Autographs Redux

Since I wrote about collecting autographs recently, I’ve been keeping a watch on eBay for autographed LPs and other items. Generally, my theory holds that, with some notable exceptions, autographs don’t dramatically increase the worth of a collectible. Here’s a case in point: A few weeks ago an autographed copy of the Barry Galbraith LP Guitar in the Wind, Decca 9200, sold on eBay for $41 in VG condition, not much more than what a non-autographed copy might sell for.

 But, then again, there are the exceptions. How about this one: An original copy of the Clifford Brown and Max Roach LP Study in Brown, Emarcy 36037, autographed by Clifford. When you consider that Clifford died in 1956, this is a pretty rare item.  The record and label were in VG condition. Normally, it would go for around $20. With the autograph it sold for $648.

 There were some surprises on eBay over the weekend. As we pointed out last week, a mint copy of Tommy Flanagan Overseas, Prestige 7134 was available for a start price of $1,100. We were curious how high the bidding might go, given that a similar copy sold for $2,414 last year. Well, guess what? It didn’t sell at all. No bids. Not only that, the same dealer also had mint copies of the following records that didn’t sell: Ray Bryant Trio, Prestige 7098, start price of $950; Elmo Hope Trio, Prestige 7010, start price of $950; George Wallington Quintet at the Café Bohemia, Progressive PLP 1001, start price of $1,100. The only record this dealer sold this weekend was a copy of Lawrence Marable Tenorman, Jazz West JWLP-8, which went for $585.75. I have to be honest: I’ve never even seen this record in 35 years of collecting.  

It’ll be interesting to keep an eye out on what happens with other items he has listed this week, including two Clifford Jordan Blue Notes, as well as the Flanagan relisted at $850 with a buy-it-now price of $950. I’m tempted to go for $950, but in the interest of my marriage I’m going to exercise restraint. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if the record is gone by the time most of you read this. It is one of the rarest of jazz collectibles and it has sold for much more in the past

 We spent a good part of the weekend at the WFMU Spring Record and CD Fair in New York. We’ll give you a report tomorrow. Friday will be give-away day. We’ll look through our stuff and try to come up with something interesting and fun. Right now we’re listening to a nice copy of Miles Davis, The Musings of Miles, Prestige 7007. It’s a New Jersey pressing, but it’s very clean. Our New York pressing is not nearly as clean, so we’ll be putting it up on eBay soon. We’ll let you know when it gets posted. See you tomorrow. — Al