For Sale / Wanted / Selling Your Collection
For Sale
Ted Staunton (Canada)
Martín Javier Gorosito (Argentina)
Peter
Stone (Australia)
Karen Pollock (USA)
Info Wanted
Julian Eltinge
I'm looking for 78s by the artist Julian
Eltinge circa 1920. Recorded for RCA / Victor. I don't need
originals just copies such as a jpg image of the labels, but
would like audio on a cd. Thanx. Michael Moore. Email:
eltinge2@hotmail.com
Canyon label (Native American music)
I have a CANYON label 78 which I believe is
from the 1950's and is related to the current Canyon label
(logos look similar) for Native American Music. How could I
find out more about it or the record's value? I have checked
Osborne's new guide, but no luck. Thanks in advance. Bridget:
phoenixhorizon@aol.com
Readers' Digest Christmas Albums, 1981 and
1984
I have two sets of 78's albums made for
Reader's Digest by R.C.A.: "Twelve Stars of
Christmas" (6 albums, dated 1981) and "Christmas
Through the Years" (5 albums, dated 1984). The boxes show
some wear, but the albums are in original sleeves, unplayed. I
would like to have an idea of value, as the 1984 set was the
last made for Readers Digest. Also, possibly I would like to
sell them. Reply to: gracedittus@yahoo.com
2-Album set of Columbia records: “The
Messiah”
I wondered if you or someone you know would
be able to date or place a rough value on a couple of record
albums I have been given (pic below); one album of eight
Columbia Graphophone Records of the Barber of Seville opera,
plus another eight-record set of Tosca which is much the same.
Serial number: DX8019. Thanks! Heather Dubois, Portsmouth, UK.
Reply to: info.re.78s@shaw.ca
The Harmony Four (WWI era)
Wondered if you know anything more about
this group. I have a postcard from 1916 showing the four
singers (Levi Hellickson, Oscar Johnson, Earl Norman, and Louis
Anderson) and another card with caricature drawing of the four
singers, signed Thursday, August 1915 7:35 pm by Oscar, the
manager.
Thanks, Mike Bouchette
mdbouchette@new.rr.com
Record Collection Appraisal
My father passed away recently and he had a
personal collection of 78 & 33 RPM records (mostly 78's)
which he gathered during his working years in Philadelphia
Radio. The collection is in Pitman NJ at his house. Can you put
me in touch with someone that might be able to appraise the
collection, or that might be interested in buying it? I don't
know how many records it contains, but I would estimate it to
be many hundreds of records, dating back to the 1940's and some
may be older.
Doug Hibbs ndhibbsjr@link.com
Selling Your Collection
“I’ve got a box of old records.
How do I find out their value, and what’s the best way to
sell them?”
The value of old 78 rpm records is
subjective, but on average, their selling price at flea markets
or antique stores is around the $1 or $2 mark. Therefore, the
retailer must have acquired his stock from someone at a much
lower price to make stocking or transporting them worthwhile.
Unfortunately, most are not worth even that much, but should
the record happen to be a highly collectible gem, then its
value can rise into the hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
A few pointers toward collectible value:
• Popularity of artist
• Label rarity
• Type of music (or speech) track
• Age and condition of record
Popularity of artist: Because the singer's name on a record is
recognizable does not necessarily mean the record is valuable;
in fact, the reverse is more likely to be true. Artists like Al
Jolson, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra or Perry Como sold records
in the millions, which are not hard to find and are thus of
minimal value. On the other hand, records by such obscure names
as Son House or Blind Blake are much sought after by blues
enthusiasts. Though some are well-known (such as bluesman
Robert Johnson or jazzman Louis Armstrong) many performers,
especially blacks in the hard-time 1930s, recorded under a wide
range of pseudonyms to earn a few extra dollars in hand while
avoiding contractual obligations.
Label rarity: Very
early records did not carry paper labels and often had the
wording engraved into them. Other fairly collectible examples
might include brown-wax Berliner records, some of which have a
brass grommet at the centre, or small-diameter records. Paper
labels were first introduced (by Victor) in 1901 and records
prior to that date often had the wording engraved into them
(the 1/4 inch-thick Edison records continued with blind
engraving until 1912). Generally, the cruder the
‘look’ the earlier the date of issue. Other fairly
collectible examples might include brown-wax Berliner records,
some of which have a brass grommet at the centre, or
small-diameter records.
Type of music (or speech) track: Blues, jazz, jug-band, swing, bebop, country
& western fiddle, big band, doo-wop and rock
‘n’ roll all have their collectors. Many appreciate
genuine indigenous (pre-1930) music, and these should be
advertised as widely as possible to get the highest price. If
you have the phonographic equipment to play the record (most
modern decks only play 45 rpm or 33 1/3 rpm), handle and play
them with care; almost all 78 rpm records are much more brittle
than LPs or 45s. Edison records, or those marked
‘vertical-cut,’ cannot be played on a standard
phonograph, because the grooves were cut for a ball-shaped
sapphire needle and track in an up and down fahion rather than
from side to side, as the standard ‘lateral-cut’
records.
Age and condition of record: Check this website for a broad overview of label
dates, as well as a general guide for label rarity and
collectibility. To accurately date the release of many records,
check www.78discography.com;
to get an idea of value check eBay. From the 1940s on, as radio
broadcasts popularized music and recording 'stars' were born, a
growing body of jazz and blues aficionados desperately wanted
to obtain copies of seminal sessions by 'name' artists. Record
companies would often re-release the original recordings,
noting the date of the original recording session, but these
re-releases may not quite as collectible as the 'original'
releases. Records made prior to WWI are usually thicker, with a
coarse-looking groove. Post-WWII records usually have a visibly
finer groove (a result of the introduction of vinyl). If the
label advertises ‘electric recording’ or
‘VM,’ that is an indication the recording was done
with electric microphones rather than the old-fashioned
acoustic horn, which had been standard prior to about 1925. As
with coins, the physical condition of the record is paramount
for the buyer. If it has a glossy black sheen, chances are the
record will play reasonably well. If the record has a dull,
grey appearance, this is often an indication that the grooves
are heavily worn and its value may be much depreciated.
Some suggestions for disposing of your
records
• Craigslist
• Online auctions
• Local newspaper classified ad
• Local antique store, thrift shop or
museum
• Flea market
Craigslist: check
under the listing for 'music' for similar items and asking
price. This may be the fastest way to dispose of your records,
but likely not the best way to get the highest price for them.
Be clear as to whether or not you want to sell the records as a
complete lot or whether you will allow 'picking.'
Online auctions: Check out websites such as
eBay. You may be able to get a higher price per
individual record through this outlet (perhaps averaging $10),
but there is more effort involved in sending the relatively
heavy, bulky and fragile records through the mail, and mailing
costs can be high, especially when shipping overseas. Insurance
may be required in case of damage in transit. Packaging must be
handled with care. A 'sandwich' of heavy cardboard squares may
suffice to protect one or two records, with a protective
surrounding layer of bubble-wrap inside a paper wrapping,
conspicuously marked 'FRAGILE.' Or they may be more safely
shipped inside a cardboard box, 'floating' between layers of
styrofoam chips. Many eBay listings carry a photograph of the
label and perhaps the condition of the grooves; frequent
sellers often grade each record with regard to chips, scratches
and scuffs that may affect its playability.
Local newspaper classified ad: Your local newspaper will likely have a
section under 'music.' Be clear as to whether or not you want
to sell the records as a complete lot or whether you will allow
'picking.'
Local antique store: Phone and ask if they would be interested in
taking them for cash, or perhaps on consignment.
Local thrift shop: These may or may not be willing to accept your
donation of records.
Museum: You
might consider offering the records to your local museum (if
not, the curators might at least have contacts for record
collectors in your area, or names of stores that might take
them).
Flea market: Of
course, this would involve reserving table space and
transporting the records. Whether the effort is worthwhile is
open to question.
Some Hawaiian sounds: