Al:

My jazz collecting the past 25 years has morphed mainly to jazz autographs. There is something about a genuine signature that makes an item come alive: This was actually in the hands of Billie, Bird, Trane, etc. One must be careful to not obtain a fake, but I have mainly dealt with reputable dealers, and over time, I have become more savvy in finds on sites such as eBay.

I did bid on this Coltrane item, but exited the bidding when it went above $2000.

The prizes of my collection are signed photographs, some contracts, some personal letters, etc. To give you an idea of some of my prized items, here is a partial list:

Jelly Roll Morton (very hard to find – I have 2, one of which is sheet music)

Bix Beiderbecke

James P Johnson (photo)

Charlie Christian

Fats Navarro (photo)

Clifford Brown (photo, Study in Brown album)

Booker Little

Serge Chaloff

Charlie Parker (2 photos, a note to Chan, a contract, a signature by his entire quartet)

Lester Young (2 photos, one 78 RPM record)

Coleman Hawkins (multiple photos, cancelled check)

Django Reinhardt (photo, concert program)

Wes Montgomery (photo)

Thelonious Monk (photo, concert program)

John Coltrane

Bud Powell

Bill Evans (photo, high school yearbook)

Billie Holiday (photo, 2 separate contracts regarding the rights to her autobiography, one signed Eleanora Fagan, copy of Lady Sings the Blues)

Lee Morgan (beautiful signed photo, paper with all 5 members of Blakey group, contract for club engagement)

Wardell Gray (10″ LP)

Bennie Moten (78 rpm)

Chet Baker (photo)

Charles Mingus (Mingus at Monterey album, photo)

Ma Rainey (royalty agreement)

Like all financial transactions, especially collecting, the price is determined by supply and demand. Some iconic figures are in high supply (Louis, Duke, Ella), but their iconic status keeps their value to at least a modest level. Iconic figures that died young (Bix, Bird, Trane, Billie) command very high prices. Then there are figures that died young that are only known to the ever-shrinking jazz market rather than the general public (Clifford, Lee Morgan, Wardell Gray, Christian, Fats Navarro). Their items are very rare, but prices aren’t at the level of the Bird, Trane items, possibly for this reason. Some more obscure figures command even less interest (Allen Eager, Wade Legge, Joe Albany, Freddie Webster).

The “what” factor values a photo, letter, or official document over a scrap of paper, napkin, etc. Until recently, a signed record album was not as valuable. However, this has changed lately, as evidenced by the recent Coltrane auction. I have seen some signed Miles Davis albums go higher than I would expect recently.

The one “signature” in my collection that turns out to be a fake is Art Tatum. There was a signed contract for chattel mortgage for a Plymouth automobile. The item came from Arline Tatum, Art’s sister. The address on the contract was his home in Toledo (I have been by the home). The signature was somewhat messy, and signed Arthur Tatum. I couldn’t let this slip by my hands, but have been suspicious. Over the years, with the help of databases on ancestry.com, I have seen a signature of Art Tatum, Sr., Art’s Father, on a marriage license, and WWI draft card, which matches the signature on my item. Further research of multiple contracts, a personal check, and Art Tatum, Jr.’s marriage license are all marked with an X. Oh well………………

Someone like you would understand the thrill of the hunt for items such as these. After a while, one becomes more selective and discerning, and don’t feel bad letting an item get away when the price is too high.

Bill

By the way, I enjoy your website.

My reply:

Fantastic. Do you mind if I post your reply on he site, preferably with your name?

I don’t go out of my way to collect autographs or other ephemera, but I am happy when I come across them. Among my most prized possessions is an copy of Sonny and Hawk, with the following signed by Sonny:

“12/13/63. To my friend at ‘A+ P’ with Holiday wishes to you & yours Sincerely Sonny R.”

A & P was a local supermarket chain. I also have an original 78 of Moody’s Mood For Love, signed by James Moody and am original Birdland program signed by Stan Getz.  — al

Sonny Clark, Leapin’ and Lopin’, Blue Note 4091. This one does not look to be a first pressing, since they don’t call it a first pressing and don’t mention the ear. It looks to be really clean in M- condition for the record and the cover. And it is a mono pressing. The price was $212.50.

Speaking of Sonny Clark, there was also:

Serge Chaloff, Blue Serge, Capitol T-742. This was an original pressing with the aqua labels. The record looked to be in M- condition and the cover as well. This record, of course, features Clark on piano (along with Philly Joe Jones on drums and Leroy Vinnegar on bass). the final price was $310.55. I’d always thought this record was more highly valued by collectors, i.e., that it would sell for more than $310. But I looked it up in the Jazz Collector Pricie Guide, which admittedly is not quite up to date anymore, and the $310 seems to be a reasonable expectation. If it were the same record on Blue Note, you could put add $1,000 to the $310 and that would probably be the range.

