!8: Stereo Turntable Sale Off: November 2011

!±8± Selling Your Classical Vinyl Collection

Where do I sell my Classical record collection? Searching the internet or wading through numerous music publications can be confusing and sometimes daunting. Finding the right record dealer who can offer you helpful advice on where to sell you classical records can be a challenge.

Are my classical records worth anything? Is the first question most people ask? Classical records are a fairly specialized area and many dealers will have little or no knowledge on the subject.

An experienced Classical dealer will normally ask a few general questions about your collection. Firstly He/She will want to know the manufacturer of your records or their record label. A dealer will ask this because certain labels are generally more collectable than others. The labels which generally hold the most value are HMV, Columbia and Decca although it is worth pointing out there are many exceptions to this rule. Most of the more valuable classical records were produced in the late 50s and 60s and tend to be Stereo rather than mono copies. Like all collectable areas there are trends or fashions, a growing enthusiasm for violinists and cello players has created a considerable increase in the value of pieces which are focused around these instruments.

Very often a records value is based around the reputation of the performer a few collectable artists to look out for are Martzy, De Vito, Rostropovich and Dupree. Also some recordings are regarded as seminal performances this can often increase the value of a record as collectors strive to obtain a copy.

Condition is always relevant to the value of records but classical collectors are particularly fastidious about their vinyl. High end classical records are mostly bought for their sound quality so the records need to show little or no sign of wear if they are to fetch premium money.

There also seems to be a growing interest in some of the more modern Digital recordings and although they do not fetch anywhere near the values of the established earlier pressings there is a growing market for these items.

Although there is a world interest in Classical music the increasing value of classical music on vinyl is almost certainly affected by the Asian market. Countries such as Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and China have a growing community of vinyl enthusiasts.

I realize that this article can only give you a basic understanding regarding the value of your records. If you require more advice including free valuation check out my website below I will be happy to answer your questions.