For the $1,000 Bin: Hank, Sahib, Griffin, Warhol
Here are a few more items for the $1,000 bin.
Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address and all of the other markings that go with it. It was a tough one to assess in terms of condition because the seller notes that it has a couple of marks, one of which was feelable. That would cause me some concern if I were bidding for it, but I wouldn’t have lasted long in the bidding because this one eventually sold for $1,593. The cover was listed in VG+ condition and the vinyl was listed in VG+ to M-, if only it didn’t have the marks. This is one of the really rare Blue Notes and it has previously sold for more than $2,600 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, so we can see why someone would want to take a chance on this album.
Here’s another interesting one we’ve been watching: Sahib Shihab, Sahib’s Jazz Party, Debut 101. This one was being offered
by our new friends at Music Matters. It was an original Danish pressing. The vinyl was listed in near mint condition and the cover as excellent, which I generally interpret into VG+ or VG++, depending upon the description in the listing as well as the reputation of the dealer. This one sold for $1,610.
Finally, there is Johnny Griffin, The Congregation, Blue Note 1580. This was an original pressing in at least VG++ condition, again based on the dealer’s description. It also has the Andy Warhol cover, which adds to its value as a collectible. This one had 381 page views and sold for $1,324.99.
I mentioned the other day seeing an original copy of Johnny Griffin’s Congregation in the same condition go for £401.55 (c$650) on the UK ebay site. It only got a third (112) of the page views. Still too rich for my blood (the mono UA pressings I see of this go for more than I can afford!) but if you’ve got the funds it seems the UK is the place to shop for those early Blue Notes.
Incidentally, if Maarten Kools is reading, there’s a copy of Jutta Hipp at Hickory House Vol 2 (1983 Toshiba mono pressing NM/NM) ending tomorrow from a reliable seller based in Japan (rontokyo). Current price is $31.
Al, I appreciate it may not be the done thing to mention ebay sellers unconnected to your site by name, so apologies for this.
regarding Mobley: ‘..this is one of the really rare blue note’s..’ Do you speak of ammount of coppies (first pressing)
as I have asked before, I am verry curious about the amount of coppies that was usely pressed (first pressings) for blue note. Is there any information about, or was it to much at random??
Does anybody have a clue regarding this?
Because sometimes i don’t get it ,why some BN are so much more than other..
If Al is not offended; thank’s Geraint!
In reply to Maarten’s question:
Larry Cohn from New York – THE Blue Note specialist – told me a while ago only (a maximum of) 800 copies have been pressed of Hank Mobley – BN 1568.
What makes this particular title even more rare, is that is has never been reissued, for instance with West 63rd Inc. or New York labels.
However, this title seem to exist with two label varieties: the first has a 63rd St NYC on one side and a 63rd St New York 23 label on the other side (which is considered to be the “real” first edition or run). The other variety (which I have myself) has 63rd St NYC labels both sides. Unfortunately the back cover of my copy has been extensively “decorated” with drawings of the formal owner…
Peter,
Thanks for the info. However, BN 1568 was recently/currently in reissue on 33 lp as well as a 45rpm double lp.
Maybe this doesn’t count for the die hards here at JC, but it’s good enough for me.
On second thoughts, I’m not sure I have seen a mono United Artists press of 1568. Does anyone know if UA (and/or Liberty) reissued the whole 1500 series in mono?