Now Available: Vintage Autographs, High End Audio
Oct 12, 2009 Autographs, For Sale
We get all kinds of random inquiries here at Jazz Collector. We’ll post a few here, in case anyone is interested or has any comments.
One of our readers has a set of three vintage photos, autographed, framed and mounted. All three photos appear to be made out to Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis. The signatures are from Dizzy Gillespie: “To my Dixieland friend — Dizzy G” (that’s what it is, although it would be tough to associate Lockjaw with Dixieland); Dave Tough: “To Jaws, Dave Tough;” and Sidney Catlett: “Blow that horn Jaws! — Sidney Catlett.” It is certainly an interesting piece of jazz memorabilia. If you are interested drop us at note at al@jazzcollector.com and we’ll put you in touch with the seller.
Another of our readers is moving from New York to California and has a batch of high-end audio equipment he is looking to sell. This includes a Klyne pre-amp; B&K stereo amp; Carver tuner; Sota turntable; Sumiko tonearm; Snell speakers and
Tags: Dave Tough Autograph, Dizzy Gillespie Autograph, Lockjaw Davis, Sidney Catlett Autograph
Jazz Vinyl Countdown: Bird’s First, Autographed
Oct 6, 2009 10-Inch LPs, Autographs, The Great Jazz Vinyl Countdown
Here’s an interesting test: With this winnowing down of the jazz vinyl collection, are we still a collector or have we morphed into something else – perhaps a dealer-slash-collector-slash-aficionado or something other equally endearing term? Well, we have two copies of this pretty rare 10-inch record: Jay McShann, Kansas City Memories, Decca 5503. This record is noteworthy because it is the first studio recording of one Charles Christopher Parker Jr. Bird’s solos on The Jumpin’ Blues and (especially) Hootie Blues usher in a new era in jazz. It doesn’t get any better than that, does it? Both of our copies of this record are in pretty nice condition, but one of them has a bonus feature: An autograph on the back by
Tags: Charlie Parker, Decca Records, Jay McShann
Warhol Anyone?
Jul 8, 2009 Autographs, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, RCA
I had mentioned a few weeks ago how I’d been getting a few requests a week from people interested either in selling collections or in getting advice on what to do with their collections. I’ve seen some interesting items. Here’s one: A guy in Toronto goes into a store and buys the Count Basie record with the Andy Warhol cover (RCA 1112). It costs him 25 cents. He takes it home and notices that there’s a name written on the cover and figures, no big deal, it’s just the previous owner. Then he looks closer. The signature reads “Andy Warhol.” He goes online to look at other Warhol autographs. Sure enough, it’s a stone-cold match. So here he is, sitting with an original Warhol cover signed by Warhol. And he has no idea what it’s worth. He sent me a note looking for advice, and I told him I had no idea what it was worth either. I suggested he try Soetheby’s or Chistie’s or some other auction house. He was advised to start any auction with a price of $500. I haven’t heard back from him, but, if anyone is interested
One For the $3,000 Bin
May 27, 2009 $1000 Records, Autographs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, Price Guide
Here’s one that sold for more than $3,000 the other day: Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588. This was an original pressing in M- condition, both record and cover. It had the advantage of being sold by Euclid Records, which is one of the larger sellers on eBay and has an excellent reputation. This copy sold for $3,416, which puts it among the Top Five we’ve recorded on the Jazz Collector Price Guide. If you click the previous Price Guide link, it should take you to a page where all of the records are sorted by highest prices first, which is always a fun way to view the Price Guide.
Speaking of prices, we’ve got some nice items closing tomorrow at pretty reasonable prices, and we just put up some interesting new items that are closing next week. Among the more interesting items we have up now are a Lexington Avenue pressing of Paul Chambers, Whims of Chambers, Blue Note 1534. This is closing tomorrow and is currently about about $180. For next week
Tags: Euclid Records, Herbie Hancock, Paul Chambers, Sonny Clark, Sonny Rollins
For Sale: Louis Armstrong Autograph
May 19, 2009 Autographs, Books/Magazines, For Sale
I just posted an interesting item on The Jazz Collector Store on eBay: A copy of the Louis Armstrong autobiography Satchmo, My Life In New Orleans, which is autographed by Louis Armstrong. It is signed in large print on the title page: “To Joel From Satchmo Louis Armstrong.” The Satchmo is underlined. I have a receipt stating that I paid $270 for this item nearly 10 years ago, but I just posted it for $200. I did a quick search on eBay and there are not that many Armstrong autographs available and none quite as strong as this one, since it is an inscribed autobiography. Since the item is in the store and not up on auction, it could go fast, so I wanted to make sure I gave a heads-up to all of you who read Jazz Collector in case you wanted to grab it. If you buy it and tell me you read about it at Jazz Collector, I’ll give you an additional $10 discount. Can’t beat that.
