Radio's Aces: The Coon-Sanders Nighthawks (RCA Victor Vintage Series LPV-511)
Original long-playing (LP) vinyl record with printed cardboard jacket cover art • Music by The Coon-Sanders Nighthawks Orchestra; Album art design by RCA Victor creative department
Style & Movement
Mid-century Modern graphic design; Early Jazz/Swing Era musical recordings
Medium & Technique
Vinyl record (polyvinyl chloride) with printed paper labels and offset lithographic printing on a coated cardboard jacket
Creation Period
1964 (Original release year for this compilation)
Dimensions & Format
12 x 12 inches (standard LP format); Square jacket, circular disc
Subject Description
The jacket features a monochrome photograph of champagne bottles in a rack as a background, overlaid with a blue diamond containing portraits of bandleaders Carleton Coon and Joe Sanders. The music consists of historical 1920s and early 30s jazz recordings.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good; visible shelf wear on jacket edges and potential light handling marks on the vinyl
Estimated Market Value
$10 - $25 USD (Standard collectors market for mid-60s jazz reissues)
Auction Estimate
$5 - $20 USD (Typically sold through online marketplaces rather than fine art auctions)
Provenance History
Mass-produced commercial release under the RCA Victor label; likely part of a private record collection
Art Historical Significance
Significant as a curated archive of one of the first major 'radio bands.' The Coon-Sanders Nighthawks were pioneers in live radio broadcasting from Kansas City and Chicago during the Jazz Age.
Notable Features
Features the 'Vintage Series' branding and the iconic RCA Victor 'Nipper' dog logo; contains liner notes documenting the 1920s jazz scene
Condition Issues
Visible corner dings and edge fraying on the sleeve; surface dust on the vinyl; potential spindle marks on the centermost part of the label
Conservation Recommendations
Store vertically in a cool, dry environment; use an acid-free inner sleeve and a polyethylene outer sleeve; clean vinyl with an anti-static carbon fiber brush
Collector Notes
LP and cover