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Mark Berresford

I am passionate about vintage 78s and have been collecting and writing about them since my early teens, and have been selling them for over 45 years; for the last 23 years full time.

I write and lecture about vintage jazz and syncopated music, and from 1990 to the autumn of 2019 I edited Vintage Jazz Mart, the world’s leading vehicle for buying and selling rare Jazz and Blues 78s.

My ARSC 2011 Award-winning bio-discography of pioneer clarinettist, bandleader, recording artist and composer, Wilbur C. Sweatman is published by the University Press of Mississippi. Beautifully produced in hardback format to the UPof M's renowned high standards, it is profusely illustrated, with many photos appearing in print for the first time. The extensive discography makes all others redundant, and includes take dispositions

where known, performance pitches and recording speeds for every record Sweatman made commercially.  I have also written books on the Black Swan record label, and 1920s racing driver, car designer and Land Speed Record breaker J.G. Parry Thomas.

I am a regular contributor of source material and liner notes to record companies in Britan, Europe, the USA and Canada. My liner notes to the Rivermont Records CD "Dance-O-Mania. Harry Yerkes and The Dawn Of The Jazz Age, 1919-1923" were nominated for a Grammy Award in 2009.  I acted as historical advisor to, and appear in, the film ‘Sicily Jass' about Nick LaRocca and the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.

I am based in the World Heritage status Derwent Valley in the beautiful English county of Derbyshire, surrounded by magnificent scenery, historic country houses, great walks, delightful market towns and some of the oldest and most significant Industrial Archaeology in the world!  We're just 20 minutes from the M1 motorway, 40 minutes from East Midlands Airport and a 1 hour 45 minute train ride from London. We welcome visitors by appointment to browse through our 20,000+ stock of rare 78s of all types, but primarily Jazz, Blues, Dance Bands, Music Hall, Original Cast Theatre and Personality 78 records and Phonograph Cylinders. 

I've been selling 78 rpm records, gramophones and associated ephemera for over 45 years and over that time have built a reputation for fair-dealing and honesty, not least in grading, packing and friendly service!  Every item I sell is guaranteed to be as graded or your money back - no quibbles!

Flying visit to Derbyshire? No time to trawl through my stock of 1000s of 78s? Why not call to see our constantly-changing stock of Records, Gramophones, Phonographs, Books and Antiques at the Matlock Antique Centre, located on the A6 trunk road at Dale Road, Matlock (Tel. 01629 760808).

I'm always interested in buying quality 78 rpm record collections (especially pre -1935 78 rpm Vintage US Jazz and Blues, plus Music Hall,  Personality and Rare Label collections) and associated  books  and ephemera. I will also sell small quantities of  top quality Jazz & Blues 78s on a consignment basis at very competitive commission rates - please enquire for details. I can also provide accurate and authoritative valuations of collections for estate, probate, tax or insurance requirements - email for details (NB: a fee is charged for this service).

 

IMPORTANT! Before contacting me about selling your record collection, please  READ THIS.

PLEASE NOTE: WE DO NOT PROVIDE FREE RECORD VALUATIONS!

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