Jerry:
I'd definitely go for the upside-down decal. This is only the second
instance of the anomoly I'm aware of. (The Vernis-Martin example is in our
upcoming book, "A World of Antique Phonographs.") I have a golden oak XVI
myself, but I'd trade it in a heartbeat for one with an upside-down decal. What
gets me is that apparently neither the dealer nor the customer had a problem
with paying $200 for a Victrola (or $400 in the instance of the Vernis-Martin)
with its decal inverted! It seems as though the lid could have been returned to
Camden for replacement/repair As far as the oak example is concerned, a good
refinisher (and I'll bet Victor had plenty of them) could have reworked only
the single affected interior panel. Even a complete lid refinish wouldn't
have been a big deal. It's quite a mystery...
George Paul