Comments on: How Many Original Copies of Rare Jazz Vinyl Have Survived (and Other Existential Questions)

By: Scott Lowrey

Scott Lowrey — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 22:05:26 +0000

I just got a 1st copy of Cliff Jordan BLP 1565 from my local store. Traded in a few hours before VG+/VG+. I asked him to hold it for me as I could make it till after work. So I ask him the price, I was expecting to hear $250-$500, and he responded $68.00. I am a long time customer but he clearly based this off the UA price. So far my excitement for getting the record has exceeded my guilt. I live in Florida and Blue Notes never come thru the door.

Just felt like sharing the story with people who’d appreciate it.

By: Seconds Anyone? | jazzcollector.com

Seconds Anyone? | jazzcollector.com — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 19:27:49 +0000

[…] also had that later pressing Introducing Lee Morgan on Savoy that we spotlighted a few days ago How Many Original Copies of Rare Jazz Vinyl Have Survived (And Other Existential Questions). When we highlighted this record, the bidding was in the $400 range. The final price was $797.99. […]

By: austingonzo

austingonzo — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 01:45:15 +0000

I held a copy of Candy in my hands and put it back in the bins within the past 6 months. It was being sold by a local store who was liquidating the collection of a local musician and DJ who passed away 5 years ago. I didn’t think I could explain the $300 purchase price to my lovely wife. Yes, the copy was in rougher condition, but still, right?

I try not to have regrets in this hobby. I picked up quite a few less expensive items from this collection, and probably feel worse for passing on the two Liberty Duke Pearson records, than Candy, frankly.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 01:34:51 +0000

A significant proportion of the rarest and best records in outstanding condition went to Japan in the 80’s and 90’s. These will never resurface.

By: Al

Al — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 15:18:57 +0000

Part of my guess was based on how many originals were printed in the first place, which is also a guess. Were there 1,000 copies of something like Candy or 1568 for a first pressing? Certainly no more than that, and probably less. If you think about how many people are interested in collecting these now, you can see why the demand for these gems is so high and why many buyers probably believe it is an investment that will keep going up. I’ve never bought for investment purposes, but I must admit, I will not pass up a bargain even I have two copies of the record already. I think that has more to do with the thrill of the hunt as opposed to the idea that someday I will be able to resell the record and make money. I’ve always enjoyed buying records — still do — but as for selling them, it doesn’t do anything for me.

By: Anders Wallinder-Mähler

Anders Wallinder-Mähler — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 13:26:03 +0000

Yes Interesting questions! Collections – hidden or not hidden? I guess you have collectors that are accumulators over long time and buyer/sellers that are very active in upgrading buying selling collections. Locally in Stockholm have unearthed maybe 6-8 collections the last year – mostly from elderly gentlemen that either died or wanted to cash in. I guess the most common is when a collector has died or is terminally ill and he/she or relatives sell it all.

But were they “hidden” – I really don’t know….and does it matter? Our Dottorjazz friends’ collection here is surely not hidden since he is well known and has published info based on his personal collection of 1st pressing. Also Fredrik here likes to share his collection. In Japan I’m sure a lot of OG’s are in personal collections since they accumulated so much in the 70’s 80’s and 90’s.

My collection is not so exposed on the net but I post on Insta sometimes and Facebook “Jazz vinyl Lovers” a little more frequent. But sure people can not see my OG of BN 1550 and it’s not for sale….;-)
Well at the end of the day I guess you’ll have to pose some Q’s to establish how many OG BN1550 there are out there for sale or not. It will all be speculation of course. First you have to find out how many OG’s were pressed. Then how many copies are likely to be in VG+ or better condition? How many were lost in fire and floods or other mishaps. Then the factor how many we see exposed regularly online and sold on ebay and discogs. Some were the same copy yes but anyway. So finally we get a guessing number and I think Al is about right – maybe 100 for candy. Even less for 1568 and probably more for 1550. That’s my guess….!

By: dottorjazz

dottorjazz — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 11:49:37 +0000

thinking of a census: am I out of this world?

By: Rudolf

Rudolf — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 07:08:30 +0000

There must be at least something like a hundred of hidden collections, on the Continent and in the UK. Stacked away in family mansions, sometimes with people around who are unaware of their presence.
Owners or heirs who pay respect to what has been in the family as long as they can remember. People who don’t come out on Instagram, or on the jazzcollector site.
If, by sheer coincidence, a collection sees the daylight, people like Paris Jazz Corner or Vinyl House in the UK will be there to bring them in the open.
I think that hidden collections in the USA are less likely. The society is more open and people are moving around more frequently.
The big unknown is Japan.

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 02:20:59 +0000

Thank you for the response.One thing I’ve learned in the last year is a lot of those older blue note albums in good shape are more rare than I thought.Happy listening.

By: Japhy

Japhy — Sun, 11 Dec 2022 17:46:03 +0000

It’s so hard to speculate on how many copies exist, especially because it’s not just the copies we *know* are out there, it’s the ones we *don’t* know are out there — the ones that have never left the original owner.

For example, I recently was blessed to inherit the collection of my great uncle. In the collection, which was in his possession for the past 70+ years, was a Byrd on Transition and a few others of that ilk, in beautiful condition. He’d owned the records his whole life. Collectors don’t know about people like him. Well, they know they’re out there but they don’t know how to find them because these folks have no interest in getting rid of their collection. It’s often not until they pass that a disinterested family member reaches out to a dealer.

I follow a Jazz vinyl lovers page on Facebook, and a guy there recently unearthed (if we are to believe the story, although it seemed legit based on photos) a nearly complete collection of pristine 1500 series Blue Notes from a 93-year-old man. So there are probably more out there than we think, though maybe not many more.