Back to eBay. The other day I mentioned the seller Keca222 and that $4,049.99 copy of the 12-inch Kenny Dorham Afro-Cuban on Blue Note. The seller also had this one: Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This was a pressing that did not have the New York 23 on one side, which, to some collectors, diminishes its value, although I’ve never seen a clear explanation why that is the case. But, as we know, we collectors can be a bit strange in our predilections, don’t you think? Anyway, this was in VG+ condition for the record and probably EX or Ex+ for the cover. There was the dreaded phrase “feelable scratches,” yet it still sold for $3,650, which is quite a hefty some for this record in that condition, New York 23 or not.

Whilst I’m on the topic, there was also this: Hank Mobley, Soul Station, Blue Note 4031. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing that looked to be in VG++ condition for the record and the cover, based on the seller’s description. The final price was $1,858. As I watch these, my sense is that the prices for the original pressings just keep going up and up. For those of us who have been on eBay since the beginning, we probably missed a lot of opportunities in the early days, not realizing that eBay would create a brand new market dynamic. When I look at the Jazz Collector Price Guide, which I haven’t updated in a few years, there are mint condition copies of this record at well under $1,000. Not anymore. So, it’s an interesting thought: When we look back 10 years from now, will today’s prices look like unimaginable bargains?

This one is from the same auction and the action, so far, is surprisingly subdued: Cannonball Adderley, Somethin’ Else, Blue Note 1595. This is an original pressing that looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. With the auction closing tomorrow, there is only one bid at $200. We’ve seen this record sell for more than $1,000 several times in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, so we’ll see what happens with this copy.

This one, not from the Jazz Record Center auction, is getting some action and will probably sell for a pretty high price: Jackie McLean, New Soil, Blue Note 4013. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The bidding is in the $260 range and there are still four days left in the auction.

Beverly Kenney Sings For Johnny Smith, Roost 2206. This was an original pressing with the blue label and deep grooves. The record was listed in mint condition and the cover was VG++. There were 18 bids and the record sold for $660. I’m sure there are Beverly Kenney records that have sold for a higher price, but that’s the highest that we’ve ever seen in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

The same seller had several other interesting items as well, including: Steve Lacy, Evidence with Don Cherry, New Jazz 8271. This was an original purple label pressing listed in near mint condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. This one sold for $687, setting another record for the Jazz Collector Price Guide. And here’s another:

Hank Mobley, Mobley’s Message, Prestige 7061. This was an original New York yellow label pressing listed in near mint condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $1,204.95. The seller is doing something right and, to his credit, his listings have a very polished and professional look and the pictures are very clear.

Kenny Drew, Undercurrent, Blue Note 4059. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address and the deep groove on one side. Notice how the seller took a nice clear picture of the deep-gooved side and stepped back for the picture of the other side. No matter. This one sold for $960.

That copy of Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’ that we were watching would up selling for $3,507, also not a record, but a pretty hefty price indeed.

I just sold a copy of this record to a dealer, and I would have expected it to get a higher price than it did here:

Bud Powell, Bud!, Blue Note 1571.This was an original pressing in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $203.50. For the record, I sold my copy for $300 and then the dealer was going to have to resell it in Japan for a higher price to make any money on it.

Here’s an interesting one: Lee Morgan, The Cooker, Blue Note 1578. This was a listing without much description, and with a small picture of the label. The seller mentioned the West 63rd address, but didn’t say anything about a deep groove or an ear or a Van Gelder. Zooming in on the photo, I got the sense that it was a deep groove and an original pressing. I’m sure some potential buyers were put off, however. It sold for $363.88 in Ex condition for the record and VG+ for the cover.

Meanwhile, while all that discussion has been taking place here at Jazz Collector, there have been auctions going on at eBay, including:Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This is the semi-original pressing with the West 63rd labels but not the NY 23 label. It was in M- condition for the record and Ex condition for the cover and received a top bid of $3,050. But it did not sell because it didn’t meet the seller’s reserve price.

There were comments on the price of this one as well: Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079. This was the one from the Jazz Record Center in M- condition for the record and M- or VG++ for the cover. Readers were surprised that it sold for “only” $1,792. I tend to agree with the theory that the prices from the Jazz Record Center may be somewhat reduced because they don’t accept Pay Pal, but it’s just a theory. They are certainly the most credible and reliable of the dealers I’ve ever dealt with.

