How to Buy or Sell a Beatles "Butcher Cover" Record
The Beatles' "Yesterday and Today" record with the "Butcher Cover" is a sought-after collectible. A near-mint stereo version that made an appearance on "Antiques Roadshow" ended up selling at auction in December 2005 for just over $10,500. However, yours might not bring as much as you think. On the other hand, if you're looking for one, you might find more of a bargain. Several factors are in play with the album, which contains Paul McCartney's song "Yesterday," and its famously controversial cover, which shows the Fab Four surrounded by dismembered dolls.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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Know the history. "Yesterday and Today" was released with two different covers. The later version -- a hasty replacement after a public outcry -- has the Beatles looking bored, posed around a trunk, with Paul McCartney seated in front of it. The original has the Beatles wearing butchers' smocks with chunks of raw meat and doll parts. This cover, in 1966, was quickly recalled. Some replacements had new covers simply pasted over the old ones and were shipped back to stores.
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Know the types. A first-state "Butcher Cover" is one that was never pasted over with a new cover. A second-state "Butcher" is one that still has its second cover on it. It is not advisable to peel off the top to show the "Butcher Cover" underneath, because the jacket can be ruined this way. A second-state cover can be discovered by looking for a triangle of black (Ringo Starr's turtleneck) showing through the top cover. A third-state "Butcher Cover" is one that has had its pasted cover removed. These often have jacket flaws and vary widely in condition and value.
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Understand the used-records market. Pristine (near-mint) condition will garner the most return for the seller, and seldom played Beatles albums are hard to find. Even a mono copy in only "very good" condition can garner $2,000. Stereo records from this era were produced in smaller quantities than their mono counterparts, and thus command higher prices. A record that has provenance, such as being owned by a member of the Beatles' management team, would make it part of an elite group of records and would garner even higher prices on the secondary market.
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Do the research. Libraries and bookstores have record price guides, both specialized and Beatles-specific. An online search of dealers and auctions can find the most current market value.
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Go with trusted sellers. If you're buying, find a reputable dealer to buy from. The more trusted the dealer, the more accurately he is likely to have graded the record and jacket and the better value you'll receive for your money. If you're selling, consigning to a widely respected auction house with a built-in collector base looking at its auction catalogs and who has money to spend can get you a high return, even if you have to pay commission. Selling it yourself through ads in collector publications, online or to a dealer also are possibilities. But note that dealers will pay you a wholesale price, as they must also make a profit.
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Tips & Warnings
Be wary of still-sealed records from the '60s, because records may have been resealed by dishonest sellers.
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References
- Photo Credit Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images News/Getty Images
Comments
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The photo included in this article is not related to the album in question and was not posted by the author of this piece.