Tags: Louis Armstrong
Today on Ebay: Fuller, Parlan and McCoy (For Sale)
Mar 25, 2009 Autographs, Blue Note, For Sale, Impulse, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay
SHHHHHHHHHH. It’s so quiet on eBay today we wouldn’t want to disturb any of the sleeping buyers and sellers. I have a sense that the economy is starting to wreak a little havoc on the jazz collectibles market — not on the high-end collectibles — but in the mid-tier. We’ll see. These things tend to go in cycles. Perhaps it’s a good time to be buying. Anyway, it is quite quiet on eBay today, but there are a few things worth noting, including:
Curtis Fuller, Bone and Bari, Blue Note 1572. This is an original pressing in M- condition, both record and cover, and it features an autograph by Curtis Fuller. Not to mention the presence of Sonny Clark on piano. The opening bid price for this record is about $140 and, as of now, there are no bids. In the Jazz Collector Price Guide we’ve seen this record sell for nearly $700 in M- condition without an autograph. So maybe it is a time to be buying.
Tags: Curtis Fuller, Horace Parlan, McCoy Tyner, Round Again Records
Getz & An Autographed Stitt for the Price Guide
Feb 15, 2009 Autographs, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, Verve
Here are some records we’ve been watching at Jazz Collector and which will be entered soon into the Jazz Collector Price Guide. We’re big fans of the Verve label and we believe there are still bargains to be had among Verve, Norgran and Clef LPs. This one, however, usually fetches a pretty collectible price, as it did recently with two separate copies: Stan Getz in Stockholm, Verve 8213. One of these was sold by Euclid Records and went for $210.50 in M- condition, both record and cover. The other copy was sold by a relatively new seller and was in VG++ condition, both record and cover, and it sold for $205.50.
We often like to watch autographed copies of records signed by our favorite artists. Here’s one: Sonny Stitt, Prestige 7024. This was an original New York pressing signed by Stitt. The record was VG+ and the cover was VG. The price was $133.61.
Some of the items we watch fail to get any bids. Here’s one: Donald Byrd, Byrd’s Eye View, Transition 4. This was in VG condition, both record and cover, and did not have a booklet. The starting price was $349 and there were no bids. We used to keep track of these in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, but not anymore. Now we track records that actually sell.
Tags: Donald Byrd, Jazz Collector Price Guide, Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz, Transition Records
Today on Ebay, February 10, 2009
Feb 10, 2009 10-Inch LPs, Autographs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige
Pretty quiet on eBay today, although there are a few nice items, as always. We at Jazz Collector have a few auctions closing today, including: Art Farmer with Sonny Rollins, Prestige 177. This is a 10-inch LP. It’s in VG/VG+ condition and is currently in the $30 price range. We’re also selling this nice jazz guitar LP: Johnny Pisano and Billy Bean, Take Your Pick, Decca 9212. This is an original pressing that’s in VG+/VG++ condition and it’s also in the $30 range as of now. We’re also selling LPs with autographs by Woody Herman, plus George Barnes and Bucky Pizzarelli, so please, take a look.
Among other items, there’s an original pressing of Sonny Clark, Sonny’s Crib, Blue Note 1576. This one looks to be in VG++ condition. the current price is $282, but it has yet to meet the seller’s reserve. As a buyer, I’m not a big fan of reserve-price auctions. I’d rather the seller set a high base price if he
Tags: Art Farmer, Billy Bean, Decca Records, Epic Records, Jazz Collector Price Guide, John Pisano, Phil Woods, Sonny Clark, Sonny Rollins, Thad Jones, Woody Herman
A Mint Curtis Fuller, Autographs from Herbie Mann and Maynard Ferguson
Oct 20, 2008 Autographs, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Savoy
Among the interesting items on eBay the next couple of days, are a couple that we at Jazz Collector are offering under our nom d’ebay AJDoctor. This one is particularly interesting: The Curtis Fuller Jazztet with Benny Golson, Savoy 12143. We had this album in our collection for many years and it was sealed and we never opened it. When we decided to sell it, we figured we’d have to open it to see if it was an original pressing. We didn’t expect it to be, but it was. An original, red label pressing, unplayed. It’s also some pretty solid music, with Lee Morgan and Benny Golson on the front line with Fuller.
