Ray Anthony and His Orchestra 'O Mein Papa' 78 RPM Record

This is a vintage 10-inch shellac 78 RPM gramophone record released by Capitol Records (catalog number 2678). The record features 'O Mein Papa (Oh! My Papa)' by Ray Anthony and His Orchestra, with a trumpet solo by Ray Anthony and vocals by The Anthony Choir. The central label is a classic deep purple Capitol design with silver text and the iconic Capitol dome logo at the top. The record is housed in a generic off-white paper sleeve of the era. The sleeve shows significant signs of age and handling, including yellowing, creasing, and handwritten pencil inscriptions; notably, 'Di Shönerin' is written in cursive at the top left, and there is a faint stamp that reads 'Made in Switzerland.' The record itself appears to have some surface scuffs and dust accumulation, typical for items of this age (circa late 1953 to early 1954). The spindle hole shows minor wear, and there is a small piece of white adhesive tape or debris visible near the left edge of the label. Production markings on the label include the publisher 'Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. Inc.', the matrix number 12053, and a small fleur-de-lis icon next to 'Vocal by The Anthony Choir'.

I have carefully examined the provided images of this Ray Anthony and His Orchestra 78 RPM record (Capitol 2678). Based on visual inspection, the item appears to be an authentic pressing from late 1953/early 1954. The shellac exhibits surface scuffs, fingerprints, and dust, suggesting a grade of 'Good' to 'Very Good' in collector terms. The generic sleeve shows significant oxidative browning and foxing, with non-original pencil markings that detract from its aesthetic value. From a market perspective, this record was a high-volume commercial release. Ray Anthony’s 'O Mein Papa' reached No. 9 on the Billboard charts and sold hundreds of thousands of copies. Consequently, it is common in the secondary market. Current demand for 10-inch shellac 78s is primarily driven by blues, jazz, and early rock-and-roll rarities; middle-of-the-road orchestral pop of this era currently commands a very low price ceiling unless in 'New Old Stock' (M- or better) condition. The handwriting on the sleeve and the 'Made in Switzerland' stamp imply a unique provenance, possibly an export copy, but these factors do not typically add premium value for this specific artist. Factors negatively impacting value include the visible tape residue near the spindle and the general surface wear which likely results in audible hiss or 'ticks' during playback. Note that this appraisal is based solely on digital images. Without a physical inspection, I cannot verify the depth of scratches or the presence of hair-line cracks which are common in brittle shellac and would render the item valueless. Full authentication and a definitive 'play-grade' would require an in-person playback test and a microscopic inspection of the grooves.