High Priced Vinyl? ‘Tis in the Eye of the Beholder
Just checked my eBay watch list and came right up with a pair of high-priced items that we had mentioned here before, starting with Tommy Flanagan Overseas, Prestige 7134. This was an original deep groove New York yellow label listed in M- condition for the record and Ex for the cover. When we first saw this record, the bidding was more than $1,000 and it hadn’t reached its reserve price. The record eventually surpassed the reserve price and beyond, selling for $3,938.
This one sold for more than $2,000 but, frankly, I thought it would sell for more, given it’s rarity: Kenny Dorham, Harlem Youth Unlimited, Jazz at P.S. 175. This was an original pressing listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. I asked in the previous post: Is this the rarest of them all? No one seemed to say no, so I’m assuming perhaps it is. It did not get the highest price of them all, although the price was quite high, $2,225, in fact. I would LOVE a copy of this record, but not at $2,225, thank you.
Let’s check out the e-mail bag:
How about an jazz vinyl auction in Paris on November 24? How about anything in Paris? Here’s a note from a reader about the upcoming auction:
Hello, your site is wonderful. My jazz records collection will be sold in Paris at auction the 24th of November. Maybe you be gentle enough to evacuate this on your Web site. Here is the link to the auction to use. I am afraid it is in French . . . Regards. David Manet
And here is the link: http://www.ferri-drouot.com/flash/index.jsp?id=22909&idCp=46&lng=fr
We also have our reliable friend CeeDee weighing in with a bunch of links and the text: “Now might be a great time to sell, but if you want to buy, not so much . . . wow!”
And here are the links:
Miles Davis, Relaxin’, Prestige 7129. This was a New Jersey pressing. The record was VG and the cover VG+. It sold for $97.99, which seems pretty reasonable to me. Even low, perhaps.
Miles Davis, The Musings of Miles, Prestige 7007. This was an original New York pressing in VG condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $300. Again, this seems reasonable. CeeDee — what am I missing?
Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section, Contemporary 3532. This looks to be an original pressing in perhaps VG or VG+ condition based on the description. The cover is VG+. The price was $363.99. Again, within normal range.
Kenny Drew, Undercurrent, Blue Note 4059. This was an original pressing with the deep groove on one side. How weird is that, by the way, that it was issued that way? Both the record and the cover were listed in Ex condition. The final price was $2,225. High, yes. Insanely out of the current market range? I’d say, not.
Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot, Volume 1, Prestige New Jazz 8260. This was an original purple label deep groove pressing listed in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $812.
Finally, there was John Coltrane, Crescent, Impulse 66. This was an original white promo pressing listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The final price was $404.99.
Al,as you can see when you double check your link,Relaxing sold for $373,not $97. Most folks I know view hundreds-or thousands- of dollars spent in pursuit of rare lps a luxury. I regrettably must concur. When I sell “high”,but then find it near impossible to replace the lp at a reasonable cost,I wonder if it’s just inevitable or whether I’m contributing to my own grief( insert sob here).
The Dorham is rare but not on a desirable (to some) label. For me, the small-label or private press records are more intriguing… but I don’t have $2,000 to spend on an LP!
That Miles Davis, The Musings of Miles, Prestige 7007 was not an original pressing as it has ads for later records on the back cover. Also that Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot, Volume 1, Prestige New Jazz 8260 wasn’t a deep groove as listed.
the miles 7007 is a second press. the first press should have a 446 address.
undercurrent was issued w/ a dg on one side only, although there is some debate if there is a true first press of this record since some no dg copies have been found with promo stamps, at least according to cohen.
The PRLP 7007 is probably a 3rd pressing, as the 1st pressing should have the “Non Breakable High Fidelity” on the label, the 2nd has the HI FI on the label and the 3rd pressing the HIGH FIDELITY like this one has. As mentioned, the cover is not the 1st art jacket.
The results of the Paris auction are available.
See the Blue Notes here: http://www.ferri-drouot.com/html/index.jsp?r=blue+note&Submit=OK&id=22909&npp=100&lng=fr&aff=5&ordre=1&np=1&recherche=true
It seems some records would have reached higher prices if sold on Ebay.
Any comments on those prices?