Over the years, many artists and bands have suddenly become incredibly collectable, and then, disappeared from view almost as quickly. I remember how collectable The Bluetones were, and Starsailor (personally, I really like both bands!), not to mention dozens of others. But, some bands just continue to be uber-collectable, and today I want to talk about probably the most consistently collectable band in the world, The Beatles.
Now, I’m not the first person to try and write about the Top Beatles collectables, and you’d probably get bored pretty quickly, but just to be a little bit different, I thought I’d look at this through the lens of Ebay. So, here are the Top Beatles collectables currently being advertised on Ebay (other auction sites are available, ahem!).
In at No. 4 pop pickers is:
Beatles Yesterday And Today – 3rd State – Mono USA vinyl LP – Price: £1,798.95
For those of you who don’t know about this album, this was the one where the Beatles were so successful, that the record company just left them to it. Expecting some sugary album cover art work, imagine their faces when John, Paul, George and Ringo showed them this delightful album cover. The story goes that rather than trash the small number that had already been pressed and printed, the record bosses decided to stick new artwork over the top. Various enterprising folks have found ways to remove the new artwork, and restore the original. Here is an example of one:
Aaat number 3, we have:
THE BEATLES WHITE ALBUM. MONO, 0000865 – Auction Start Price: £2,000
A perennial favourite on Ebay and of Beatles collectors. The White Album comes in many different guises, but the one to go for is a low number, mono, top opening first day release in the wonderful Garrod & Lofthouse sleeve. Each copy had a fold out poster and 4 portrait photos of the boys, and each copy was individually numbered. Rumour has it, that Paul McCartney personally owns number 0000001, and it’s autographed by all 4 of the band. Low number copies can fetch a tidy sum, and by low I mean under 0001000, and a tidy sum being anything upto £5,000.
In at number 2, we have:
Beatles Please Please Me Mono Gold & Black 1st Press – Price: £4,500
Whatever happened to those 4 clean living, sharp dressed young men? Just a great album cover that still looks fresh today. This is a fantastic copy in almost mint condition, and is one of the earliest releases, so definitely one for the Beatles collector who has to have the best! This album was released on the 22nd march 1963, and in some peoples opinion was the launch pad for the Liverpool lads. It’s still amazing to think just how many ground breaking albums they released in just 8 short years!
And at Number 1, we have:
THE BEATLES/KENNY EVERETT, RARE ABBEY ROAD 10″ EMI DISC ACETATE – Price: £5,995
When it comes to one-offs, this really does deserve the label! Acetates are what the vinyl discs are copied from, so by their very nature, they are incredibly rare, and this one is rare for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it features the Fab 4, so we’re off to a good start already, but then we find it’s an interview recorded by the much missed Kenny Everett, recorded during the recording of the White Album. It really is a piece of musical history, which maybe why it is on offer at £5,995.
Well, obviously picking Beatles rarities is always difficult, and be warned, there are some unauthenticated items out there, so you have to tread carefully.
I have been collecting vinyl records for over 40 years, and I specialise in 60’s Pop & Beat, Rock, Punk, Indie and Prog Rock, so if you have any unwanted vinyl records, or are thinking of selling, then please get in touch! I offer free, no obligation valuations in London, South East and on occasion, further afield!
Send me a list of what you’re selling, and I’ll be in touch.
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