Things You'll Need:
- Price guide
-
Step 1
Know the history. “Yesterday and Today” was released with two different covers. One has the Beatles looking bored, posed around a trunk, with Paul McCartney seated in front of it. The other has the Beatles seated, looking gleeful, wearing butchers' smocks with chunks of raw meat and doll parts as props. This cover, in 1966, was shocking and distasteful to the public and soon recalled after its release. Because of high demand for the record, though, turnaround time for new covers needed to be quick. Thus, some had new covers simply pasted over the old ones and were shipped back to stores.
-
Step 2
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 easily 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. The paste-overs often are a little narrower as well. 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.
-
Step 3
Understand the used-records market. Pristine (near-mint) condition will garner the most return for the seller, because Beatles fans played their records to death, and ones that look and play like new are very difficult to find. First-state “Butchers” are the most sought-after. 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 today. A record that has provenance, such as being owned by a member of The Beatles’ management team, will make it part of an elite group of records and will garner even higher prices on the secondary market.
-
Step 4
Step Four
Do the research. Libraries and bookstores will have record price guides, both specialized and Beatles-specific. An online search of dealers and auctions can find the most current market value. -
Step 5
Step Five
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 on its retail sale.