Speaking of Blue Notes, there was Jackie McLean, Destination Out!, Blue Note 4165. This was an original mono pressing that looked to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $411.

Art Farmer, Modern Art, United Artists 4007. Like Blue Serge, this one benefits from the presence of a gifted piano player — both musically and as a collectible. In this case the pianist of note is Bill Evans. This is an original pressing in M- condition for the record and perhaps M- or VG++ for the cover. The start price is $50 and there is already one bid.

Pepper Adams,10 to 4 at the 5 Spot, Riverside 265. This is an original blue label pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The record is newly listed with nearly seven days to go, but already there are two bids and the price is close to $100. Perhaps we’ll see a bidding war for this one. Someone asked me recently if the Five Spot was still around. I told him that it was long gone, but I do remember being there as a kid or young teen. My father used to take us to jazz concerts when we were quite young. I remember my kid brother at 5 or 6 falling asleep at a Kenny Burrell show at one of the clubs. I was probably at the Five Spot half a dozen times. I know I saw Thelonious Monk there, but can’t remember anyone else. I’m also not sure when the Five Spot actually closed. Just tried doing a quick Google search, but it didn’t come up easily. I imagine someone out there will either know or be more persistent in finding out.

This one seemed to get top dollar: Serge Chaloff, Blue Serge, Capitol 742. It was an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover and it was sold by Euclid Records. The price was $364.88. Finding these records in such

mint condition is such a rarity, you wouldn’t be surprised by any price, right? I mean, if this sold for $1,364.88 in this condition no one would be shocked.

This next one sold for nearly the same amount in VG+ condition but, of course, it is a Blue Note: Sonny Rollins, Volume 2, Blue Note 1558. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing. The price was $360.55.

One more. We’ll catch up on that copy of Phil Woods, Woodlore, Prestige 7018. You may recall that we had our eye on that one and debated whether to write about it on Jazz Collector. It was in VG+ condition and it was only around $40 when we did our previous post. We tried to sneak off with it with a snipe bid of about $140. Hah! The record sold for $338.88. Did we bring defeat upon ourself? Highly doubtful. It was merely wishful thinking to suppose that a record such as this would not sell at its fair market price, which it probably did.

Miles Davis, Young Man With a Horn, Blue Note 5013. The vinyl on this one was listed in VG++ condition and the cover was M-. The price was $510.01. This one was sold by the seller herschel78, who has been putting some nice items up over the past few weeks, including some other 10-inch LPs we’ve been  watching.

Miles Davis Volume 3, Blue Note 5040. The vinyl on this one was listed as VG+ and the cover was VG++. The price was $385.

Stan Getz Plays, Clef 137. This was an original pressing with a nice cover by David Stone Martin. The price was $68. This is a great record, one of Getz’s best.

Leo Parker, New Trends of Jazz Volume 5, Savoy 9018. This one was

listed in VG++ condition for the vinyl and VG+ for the cover. The price was $99.

Sonny Stitt, New Trends of Jazz Volume 1, Savoy 9014. This was also VG++ for the vinyl and VG+ for the cover. The price was $41.99.

Max Roach With Clifford Brown in Concert, GNP Volume 7. This was in VG+ condition for both the record and cover, although it could have been higher since the listing was a bit ambiguous. Anyway, the price was $105.49.

Here’s one that’s new to us: Serge Chaloff and Oscar Pettiford, New Stars, New Sounds, Mercer 1003. We’re not familiar with the label — it looks like Prestige but, with the “New Stars, New Sounds” moniker it sounds like Blue Note. Anyway, this record was also one of those that was either VG+ or VG++. It sold for $73.90.

Finally, there is Lester Young and Illinois Jacquet, Battle of the Saxes, Aladdin 701. This 10-inch LP was listed in VG+ condition for both the vinyl and the cover. The price was $626.

Charlie Parker, The Bird Blows The Blues, Dial 901. This is purported to be the first 12-inch LP ever. It was issued as a promo for Dial. There are reports of only 50 pressings of this record, but, we’re sure that is part of the mythology. We’ve written about it before at Jazz Collector and we’ve also tracked pricing in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. Our top price in the past has been $2,850. It certainly does not come up on eBay very often. This one seems to be in pretty nice condition. When we first saw this last night, the price was around a hundred dollars and now it’s around $400 with six hours to go. We’ll see where it ends up. It is quite a rarity and

would certainly be a cool addition to any collection.