Tags: Curtis Fuller, Emarcy, Herbie Mann, Maynard Ferguson, Mode
Latest Additions to Price Guide
Oct 15, 2008 Autographs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Norgran, Prestige, Verve
Here are updates on some of the records we’ve mentioned here in the past few days. We’re not using links with these, since there are links on these elsewhere on the site. You can just do a search if you want to look at the original. Nothing too crazy here as far as prices, but nothing at all that would lead you to believe there’s any kind of slowdown. These will also be added to the Price Guide, as soon as I finish this post. Here goes:
Ben Webster, The Consummate Artistry, Norgran 1001. When we first spotted this, it was at about $30 with just a few hours to go. It sold for $203.51. It was an original pressing in M-/VG++ condition.
Ornette Coleman, The Shape of Jazz to Come, Atlantic 1317. This was with the bulls-eye label in VG++/VG++ condition. It sold for $72.60
Tags: Art Blakey, Atlantic, Ben Webster, Bennie Green, Columbia, Dizzy Gillespie, Donald Byrd, Horace Silver, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Red Garland, Sabu, Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz, Steve Lacy, Tadd Dameron, The Three Sounds
From the Archives: A $38,000 Bill Evans Letter: A $129,000 Trane Manuscript
Oct 10, 2008 Autographs, Features, Prestige
Here at Jazz Collector, we usually focus on jazz records, mostly what’s bought and sold on eBay. There are lots of reasons for that but, fundamentally, the reason is that we believe eBay sets the market’s prices. What’s more it’s a public market, so everyone can see it and monitor it and decide if he or she wants to participate. And finally, it’s a true worldwide market. Check out The Great eBay Debate for other opinions. But there are, we recognize, other places for jazz collectibles, and other objects d’jazz than vinyl. We were reminded of this as we were going through our archives and came across this article from 2005 referencing a huge sale of jazz collectibles by the auction house Guernsey’s. I’ll repost the whole item below, but note just a couple of items: The Bill Evans letter to John Coltrane that sold for more than $38,000 and the original manuscript and text for Trane’s A Love Supreme, which sold for more than $129,000.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Bill Evans, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Gerry Mulligan, Guernsey's, John Coltrane
Autographs Redux
May 2, 2005 Autographs, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige
Since I wrote about collecting autographs recently, I’ve been keeping a watch on eBay for autographed LPs and other items. Generally, my theory holds that, with some notable exceptions, autographs don’t dramatically increase the worth of a collectible. Here’s a case in point: A few weeks ago an autographed copy of the Barry Galbraith LP Guitar in the Wind, Decca 9200, sold on eBay for $41 in VG condition, not much more than what a non-autographed copy might sell for.
But, then again, there are the exceptions. How about this one: An original copy of the Clifford Brown and Max Roach LP Study in Brown, Emarcy 36037, autographed by Clifford.
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Tags: Barry Galbraith, Clifford Brown, Clifford Jordan, Decca, Elmo Hope, Emarcy, George Wallington, Jazz West, Lawrence Marable, Max Roach, Miles Davis, Progressive, Ray Bryant, Tommy Flanagan, WFMU Record Fair
What’s A Signed LP By Frank Sinatra Worth?
Jun 23, 2004 Autographs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, Verve
Here are the results of some of the items we were watching yesterday on eBay:
Jackie McLean, The New Tradition, Ad Lib 6601. This was an original pressing of this very rare record. The dealer uses different terminology than we use for grading, but it seems like the record was what we would call VG++ and the cover was VG+. Price: $798
Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This was an original pressing from the same dealer as the Jackie McLean record. This was in VG++/VG++ condition. It sold for $713. We expected this to go for a higher price. In our Price Guide
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Tags: Ad Lib, Frank Sinatra, Jackie McLean, Lee Konitz, Lee Morgan, Sonny Rollins
The Tal Farlow Album, Autographed
Jun 17, 2004 10-Inch LPs, Autographs, Blue Note, Clef, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Norgran
For those of you keeping score at home, here are some of the items we’ve been watching on eBay:
Tal Farlow, The Tal Farlow Album, Norgran 1047. This is an autographed copy in M-/M- condition. Price: $249.95. This was one of those records I planned to bid on but figured the price would go too high because of the condition of the LP and the presence of the autograph. The first bid was $249.95 and I expected it to go way up from there. But nobody else bid, including me.
