RCA Victor 78 RPM Record by Eddy Arnold (not authenticated)

This physical item is a black shellac 78 RPM phonograph record housed inside a vintage paper sleeve. The record features a circular black and silver paper label centered on the disc, specifically bearing the branding for RCA Victor. The label displays legible printed text including the brand name 'RCA VICTOR' with the classic Nipper the dog trademark logo above it, the catalog number '20-2332-A', the track title 'DON'T BOTHER TO CRY', the songwriter credit '(Bob Merrill)', and the performing artist credit 'Eddy Arnold and his Tennessee Plowboys'. Additional text includes instructions to 'For best results use RCA Victor Needles' and manufacturing copyright information along the bottom rim. The paper sleeve is a tan or light brown Kraft paper material with a thumb-cut arched opening revealing the center label. The record displays typical surface sheen with minor dust and handling marks, though no major structural cracks or deep gouges are readily apparent from this angle. The visual identification rests entirely on the legible printed typography and branding visible on the center record label. The physical characteristics and label design appear consistent with mid-20th-century shellac records produced during the late 1940s or early 1950s, but this remains an unverified assessment as the item has not been physically inspected or tested for playback. Quality indicators are standard for commercial mass-produced shellac discs of the era, featuring stamped run-out grooves and standard paper label adhesion.

Based on what I can see in the photograph, the item is a 78 RPM shellac record housed in a paper sleeve, bearing an RCA Victor label with catalog number 20-2332-A for Eddy Arnold and his Tennessee Plowboys. The printed typography and Nipper logo suggest a mid-20th-century production era. However, I cannot verify from a photo alone whether the disc plays properly, possesses hidden hairline fractures, or is a later pressing or modern replica. I would need physical inspection and a playback test to evaluate the actual condition and material composition. Assuming the attribution and visual presentation are accurate, commercial mass-produced 78s by popular mid-century country artists generally occupy a modest collector market, with typical values ranging between $10 and $30 depending heavily on surface grade and sleeve preservation. If physical examination reveals the item to be a reproduction, copy, or heavily worn beyond playability, the value would drop significantly to a nominal or decorative-only amount. To support a higher valuation or to establish greater certainty, an in-person examination by a vintage vinyl specialist and physical provenance assessment would be required.