Wilbur De Paris Plays Something Old New Gay Blue (Signed Vinyl LP)
Vinyl Record Album (LP) with original sleeve; commercial graphic arts and memorabilia • Author: Wilbur De Paris and his New Orleans Jazz; Graphic design/Photography: Atlantic Records staff
Style & Movement
Mid-century Modern Graphic Design; New Orleans Revival Jazz (Musical genre)
Medium & Technique
Offset lithography on cardstock (cover) with black ink hand-signed autographs; polyvinyl chloride (disc)
Creation Period
circa 1959 (Album release date)
Dimensions & Format
12.375 x 12.375 inches (Standard LP format)
Subject Description
Group portrait of the New Orleans Jazz band featuring Wilbur De Paris (trombone), Sidney De Paris (trumpet), Doc Cheatham (trumpet), Omer Simeon (clarinet), Sonny White (piano), Hayes Alvis (bass), John W. Smith (guitar/banjo), and Wilbert Kirk (drums). The signatures correspond to the performers in the image.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; shows significant aging and wear consistent with use and storage in a non-archival environment.
Estimated Market Value
$150.00 - $350.00 USD (heavily dependent on the authenticity verification of the multiple signatures)
Auction Estimate
$200.00 - $400.00 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired at a live performance or through private collection. Inscriptions indicate direct interaction between the band and the original owner.
Art Historical Significance
Significant as a collaborative cultural artifact of the New Orleans Jazz revival in the late 1950s. The presence of multiple signatures from notable jazz figures like Doc Cheatham and Omer Simeon elevates this from a common record to a historical document.
Notable Features
Includes a rare 'full band' set of signatures: Wilbur De Paris, Sidney De Paris, Doc Cheatham, John W. Smith Jr., Omer Simeon, Hayes J. Alvis, Sonny White, and Wilbert Kirk.
Condition Issues
Visible foxing and brown spotting along the top edge of the cover; corner bumping and edge wear; possible ring wear; yellowing of the white cardstock base.
Conservation Recommendations
Place in an acid-free archival polyethylene sleeve; store vertically in a cool, dry, dark environment; use a high-quality inner sleeve for the vinyl to prevent further off-gassing damage.
Collector Notes
signed LP cover, LP inside