Billie Holiday Appraisal

Billie Holiday - Lady in Satin (Columbia CS 8048 Stereo LP)

This item is a vintage 12-inch vinyl record album, specifically the 'Lady in Satin' album by Billie Holiday. It is a stereo release, indicated by 'STEREO' and 'CS 8048' on the top left corner of the album sleeve, and the 'FIDELITY' band across the top, which likely signifies 'High Fidelity'. The album was released by Columbia Records, as evidenced by the 'COLUMBIA' logo visible on the top right. The album cover features a striking portrait of Billie Holiday, depicted in profile, looking to the right. She is wearing an elegant gown or top, possibly satin given the album title, and adorned with delicate jewelry including earrings and a choker necklace. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail. The background is a soft, muted blue-grey, complementing the artist's skin tone and attire. The text 'Lady in Satin' is prominently displayed in a yellow serif font, while 'Billie Holiday' is in white. Below her name, 'Ray Ellis and his orchestra' is printed in a smaller, darker font, indicating the accompanying musicians. The album sleeve shows visible signs of age and wear, particularly along the edges and corners, with some scuffing, creasing, and minor tears consistent with a record from its estimated age (late 1950s or early 1960s, given the stereo format and Columbia label design of that era). The overall condition of the sleeve appears to be Good to Very Good, showing expected patina for a used vintage item but no major structural damage that would render it unprotecting of the record. The colors on the cover are still vibrant, but the gloss may have dulled slightly over time. This particular pressing, CS 8048, is an original US stereo release, which is often sought after by collectors.