Adventures in Jazz Collecting: The Auction, Part 3

Guess what came in the mail yesterday? Remember that Jazz Auction in which I participated a few weeks ago. Well the records are here and now I can tell you how I did. Remember, I bid blind on these records, based on the written descriptions, and I gambled on quite a few of the packages. I was competing with a bunch of sellers/dealers who were at the scene and had the opportunity to physically view the records. Also, I paid an extra 17 percent above what I bid because that was the fee taken by the auction house. In any case, here are the results, part one of three: Live vicariously through me if you please. The prices listed below include the 17 percent extra fee, so they are the amount I actually paid for each package. Also, the listings as I describe them below are similar to the way they were listed in the auction itself.

Wes Montgomery, Full House. Price: $70.20. This is an original blue-label Riverside

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A Couple More Surprises For the Price Guide

Here are some of the other interesting items we’ve been watching on eBay. Nothing for the $1,000 bin, but there are other collectibles, aren’t there?

This is one I’ve never thought about as a major collectible, but it seems to be getting more popular among collectors, as are some of the other records on the Impulse label: Roy Haynes, Out of the Afternoon, Impulse A-23. This features Roland Kirk as a sideman and is a nice record. Perhaps the value is going up because Roy is still alive and well and playing formidably, keeping the tradition alive. Anyway, this record was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $136.49.

Would you feel comfortable bidding on this record: Dexter Gordon, Our Man in Paris, Blue Note 4146? The seller listed the item as

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Today on Ebay, January 15, 2009

After a week of slow days, it was quite a pleasant surprise to log on today and find a large number of nice collectibles to watch, and perhaps even a couple on which to place a bid or two. So, without further ado, here are some items for the Jazz Collector files, and, eventually, for the Jazz Collector Price Guide:

Thelonious Monk, Monk, Prestige  7053. This is an original pressing with the cover art designed by Andy Warhol. The seller provides some interesting background on the cover. For instance, it notes that the cover was hand-written by Warhol’s mother, which we never knew. For the seller, it always pays to have nice detailed information like this. This record, which looks to be in M- condition, is currently priced at $540. 

Miles Davis, Bags’ Groove, Prestige 7109. This is listed as a yellow label. We asked the seller which address and it is a New Jersey address, so be aware. The record and cover both seem to be in VG+ condition. The current price is about $50. 

Dave Bailey Quintet, Reaching Out, Jazztime 003. This is an original pressing. The record seems to be in M- condition and the cover looks about VG. The current price is $305. 

Here’s one that wouldn’t normally hit our radar screen, but we’re sure some of you Jazz Collector readers out there will be interested: Albert Ayler, New York Eye and Ear Control, ESP 1016. This looks to be in M-/VG++ condition. The current price is $91. 

Here are a bunch more from today:

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