How to Appraise and Sell An "Introducing The Beatles" Record

When people hear about the prices that "Introducing The Beatles" on Vee-Jay Records commands at auction, they're certain that the records they or their parents had will form a nice trust fund or buy themselves a new car. Unfortunately, when it comes to "Introducing The Beatles," most people have a counterfeit.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Beatles records
• Price guide

1. Check the record's label. If the spindle hole separates the title of the record and the artist's name, it's a counterfeit. Not all copies with the words above the hole are authentic, but all copies with words separated are counterfeit. It won't be garnering you anything on the secondary market. If it may be authentic, note which type of logo and label you have, because this information will influence its value.

2. Check the back of the cover. There are four versions of this jacket, described in the market thus: an ad-back, blank back and two types of a song-titles back, one with "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You" and another with "Please Please Me" and "Ask Me Why." The most common authentic version of this record has the latter song titles cover and a label on the record with a color band and the Vee-Jay Records "brackets" logo.

3. Check the condition of the record and the cover. Scuffs, scratches, tears, dings and audible pops and clicks will greatly reduce the value of a record and its jacket. The reason why near-mint Beatles records sell for high prices on the secondary market is that most people played their Beatles records to death. The newer it looks and sounds, the higher its potential value.

4. Note whether the record is stereo or mono. Approximately 1.4 million copies of "Introducing the Beatles" were pressed, but only about 3 percent were in stereo. Also, the stereo copies are the most likely to be counterfeits.

5. Consult resources. If the record you have is honestly in very good condition or better and appears to be authentic, consult a price guide such as "Goldmine" magazine's "Standard Catalog Of American Records 1950-1975" for pricing ranges.

6. Sell it via consignment or by yourself. Know that the more effort you put into selling the record on your own, the more profit you will reap. If you don't want the hassle, there are many reputable Beatles and high-end records/music memorabilia dealers who have buyers of such material. Dealers will pay more of a wholesale rate, rather than a retail rate, however.

[BernardyJones]

on 10/9/2009 It appears by the picture you posted that it has the song titles on the back cover. What's the confusion?

[beachboydw]

on 9/18/2009 I just read your page on introducing the beatles vjlp 1062, and I have a question. I have the LP, got it from my cousin who is in his ‘60s. I have attached a picture link of the version that I have:

http://www.eskimo.com/~bpentium/beatles/intro/vj2sc1.jpg

I just got the 6th edition of Goldmine Record price guide, and the version of the album that I have is not listed in their book. The book keeps mentioning a version that includes song titles on the cover, and mine doesn’t have that. I have read all of your steps above and I can say that mine is an authentic copy. Can you please help me figure out which version I have, and how much it’s worth?