Promotional Video Tape Appraisal

The Artist Formerly Known as Prince Video Montage (Promo VHS)

This item is a black VHS cassette tape, a standard format for video recordings popular from the late 1970s through the early 2000s. The cassette shell is made of black plastic, exhibiting a textured, matte finish across most of its surface, with smoother sections around the viewing windows. It has the typical rectangular shape and dimensions characteristic of a VHS tape, measuring approximately 7.4 inches wide, 4 inches tall, and 1 inch thick. One clear plastic viewing window on the left side reveals a white plastic spool holding magnetic tape, which appears to be in a wound state, indicating it has been played or is at a ready position. On the right side, a crucial distinguishing feature is a white adhesive label containing printed text in black ink. The text clearly identifies the content as 'THE ARTIST FORMERLY KNOWN AS PRINCE VIDEO MONTAGE' and indicates a running time of '4:17'. It also specifies 'NPG RECORDS' as the label and includes a significant disclaimer: '* FOR PROMO USE ONLY *'. This marking suggests the tape was not intended for commercial retail sale but rather for promotional purposes, likely distributed to media outlets, record executives, or for internal use. The overall condition of the tape appears good, with no visible cracks, major scuffs, or damage to the plastic shell. The label is clean and legible, with no apparent peeling or smudging. Given the artist and the 'promo use only' marking, this item dates to the period when Prince officially changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol, from 1993 to 2000, aligning it with a mid-1990s to late-1990s era. The craftsmanship is standard for industrial-produced VHS tapes.