How to Know If an Album Is Worth Anything?

Some vinyl albums may be worth a lot of money.

Before the advent of MP3 players -- even before the rise of compact discs -- there were vinyl record albums. Some of those records could be worth money if they contain certain preset conditions. If you think you have a valuable old album, you may want to have it professionally appraised. Before you do so, however, you can perform a basic appraisal to determine its basic value.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton gloves

Instructions

1. Check a database like the one at "Record Collector Magazine" to see if the record has any real value. For example, rare versions of popular records tend to be worth the most, while the common versions are less valuable. Albums from flash-in-the-pan bands or unknown bands usually aren't valuable.

2. Familiarize yourself with the appraisal system for determining the quality of old records. The grading system uses eight categories: Mint (perfect), Near-Mint (almost perfect), Very Good Plus (worth about one-half of a Near-Mint or Mint record), Very Good (worth about one-fourth of a Mint or Near-Mint record), Good Plus and Good (both worth about 10 to 15 percent of a Mint or Near-Mint record), Fair (worth about 5 percent of a Near-Mint record) and Poor (worth almost nothing).

3. Examine the record itself, using soft cotton gloves so as not to scratch the surface. Look for any existing scratches or other mars on the disc as well as any marks or imperfections on the label in the center of the record. Inspect the general state of the surface. For example, an unplayed album will be very shiny and glossy while one that has been played many times will look grayer and less glossy. Any imperfections you note may reduce the value.

4. Check the album's cardboard sleeve and cover for imperfections, pen marks, price stickers and fading. Album covers and the albums themselves are appraised separately.

5. Note the edition or printing of the cover and whether it is the original cover that came with the album.

Tips & Warnings

• An early edition of an album tends to be worth more than a rerelease, and a record in a different album cover is not as valuable.

• Though professional appraisers can give you the most accurate price, beware of shysters who want to take advantage of you. Always get an appraisal from someone other than the person to whom you sell the record. Obtain as many expert opinions as possible.

References

• Vinyl Records Still Live: How to Appraise Vinyl Records
• Vinyl Revinyl: FAQ

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Rare Record Price Guide