Chris Barber Appraisal

Chris Barber Plays Petite Fleur EP

This item is a vintage 45 rpm extended play (EP) vinyl record album featuring 'Chris Barber Plays Petite Fleur.' The record sleeve is made of a sturdy paper or cardstock material, primarily in a bright, vibrant yellow color. The front cover features a repeating graphic of six stylized caricatures of a man's smiling face, presumably Chris Barber. The faces are rendered in a bold, almost cartoonish, black outline with either a cream/light off-white fill or a yellow fill that matches the background. The title 'CHRIS BARBER' is prominently displayed in black sans-serif capital letters in the lower left quadrant, with 'PLAYS' in smaller, lighter yellow letters in the center, and 'PETITE FLEUR' in black sans-serif capitals on the right. A small '45 rpm EP' notation is visible in the upper left corner, also in black text. In the upper right corner, there is a circular logo that appears to be 'Pye' or 'PYE' records, also in black. The overall aesthetic is graphic and minimalist, indicating a mid-20th-century design style, likely late 1950s or early 1960s given the 45 rpm EP format and 'Petite Fleur' being a popular jazz standard during that era. The physical condition appears excellent; there are no visible tears, significant creases, or major discoloration on the sleeve the image focuses on. The edges and corners show minimal signs of wear for an item of its presumed age, suggesting careful handling and storage. The black print is crisp and shows no fading or smudging. The yellow background is consistent in color saturation. This EP represents a classic example of jazz and traditional pop records from its period.