He said VG+ for the vinyl but described it as nearly perfect. Also, VG- for a cover that sounded at least VG to me, although looking more closely at the picture, VG- may be the thing. Anyway, the bidding was in the $400 range and I thought I might take a shot. It sold for $710, but we’ll never know how high the winning bidder bid, since he only had to top the second highest bid. If someone offered me this record for $710 in this condition would I take it? Probably, based on my belief that the record is in better condition than VG+.

That New Jersey pressing of Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079, which started the previous discussion, sold for $934 in M- condition. So we are getting very close to the $1,000 bin for New Jersey pressings. I like it. Who wouldn’t want a yellow label Saxophone Colossus with the original cover?

We were also watching:

John Coltrane, A Love Supreme, Impulse A-77. This was an original white promo copy listed in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $1,083.77. Not quite a record, but a $1,000-binner nonetheless.

Phil Woods, Woodlore, Prestige 7018. This was the one in VG condition for the record and cover. It sold for $449. Then there was Woodlore in M- condition for the record and VG for the cover. This one had no bidders when we first looked at it and we were once again tempted. Never mind. It sold for $1,391.

Walter Davis Jr., Davis Cup, Blue Note 4018, original pressing, VG++ for the record and the cover. Final price was $905.67

Lester Young Trio, Mercury MG-C-104. This was an original 10-inch record with the David Stone Martin cover. The record and cover seemed to be in M- condition. The final price was $720, which, to me, was surprisingly high on a couple of levels. One, there seems to be less demand for 10-inch records overall and, two, Lester is kind of in that pre- Blue Note/Prestige category for collectors. Of course he is a genius and his influence immeasurable, but as far as the collector mentality, I have expected Lester to slip a bit. I’m glad he hasn’t. For the record, as I type this I am in my small studio apartment and, hanging to my left is one of my favorite jazz portraits of all time, a signed copy by the photographer, Bill Gottlieb. If you look carefully at the photo below you may be able to see my reflection in the President: