| Website:
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| | deceased cult figures such as Jimi
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| HOW AND WHERE TO SELL OLD PHONOGRAPH
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| | Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison.
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| RECORDS
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| | Also, brisk trading now occurs among
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| Have you studied your ABCs lately--that
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| | collectors of 45s, especially among the
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| is Attics, Basements and Closets? They
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| | 1950s rhythm and blues and early rock
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| could yield up some extra money and free
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| | artists. Great interest maintains in rare
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| up some valuable space in your home for
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| | and unusual (foreign issues, etc.) in
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| other uses. LPs (long-playing 10 and 12
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| | Elvis and the Beatles. However, most of
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| inch discs, playing at 33 1/3 revolutions
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| | their records have little value because
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| per minute), 78s (easily breakable discs,
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| | so many were produced without any
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| playing at 78 revolutions per minute with
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| | distinguishing characteristics. In other
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| one tune on each side) and 45s(7 inch
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| | words they were all the same.
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| discs playing at 45 revolutions per
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| | WHO WILL BUY YOUR RECORDS?
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| minute) may be valuable.
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| | Records are purchased by collectors, mail
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| Record collecting as a hobby is just
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| | order dealers, used records stores and
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| beginning to grow after many other
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| | the general public, sometimes on a
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| collectibles have been prominently
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| | nostalgic impulse or because of a
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| featured in antique stores and the media.
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| | favorite artist. For truly rare records
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| It is not an expensive hobby to
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| | the best prices will come from dealers
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| establish, but disposing of them can be
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| | who know the market and for how much they
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| expensive in many ways.
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| | can resell them. Collectors are emotional
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| HOW DO YOU RECOGNIZE VALUE
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| | and sometimes fanatical collecting their
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| Many people think that just because a
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| | specialties. They may pay top prices for
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| record is old that it has great value.
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| | particular idiosyncracies. It is unusual
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| Very few records have any real value to
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| | to get top dollar for a rare record from
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| collectors or dealers. Value is based on
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| | the "general public', where only the
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| a combination of three factors -
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| | performance value is recognized, not the
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| (1) Supply and demand. How available is
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| | resale or trading value. Painstaking
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| the record? If millions were initially
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| | research and knowledge of the record
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| sold it is likely that many will turn up
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| | industry and its artists is required to
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| in thrift shops, used record stores and
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| | determine the value of a particular
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| in many homes. The scarcity factor must
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| | recording. It may be possible to
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| be present. There must be a demand for
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| | determine a value for a "rare" record
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| that record because of the artist
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| | once you have determined that it is truly
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| performing (e.g. a major talent who died
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| | rare.
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| young and before being able to make many
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| | WHAT WILL THEY PAY?
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| records), the label on which it was
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| | Most records that are not "rare" can
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| recorded (the original recording as
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| | bring only pennies - 25 cents to a dollar
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| distinguished from a "reissue"), or an
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| | - from dealers. The "general public" may
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| oddity concerning the record(e.g. a
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| | pay $1 or $2. Rare records can bring from
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| V-disc, wartime government recording or
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| | $25 to the thousands. There are a number
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| aircheck-taken from a radio broadcast, an
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| | of price guides published, but values
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| original picture disc or a 10-inch LP).
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| | indicated are generally highly inflated
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| The scarcity factor can also be affected
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| | or based on an isolated sale. Obviously,
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| by whether a record is "out-of-print"(no
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| | collectors and dealers want to read that
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| longer available from the manufacturer)
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| | records can bring high prices. Remember,
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| thereby decreasing the supply. "Bootlegs"
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| | value rests in the mind of the buyer.
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| (records illegally produced from live
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| | HOW DO YOU FIND A BUYER?
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| concerts or broadcasts) are also valuable
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| | A buyer for every record you wish to sell
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| to collectors.
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| | probably exists somewhere in the world.
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| (2) Condition of the record. Those with
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| | How to find that person is a big problem.
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| surface noises and scratches will be of
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| | It is not uncommon for people to discover
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| little or no value. If it is in "mint"
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| | old records in their homes and proceed to
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| condition (perfect) or "near mint"
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| | spend many dollars (far in excess of the
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| condition it will have the highest
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| | eventual e record) and untold hours in
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| possible value. A record in "very good"
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| | pursuit of a buyer. It can become very
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| condition should not have any distorted
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| | frustrating and sometimes obsessive.
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| sounds or loss of sound quality. "Good"
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| | Expectations almost always exceed
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| means it may have some imperfections, but
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| | reality.
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| can be readily enjoyed. "Fair" means it
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| | Records can be sold by advertising - in
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| can play, but will have obvious sound
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| | local classifieds or collectors'
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| impairment and detract from your
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| | publications, by selling to local used
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| enjoyment and the value of the record.
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| | record stores, selling at flea markets or
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| Some dealers may have a slightly
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| | bazaars or by promoting a garage sale.
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| different grading scale.
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| | Start by cataloging the records. List the
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| (3) Content of the recording. Generally
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| | artist, the title of the record, LP, 45
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| speaking there is more interest in music
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| | or 78rpm, the record catalog number and
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| than in spoken word or comedy records and
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| | its condition. Take the list to a record
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| the value therefor would be greater.
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| | librarian and some used record stores for
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| Certain kinds of musical recordings bring
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| | offers and indications as to rarity. Talk
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| high sales prices. Jazz, original
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| | to friends and associates.
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| Broadway cast and movie soundtracks tend
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| | Selling involves prospective buyers
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| to provide a more active market and
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| | visiting your home. Or, you may have to
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| greater value. Also early rhythm and
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| | pack and cart the records to a store for
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| blues records and the doowop sound are
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| | a price quote and no sale. Damage in
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| also highly valued and collectible. Among
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| | transit can make them worthless.
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| classical records the most valuable are
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| | Out-of-town prospects requires mail
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| orchestral performances, then solo
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| | correspondence, packing, insurance,
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| instrumental, chamber music and concertos
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| | carting to the post office, placing
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| and solo vocal and operatic arias and
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| | postage and sending C.O.D. The buyer may
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| finally complete operas. To some
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| | refuse to accept upon receipt.
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| collectors, whether a record is mono or
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| | ©2007 Howard E. Fischer
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| stereo affects the value. Recently a
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| | RECORDS FLEA MARKET
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| market began developing for rock records
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| | Monthly sales in New York City.
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| of early vintage, especially those of
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