Collectible Jazz Vinyl on a Summer’s Day
Here’s a pretty cool jazz collectible that is closing today on eBay: J. R. Monterose, Blue Note 1536. This looks to be an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record is in VG+ condition, or perhaps even better. The cover has an autograph by J. R. that looks authentic to these eyes, but I am no expert. The cover is probably in VG or VG+ condition. This is a nice collectible with or without the autograph, which, to me, enhances the appeal, although some collectors differ on that account. Anyway, the bidding is in the $950 range with about 10 hours left on the auction.
Here’s one you don’t see often: Jack Sheldon Quintet with Zoot Sims, Jazz West JWLP-2. This looks to be an original 10-inch pressing. It’s hard to rate the condition based on the seller’s description, so it’s hard to figure what the value might be. In the past, the record has sold for as much as $560 and there are several instances of it selling for more than $300. You can have this copy for a buy-it-now price of $227.50, which seems reasonable, but then there are the questions about condition. We’ll keep an eye and see what happens. The auction price is now $175, closing in four days.
Following up on a few other records we’d been watching, there was Lester Young, The President Plans With the Oscar Peterson Trio, Norgran 1054. This was an original yellow label pressing courtesy of the Jazz Record Center. The record looked to be in M- condition for the vinyl and the cover. When we posted this on Jazz Collector the bidding was in the $165 range. The final price was $610.
From that same auction was Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet, Prestige 7029. This was an original New York yellow label pressing. The record and cover looked to be in VG++ condition. The final price was $531. Never thought of this one as particularly collectible, but I guess I was wrong: Zoot Sims in Paris, United Artists 15013. This was a sealed copy that sold for $223.
Finally, we’ll add one to the $1,000 bin: Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588. The record was listed in VG+ condition, but the seller warned that it played with some mild surface noise, so I would bring that grade down to VG at best. The cover looked to be VG+. The final price was $1,123.22
Interesting to see the price of the Norgran. I never understood their low pricing given both the quality of the music with artists like Billie Holiday Charlie Parker, etc, and then Dave Stone Martin covers. Itself enought to buy a record even if the music is not top, so I bought a lot over the years. And recording quality was hight on most if not all.
…Surprised to see that the Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588 went for such a low price given that many in this condition have gone for a lot more in past. It just goes to show that this really is a buyers market nowadays. There are definitely some deals to be had on eBay, which I suspect is a result of the current state of the world, and the fact that so many are still out of work unfortunately.
Doesn’t look like that J. R. Monterose had a frame cover.
The Montrose was originally sold by Bob Dkujic. The reseller did quite well with it.