Expert: James Michael Anderson - 8/13/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have what I believe to be a genuine original stereo copy of Introducing The Beatles on Vee Jay, which I found years ago in a thrift shop in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. All visual criteria on the cover check out and it has stereophonic embossed above the ATLE in Beatles as well as SR 1062. The record itself says stereo in silver just below the rainbow band and just above the white brackets label. The label also reads Long Playing on the left and Microgroove on the right. There is an S in the trail-off vinyl, but it's a prefix, not a suffix to the etched number 63 - 3403 - 1. There's also an illegible stamp (looks like arc)? The jacket is somewhat worn (some creasing, minor flaking and scratching, and light staining on the (standard songlisted) back. The record is somewhat scratched, and has a crack from the rim into track 3. (Looks like it was probably dropped at some point). I haven't played it to check for stereo or general sound quality. Should I? (My turntable's been in storage for years). If it is stereo - in the  condition as I've described it, how much would you say it's worth in today's market? Thanks.

ANSWER: If you do actually have an original and not a copy, that could be worth anywhere from $500-$7500.  There are so many variations of this album that it is difficult to say.  Here is a web site which can help to articulate the many variants and goes into quite a bit of detail on this album which should better help you assess what you have.

http://www.eskimo.com/~bpentium/beatles/intro/intro.html



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I've been to the site you recommended, which is where I gleaned the information to make the assesment I sent to you. I've monitored two auctions on ebay - both asking $750 for what appear to be standard mono copies. Neither recieved a single bid. Does anyone ever actually buy these records? How much would a G grade copy of a genuine stereo original go for? Thanks.

Answer
"Does anyone ever actually buy these records?"

Good question.. that is the trickier part about "valuing" a record.. it's really worth what you can get someone else to pay for it.  Generally, you will only be able to sell to true collectors as most folks look at spending several hundred dollars on a record a bit outrageous.  Myself, if I were to spend that much, I would be buying a "Butcher" cover rather than the VJ Introducing the Beatles.. but even then as much of an enthusiast as I am, I have a "copy" of a VJ album and don't even own a butcher album.  
The tough part about this album is that most folks will assume that it is not the real deal unless they can see/feel it, which makes it more likely that your best price would be via a Beatles or record convention (Beatlefest or something).  If you don't want to go that route.. eBay would get you a "fair" price, assuming that true collectors likely scavage eBay daily to try to find "deals"..  I think you're best best is to start it at $250 and see if anyone bites.. if it is worth $500, you will likely get something close to that, rather than the $250... or if no one wants it for $250, it's likely worth less than that..