Inherited a record collection? Here's what it's worth.
Most records that sold well are, by definition, common — a mint Beatles LP is worth less than people expect because millions were pressed. Value sits in first pressings, particular labels and matrix numbers, and in genres that were never mass-market.
- Do not wet-clean records with household products.Washing-up liquid leaves residue in the grooves and can haze the vinyl permanently. If a record is valuable, it is worth a proper clean by someone with the right machine.
- Do not stack records flat.Weight over time warps everything underneath. Store them vertically, like books.
- Do not throw away the inner sleeves or inserts.Original inners, posters and lyric sheets are often a meaningful share of the value of a first pressing.
What actually decides the value
- ·First pressing indicators: matrix numbers in the run-out groove, label design, catalogue prefix
- ·Condition of both the sleeve and the vinyl, graded separately
- ·Genre — original jazz, soul, reggae, punk and private-press records outperform mainstream rock
- ·Presence of original inserts, posters and inner sleeves
How to photograph it
- ·Front and back of the sleeve
- ·The label in the centre of the record, readable — this is where pressing information lives
- ·The run-out groove area if you can get it in focus
Five photographs · free · no account
Common questions
Is a record collection worth anything?+
Most records that sold well are, by definition, common — a mint Beatles LP is worth less than people expect because millions were pressed. Value sits in first pressings, particular labels and matrix numbers, and in genres that were never mass-market.
What should I not do with a record collection?+
Do not wet-clean records with household products. Washing-up liquid leaves residue in the grooves and can haze the vinyl permanently. If a record is valuable, it is worth a proper clean by someone with the right machine. Do not stack records flat. Weight over time warps everything underneath. Store them vertically, like books. Do not throw away the inner sleeves or inserts. Original inners, posters and lyric sheets are often a meaningful share of the value of a first pressing.
What makes vinyl records valuable?+
Mostly these: First pressing indicators: matrix numbers in the run-out groove, label design, catalogue prefix; Condition of both the sleeve and the vinyl, graded separately; Genre — original jazz, soul, reggae, punk and private-press records outperform mainstream rock; Presence of original inserts, posters and inner sleeves.
How do I find out what mine is worth?+
Photograph it and we'll examine it. Five photographs are free. A full report is $39, covers up to 200 photographs, and we never buy or sell anything — so we have no reason to tell you it's worth less than it is.