By Jeroen Hamelink - Vinyl Records Expert | Updated 9th June 2022
Have you ever wondered whether your vinyl records from back in the day are worth selling? Is there a small fortune hidden in these boxes or would you more to get more out of their sealed covers listening to them every once in a while? Our vinyl records expert Jeroen Hamelink shares his tips on how to determine the value of your vinyl records.
First things first
Is a certain vinyl record sought after? And to what extent? That is what you need to figure out if you want to know whether that box of vinyl records is actually worth selling. Contrary to popular opinion, Michael Jackson’s 'Thriller' LP is not the goldmine you might think. Yes, after 35 years it is still a very popular and enjoyable album, but that does not mean it is valuable. Over 50 million copies of the 'Thriller' album have been sold through the years, so it is not that hard to find one. Although good albums from great artists are definitely the ones you'll want to collect if you are a music enthusiast, they are not necessarily the ones worth collecting if you are purely looking for an investment. Since there is no general rule to determine which artists are worth collecting, it pays to do your research. I'd recommend exploring any Record/Vinyl auction to see which albums are highly sought after by collectors and generating a large number of bids, and therefore could render more money than others.
First editions and more
While the artist and the specific album largely determine whether an LP is valuable, another important aspect to check is the pressing. Purists tend to search for first pressings from the country of origin, often the US or UK, in order to build a collection of first edition vinyl records. Generally the first pressing is a limited one, which makes the edition rare as well. Other albums to look out for are limited and special editions. For example, members of The Beatles and executives from their studio were given a special edition of 'The White Album', stamped with serial numbers; A00000, A000001 and so on. These copies now sell for thousands of dollars. Recalls are often rare and sought after as well, like the 'Yesterday and Today' Beatles' album with the original 'butcher' cover.
Catalogue numbers
It's also good to check the catalogue numbers on the label of the vinyl record and on the cover as they should match. The matrix in the ring at the side of the record label gives information concerning the exact version of the album, since some albums were released in as many as a hundred different versions: Mono, Stereo, first pressing, second pressing, and so on. Certain versions are much more valuable than other, similar ones.
The condition of your LP
A very important feature that contributes to the value of your vinyl record is the state it is in. To determine the condition of the record and cover, a 'goldmine rating' was created. Ranging from worst condition to best condition, it can be Poor (P), Fair (F), Good (G), Very Good (VG), Very Good + (VG+), Excellent (E), Excellent + (E+), Near Mint (NM), or Mint (M).
So when you find a vintage album you want to try and sell, first check its condition. Does the cover have big flaws, scratches or damages? What about the record? When you play the record, can you enjoy the music or does it come with unwanted noise, a bit like you're sitting next to a fireplace? At Catawiki all items must be in at least Very Good + (VG+) condition in order to be auctioned, so you know that what you are buying is worth listening to as well.
In short you could say the value of an album is determined by these three factors: rarity of the album, pressing, and condition. For example, if you were to find the original album of The Velvet Underground & Nico with the famous, unpeeled banana on the cover, in mint condition or possibly even sealed, you could ask any price you like.
That does not mean other, lesser than mint condition albums are not an interesting investment or collectable item. You just need to figure out which ones are sought after by collectors.
____________________
Keep an eye on our weekly auctions and grow your own collection. Or start selling your vinyl records and other special objects at auction by registering here.
Discover Vinyl records