing should be, and it has retained its original lustre so that it gleams with lacquered brilliance. I purchased this record in the early 1980s from the legendary Leon Levit directly at his home in Sun Valley, California. He had three copies. He let me take all three home. I picked the best record with the best cover. He let me do this because we had become friends over the years and he appreciated my devotion to rare jazz recordings. He told me he would never get another copy like this, so he was reluctant to sell, but, after much begging from me, he finally relented. I am willing to represent that this has to be the best copy of this record in the world. It features J. R. Monterose, Ira Sullivan, Horace Silver, Wilbur Ware, and Philly Joe Jones. This record is for serious bidders only. Please don’t bid unless you have at least fifteen positive feedbacks on Ebay as a buyer or you contact me first. This early Blue Note was recorded in 1956. Please ignore the stated shipping cost and wait for my invoice before paying for the record, which will be shipped in a hard back cardboard box and covered with bubblewrap and floated on styrofoam bubbles. Shipping to the USA will be $35.00 and international shipping cost will be determined by location. If you have questions about shipping cost or anything else, please ask them before you bid. Please bid responsibly. Payment due within three days after auction closes by Paypal only.

On Dec-19-14 at 13:14:15 PST, seller added the following information:

There are a few, insignificant, tiny white spots on the front of the cover from handling over the last fifty-five plus years, so I will change my grading of the cover to NM-. Basically, however, the cover, front and back, is fresh and lovely and the best I've ever seen.