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Tags: Andy Warhol, Art Pepper, Billie Holiday, Bobby Jaspar, Cecil Taylor, David Stone Martin, Dexter Gordon, Donald Byrd, Fran Thorne, Freddie Redd, Intro, Jutta Hipp, RCA, Rene Thomas, Ronnie Scott, Roost, Sonny Stitt, Tal Farlow, Tempo, Transition, Tubby Hayes
Billie Record, Warhol Cover
Jun 15, 2004 10-Inch LPs, Autographs, Clef, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige
More eBay watching today. Here are some of the items and dealers we’re keeping an eye on for you:
Billie Holiday at Jazz At the Philharmonic, Clef 169. This is a 10-inch LP with the beautiful illustration on the cover that is either by David Stone Martin or Andy Warhol. We looked in our price guide for earlier mint copies of this LP and it sold twice recently, for $610 and $325. This copy is also near mint and was only in the $70 range as we posted this.
Tags: Andy Warhol, Ben Webster, Benny Green, Billie Holiday, David Stone Martin, Emarcy, JATP, Jutta Hipp, Kenny Burrell, VeeJay, Wynton Kelly
Some Stories on Sal Nistico
Jun 3, 2004 Autographs, Blue Note
We received some interesting letters about our item last week on Sal Nistico. Here are a couple:
“I enjoy your newsletter very much. Your encounter with Sal Nistico Jr. struck a chord with me. From the first I heard Papa Sal on the Mangione Brothers albums I was a huge fan. The only time I heard him live was a complete surprise for me. Sometime in the mid-’60s I went to the Prom Ballroom in St. Paul, MN., to catch a one nighter by the Basie band. The fist set had just started and as I entered the room my eyes went immediately to the stage to see who as blowing that torrential tenor.
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Tags: Art Pepper, JR Monterose, Lee Morgan, Miles Davis, Sal Nistico
Signed LPs By Phil Woods, Tal Farlow
May 25, 2004 Autographs, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Verve
Today we’ll spend a little time watching eBay.
Here are some of the interesting items from the past couple of days. I especially like the LPs autographed by Woods and Farlow, not just because of the signatures, which are cool, but also because the records seem to be in nice condition.
Phil Woods, Warm Woods, Epic 3436, in M- condition and autographed by Woods. Price: $395
Tal Farlow, Fascinatin’ Rhythm, Verve 8011, in M- condition and autographed by Tal. Price: $149.95
Here’s another interesting guitar collectible. I know there are stories out there about Dick Garcia, so maybe one of our guitar collectors can help us out. We have a Guitar Corner section in the Forums section of the Website, but so far the traffic’s been pretty light.
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Tags: Argo, Dawn, Dick Garcia, Epic, Paul Chambers, Paul Gonsalves, Phil Woods, Tal Farlow
Jazz Collector, Ahem, “The Greatest Thing I’ve Ever Read”
May 6, 2004 Autographs, Jazz Memoirs
Today we turn things over to some readers. We appreciate all of your letters and the great support we’re already getting from the community after just two weeks. If you sent us a note and we haven’t replied, it’s just because we’re a little overwhelmed right now. Here are some of the things our readers have shared with us:
“It’s great to read your newsletter. I feel the same way about my father as you do about being introduced to jazz. I was hearing jazz at my house as a kid way before I migrated to my generation’s rock music. I eventually came back to jazz I my 20s and have stayed there since.
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Tags: Barney Kessel, Gene Ammons, Thelonious Monk, Wes Montgomery
Collecting Autographs
Apr 4, 2004 Autographs, Features
It’s always surprised me that jazz collectors seem to place only marginal value in autographed albums or other memorabilia. There are exceptions of course: A Charlie Parker signature on a contract or a Billie Holiday inscription on a book are extraordinarily rare collectibles that fetch a small fortune whenever they appear on eBay or on auction lists from dealers.
But my experience is that autographs don’t necessarily do much to enhance the value of a collectible. To test this, I recently did a search of completed auctions on eBay in the category of jazz using the key word “autographed.” The results confirmed my theory:
Tags: Art Taylor, Features, Louis Armstrong, Sonny Rollins, Zoot Sims