Firstly, most best selling records from any point in the last century were produced by the millions. This usually means they are not very valuable at all and you are best off enjoying them the way they were meant to be - by playing them! Rare records on the other hand, can be valued at anywhere between $50 up to over $10,000. There are so many variables in determining the value, so let’s begins.

A Complete Product

Like most collectibles, Vinyl records are most valuable in their complete condition. Records all originally came with a paper or picture sleeve, and having these adds to their value. Picture sleeves are easily the most valuable, often being more valuable than the record itself. Keeping these are very, very important to your records value. Similarly, EPs (7 inch records with fewer songs) were often sold with a hard cardboard sleeve. In good condition, these complete records and sleeves can fetch a mint! Without the sleeve, do not expect much.

Condition

You don't really need to be told this. It is common knowledge that a better condition means something is worth more. This applies to almost everything. If your record is scratched, is noisy while playing, writing on the label or just looks worn, it will have very little value. You can usually find records of this condition for less than $5, indicating just how worthless they are. These are definitely better used by enjoying them through listening to them.

Rarity

Of all the records produced in the 1960's and 70's, about 4% of them made it to the top of the charts. This meant they were produced in much higher volumes, and therefore worth less now. LP's by artists with popular singles are often quite rare, as people only wanted the singles. This makes these records of quite high value. These were mostly found in the 50's and 60's. Even rarer are Rhythm and Blues LP's from the 1950s. In good condition, these are worth a mint.

Fans – Demand

This is a simple supply versus demand formula. A huge number of fans wanting a particular record will always drive prices up. It is crucial that these artists have modern day fans, as artists no longer in demand will mean a reduced value.

Other Factors

There are many more factors, and to keep this precise, I will simply list them out. Vinyl record value is further increased by true stereo copies (versus the traditional mono), historical meaningful value, the era it was produced and pressing number. For example, 1st pressings are worth more than promo copies or 2nd, 3rd and 4th pressings.

Summary

There are so many factors which make up the value of a vinyl record. Having your collection valued locally by a professional will be a much more accurate figure than any online method, so this is definitely the place to start.

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