Today on Ebay: What to Do With A Sealed Record?
We’re watching a few interesting items on eBay today, including several of our own records for sale. This one is interesting: Jimmy Heath, Really Big, Riverside 333. This is one of ours. What was interesting was the choice we made. This was a sealed copy: To open or not to open? That was the question. We chose to open, to make sure this was an original pressing that we were selling. However, based on what we’re seeing with prices of sealed records, perhaps we made a mistake. So far there is just one bidder for this LP and the price is around $50. We have a feeling if the record were listed as “still sealed” there’d be a lot more activity. As it is, it is quite a nice record, featuring Cannonball Adderley as well. So, perhaps someone will get a truly mint original LP for a bargain.
Also, Miles Davis, Cookin’ Prestige 7094. This was one of those that we
had in duplicate, so we’re selling the copy that’s in lesser condition. Unfortunately both of our copies are New Jersey pressings. We’ve been looking for a nice original New York copy for awhile, but the prices have really skyrocketed in the past couple of years — well into the $200 and $300 range, and even up to $400 and above. Anyway, this New Jersey pressing is in VG+ condition and it is still at the starting price of $49 with no bidders.
This is not one of ours: Charlie Rouse, Yeah!, Epic 17012. This is a promo stereo copy. The record is listed as VG++ and the cover is VG+. The price is around $150 with several hours to go.
We’ve also got a close eye on this one: Ike Quebec, It Might As Well Be Spring, Blue Note 4105. This is in M- condition, both the record and the cover. It is currently priced around $150, which is a bit high for this LP, but the condition is spectacular. This is one of the records that would probably be on the bubble in our own collection — we may decide to sell it if we believe the price is right. So we’ll keep an eye on this and then take a look and listen to the one in our collection and make a decision.
Al: I am afraid your seal on the Jimmy Heath – Riverside LP was a fake. Riverside has never issued any sealed albums.
Hi, Rudolf. What do you mean? The record was clearly in a seal, it is in the original rice-paper sleeve, it is an original deep groove pressing and it is certainly unplayed. Are you suggesting that the seal was put on by the retailer? When I started buying records back in the day, I recall buying new Riverside LPs with seals. I’m not sure what you are saying. — al
In the case of the sealed Jimmy Heath Riverside LP, I agree with Al.Rudy is off the mark. Distributors and retailers routinely put shrink wrap on LPs back then. Once the sealed record became the norm that is what customers expected. As for selling sealed vintage LPs on Ebay, I think the wrap should come off. How else is one to know what you’re buying. If the label is not visible there is know way of being sure.-
Charlie
Hi Al: I meant to say that Riversides did not come factory sealed. From a distance, your record looks like it is an original, and I am sure it is, but your seal has been put by a retailer or somebody else, after the album had left the factory.
The only classic ’50/’60-s labels I can think of, which produced factory sealed albums, are Contemporary with the loose bag seal around the art sleeve and Columbia with a sealed plastic inner sleeve.
It’s interesting because, not purchasing jazz records until 1970 or so, I always wondered whether the records came sealed or not. I know when my dad would buy cut-outs down in the Village in the mid-1960s, the records would be sealed — a lot of Riversides. So I guess the retailers were doing that. Very interesting, Rudolf, and thanks for the insight.
Sealed recods often come from bargain sale shops, that usually sealed the record before selling it. It is true that they were not originally sold sealed, but you can find a fine original recrd inside a sealed record…
Recently found this site and find it very entertaining and informative. One question I have for all the heavy vintage Blue Note & Prestige collectors is – since you have both a collectors drive and a deep appreciation for the music – have you bothered to check out reissues rarer LPs – especially the newer gimicy “180 grams” and 45 rpms that few of us can ever find as originals. For the collector with limited time and budget – any recommendations of some of the better and more available reissues would be helpful – or any to definately avoid for that matter. Thanks.
Ed — you should check out Music
Matters (www.musicmattersjazz.com). They occasionally advertise here on the Jazz Collector site. They do these beautifully packaged reissues of Blue Notes on 45 RPM. They include gatefold covers with the original liner notes and additional pictures. I’ve got copies of a couple of the records here and they are quite nice. They are also limited editions, which means they will probably increase in value over time.
Thanks Al. I just heard a Mosaic LP for the first time – it sounded excellent. Are all the Mosaic LPs great sounding or do they vary as the original masters vary ? I know they are also limited, sell out and quickly become quick collectibles.