If you’re interested in paying a few hundred dollars for a not-so-great copy of the rare jazz vinyl Tommy Flanagan Overseas, Prestige 7134, there’s a copy available today on eBay. This one is listed in VG condition for both the record and the cover. Sometimes these old Prestiges play better than they look. Anyway, this one is in the $200 range with a few hours to go.

Our friends at Euclid Records have a few nice items up today as well, including: Art Farmer Quintet Featuring Gigi Gryce, Prestige 7017. This is an original pressing. The record is listed as VG++ and the cover is M-. The current price is close to $200.

Finally, we have a few records of our own closing today. Here’s one that’s not getting nearly as much action as we had expected: Serge Chaloff, Boston Blow-Up, Capitol 6510. It’s listed in VG+ condition, but I tend to grade conservatively. At the point, it’s only $35, closing later today. I also put up a few decent items yesterday, including the Ike Quebec Blue Note and Jackie McLean Prestige I had mentioned earlier on the site in The Great Jazz Vinyl Countdown.

Beverly Kenney recently: I’d had a couple of her records for years without ever realizing how good they were and how good she was. Now I know.

Johnny Griffin Sextet, Riverside 264. This was an original blue label pressing. The record was listed as M- and the cover appeared by be bout VG+. The price was $237.50.

Miles Davis, Cookin’, Prestige 7094. This was an original New York pressing that was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $394.

The Magnificent Thad Jones, Blue Note 1527. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record was in VG++ condition and so was the cover. The price was $545.55.

Horace Silver, The Stylings of Silver, Blue Note 1562. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing. The record was listed as M- and the cover was at least VG+, perhaps better. The price was $154.49.

Here’s one we thought would fetch a higher price. Serge Chaloff, Blue Serge, Capital 142. This was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $185.06. I think with a record like this, you have to put Sonny Clark in either the title of your listing, or in the body of the text, so that people doing searches for Sonny Clark can find the record. Many of the fluctuations in the pricing on eBay depend upon subtleties such as this, which is why it’s sometimes difficult to compare, and that’s why we usually show a range on the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

Jutta Hipp at the Hickory House Volume One, Blue Note 1515. This is an original pressing with the Lexington Avenue address, but it’s only in VG condition. The seller has a start price of about $200 and there are no bidders with a couple of days left. We’ve recently seen one of these sell for about $775 in better condition, of course, on the Jazz Collector Price Guide. One of the reasons we’re watching this: We have been going through our own collection deciding what to keep and what to sell. Some of the prices of the Blue Notes are higher than ever, so we’re considering dipping into the collection and picking out some choice items to post on eBay. This is one of the records we own, and we have a copy in extremely nice condition. If anyone out there wants to make an offer, we’re listening.

Here’s one of similar interest, for similar reasons:

Serge Chaloff, Blue Serge, Capitol 742. This one is in M- condition and it still has a couple of days to go. It features Sonny Clark on piano, and the Sonny Clark records have been selling for quite a premium. This one is at $100 with a couple more days to do. We’ll keep you posted on what happens with it.

George Wallington, Jazz For the Carriage Trade, Prestige 7032. This was an original pressing with the New York label. The record was M- and the cover was VG++. The price was $343.89.

Clifford Brown and Max Roach, Study in Brown, Emarcy 36037. This was an original pressing with the drummer logo. The record and cover were both VG++. The price was $123.62.

Artie Shaw and His Grammercy Five, Volume 4, Clef 645. This was an original pressing with the David Stone Martin cover. The price was $56.

Serge Chaloff, Fable of Mabel, Storyville 317. This was an original 10-inch pressing in VG++ condition, both record and cover. he price was $91.

Chet Baker and Art Pepper, Playboys, Pacific Jazz 1234. This was an 

original pressing in VG+ condition, both record and cover. The price was $147.49.

The Return of Dodo Marmarosa, Argo 4012. This was a green-label pressing. The record was VG+ and the cover was VG. The price was $217.50.

Duke Pearson, Wahoo, Blue Note 4191. This was an original New York USA pressing. The record was VG++ and the cover was VG+. The price was $102.50.

Beverly Kenney, Like Yesterday, Decca 2218. This was a mono pressing with the rainbow label. It was in M- condition and sold for $107.50.

Paul Gonsalves, Cookin’, Argo 626. This was an original black label pressing in VG+ condition. The price was $128.50.