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Record Gradings (All records are graded visually only unless otherwise stated.)  NOTE: All records with vinyl gradings of VG or better should play without any significant fault, although use of a record cleaning machine is recommended).

MINT (M): Record as new and still sealed or unplayed.

NEAR MINT (NM): Both sleeve and vinyl appear in superb condition with no visual damage.

EXCELLENT (EX): Sleeve may have some very slight wear and vinyl may have some very slight surface marks.

VERY GOOD (VG): Sleeve will have some normal wear and tear without any major defects and vinyl will have noticeable surface marks and the occassional
light scratch.

GOOD (G): Sleeve and contents will suffer from folding, scuffing and/ or edge splits, discoloration etc.  Vinyl will have numerous surface marks/ light scratches.

FAIR (F): The sleeve has serious damage- major tears, staining etc.  Vinyl will have serious damage- deep scratches etc.  Records in this condition will be collection-fillers only.

The symbols (+) or (-) are used to indicate condition somewhere inbetween the above categories.  For the gradings in the catalogue, the condition of the sleeve is graded first and the vinyl second.  For instance a record graded as VG/EX will have a sleeve in VERY GOOD condition and vinyl in EXCELLENT condition according to the above grading categories.  Please note that some of the very earliest vinyl records (from the early 1950s) are likely to have vinyl roar which will be evident on records from this era that are in MINT condition.

CLEANING OF RECORDS:

Records are not cleaned prior to despactch although it should be noted that most vinyl records will benefit from cleaning prior to playing to remove the dirt in the grooves that can cause pops, clicks and crackling. This especially applies to older records. Cleaning is preferably undertaken by use of a record cleaning machine for optimum effect. Records can be cleaned on a Moth Mk II record cleaning machine prior to despatch at a cost of GBP 1.00 per record if requested.

 

 

Key to general abbreviations used in the catalogue (scroll down for orchestra abbreviations)

AMG- All Music Guide

AY- Age yellowing

BK- Booklet

BSS- Bottom edge seam split

CO- Cut-out to sleeve

CCO- Corner cut off sleeve

DPS- Damage to front sleeve where price sticker removed

DRPS- Damage to rear sleeve where sticker removed

DSC- Discolouration/ fading to sleeve
ED1- 1st Decca wide band grooved label
ED2- 2nd Decca wide band grooved label
ED3- 3rd Decca wide band label- non-grooved

ELR- Ex-library record

EPS- Electronically reprocessed stereo
ER1- 1st semi-circle HMV label

ER2- 1st HMV coloured Postage Stamp label
ER3- Black & white HMV Postage Stamp label
ER4- 2nd HMV coloured Postage stamp label

ER5- Late semi-circle EMI label

ER7- HMV Melodiya label

ER8- Early b & w HMV Postage Stamp label (this label existed between ER2 & ER3)

EWP- Edge warp

EW1- White/gold HMV label

GFS- Gatefold sleeve

HP- Hole punched through sleeve

INL- Inner leaves

INS- Insert

LAS- Laminate separation
LI- Lyric inner or insert

LL- Laminate lifting

LOL- Label on label

LOS- Label on sleeve

LS- Light scratch
NB- Narrow band

NSSM- Non-sounding surface mark

NWOBHM- New wave of British heavy metal
OG- Orange/gold label
OS- Orange/silver label

PI- Picture inner of insert

RD- Record dished

RW- Ring wear to sleeve

SOL- Sticker on label

SSS- Spine seam split

ST- Sleeve tear

TRS- Tape repair to sleeve

TSS- Top edge seam split
WB- Wide band

WM- Watermark to sleeve
WOL- Writing on label
WOS- Writing on sleeve
WOFS- Writing on front sleeve
WORS- Writing on rear sleeve

WSM- Wispy surface marks

 

Orchestra abbreviations

 

ASMF- Academy of St-Martin-in-the-Fields

BBC SO- BBC Symphony Orchestra

BPO- Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

BOSO- Boston Symphony Orchestra

BRNO SPO- Brno Stape Philharmonic Orchestra

BRSO- Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

BSO- Berlin Symphony Orchestra

CBSO- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

CCO- Czech Chamber Orchestra

COA- Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam

CPO- Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

CSO- Chicago Symphony Orchestra

ECO- English Chamber Orchestra

ERSO- Eastman-Rochester Symphony Orchestra

FRNO- French National Radio Orchestra

HCO- Hungarian Chamber Orchestra

HSO- Hamburg Symphony Orchestra

IPO- Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

ISO- Innsbruck Symphony Orchestra

LEPO- Leningrad Philharmonic Orchrchestra

LEPSO- Leningrad Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra

LSO- London Symphony Orchestra

LPO- London Philharmonic Orchestra

LPSO- London Proms Symphony Orchestra

LRO- Luxembourg Radio Orchestra

MCOO- Monte Carlo Opera Orchestra

MCNOO- Monte Carlo National Opera Orchestra

MSO- Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

MRSO- Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra

NPO- New Philharmonia Orchestra

NSO- New Symphony Orchestra

NYPO- New York Philharmonic Orchestra

PAO- Pro Arte Orchestra

PCO- Paris Conservatoire Orchestra

PO- Philharmonia Orchestra

PPO- Philharmonia Promenade Orchestra

PSO- Prague Symphony Orchestra

PRSO- Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra

RLPO- Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

ROHO- Royal Opera House Orchestra, Covent Garden

RPO- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

SCO- Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra

SD- Staatskapelle Dresden

SFSO- San Francisco Symphony Orchestra

SNO- Scottish National Orchestra

SWGRO- Southwest German Radio Orchestra

USSR SO- USSR Symphony Orchestra

VPMO- Vienna Pro Musica Orchestra

VPO- Vienna Philharmonia Orchestra

VSOO- Vienna State Opera Orchestra

VSO- Vienna Symphony Orchestra

VVO- Vienna Volksoper Orchestra

WCO- Wurttemberg Chamber Orchestra

WNOO- Welsh National Opera Orchestra

 

 

Please note: we have recently begun using the label definitions provided in the Mikrokosmos Labelography to help identify the various pressings of records.  As the catalogue is expanded and updated their use will increase.