More than forty bids for this (but not nearly that many bidders): Sheila Jordan, Portrait of Sheila, Blue Note 9002. This was an original New York USA pressing listed in M-/VG++ condition for the record and M- for the cover. It sold for $340.55.

We were talking last week about perhaps less of an interest in some of the earlier pre-bop artists and some of the more mainstream labels, such as Norgran. This one is up for bid: Lester Young, The President, Norgran 1005. This is an original yellow label pressing that looks to be in M- condition for the record and at least VG++ or M- for the cover. The start price is $250 and, as yet, there are no bids with about two days left.

We were also talking about white label Riversides, such as Kenny Dorham, Jazz Contrasts, Riverside 239. This is an original white label pressing in what looks to be M- condition for the record and the cover. The start price is $200 and there are no bids.

I always think this one should sell for more:

Cannonball Adderley, Quintet in Chicago, Mercury 20449. This is an original deep groove pressing with the black labels. The record, of course, features John Coltrane.  The record and the cover are in M- condition and the start price is $40. Again, no bids so far. One time we’ve seen this record sell for more than $100 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, but that seems more and more like an aberration.

Boy did I have my eyes on this one: Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk, Prestige 190. This was an original 10-inch pressing in what looked to be VG++ condition for the record and probably VG for the cover. When I was pondering this there were a few hours to go and the price was just in the $110 range. It wound up selling for $430.

Eric Dolphy, Out to Lunch, Blue Note 84163. This was an original stereo pressing in just VG+ condition for the record and the cover, but it was packaged very nicely and we anticipated it would get a nice bid. It did, topping out at $303.

This was a strange one: Jackie McLean, The New Tradition, Ad-Lib 6601. This was an original pressing in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. When we first wrote about it, we noted that there was a buy-it-now price of $2,000. We figured someone would grab it up at that price. No one did. However, the bidding ended up at $1,975. Seems to me if you were willing to bid as much as $1,975 for the record, just buy it for $2,000 and save yourself the stress and aggravation.

Let’s look at some rare records that we may have missed on eBay:

Louis Smith, Smithville, Blue Note 1594. This was an original pressing in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $1,250. That’s not quite the highest price we’ve ever recorded for this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, but it’s definitely up there.

This one got a lot of mentions in the comments, but I wanted to point to it specifically in a post so anyone doing a search can easily find it: Freddie Hubbard, Goin’ Up, Blue Note 4056. This was an original pressing that seemed to be in VG+ or better condition for the record and M- for the cover. It sold for, ahem, $1,259. Whenever I’ve thought of this record I’ve thought of it as Goin’ Up, Up, Up based on the front cover, but that’s just a design element, isn’t it? Took me a while to figure that out.

John Coltrane, Blue Train, Blue Note 1577. This was an original pressing in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. Despite the condition, it still sold for $1,113.

Not sure how this one slipped by us from a couple of months ago:

Grant Green, Idle Moments, Blue Note 4154. This was an original pressing in M- condition for the record and the cover. It was sold by the Jazz Record Center. The price was a fairly astounding $1,025.01.

Sonny Clark Trio, Blue Note 1579. This is an original West 63rd pressing listed in VG+ condition with some minor scratches and EXC for the cover, which seems to be equivalent to VG++ based on the seller’s description. It sold for $760. It used to be records had to be in near mint condition, or close to near mint, to fetch those kinds of collectible prices, but no more. There is a huge demand for any of these high-end collectibles in any condition, and certainly in any condition that will give you a good listening experience.

How about another Blue Note:

Miles Davis Volume 2, Blue Note 1502. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing that was in nice condition for the record, either VG++ or M-, and probably VG+ for the cover. It sold for $393.

And back to France once again: Zoot Sims with Henri Renaud and Jon Eardley, Ducretet Thomson 250-V023. This was an original 10-inch pressing in pretty weak condition, just G for the record with a “constant cackle” and a VG cover. Nevertheless, someone wanted this record enough to pay $299.99 for it — although I am always suspicious of one-bid auctions, because of the possibility that the seller would have a separate account or a ringer make a bid just to spike interest.

Here’s another one that’s hard to figure:

Miles Davis, Steamin’, Prestige 7200. This was an original pressing in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover, very nice with nice pictures. It sold for $68. A few weeks ago were surprised to see a nice copy of this sell for as little as $75, then the Jazz Record Center had a copy sell last week for $307.99, and now we’re back down to $68. What gives? This is definitely a great record, but the yo-yoing price will wreak havoc on followers of the Jazz Collector Price Guide, assuming I get around to updating it one of these days.