Collectable investments: 10 vinyls worth up to £10,000 – is one in your collection?
Vinyl records have grown in popularity recently and collectors will pay up to £10,000 for some albums. Is it time to dust off your old records?
Marc Shoffman
Vinyl is experiencing a resurgence thanks to exclusive artist tracks and nostalgia, providing a boost for record collectors.
Seeing newer generations taking a turn back in time to collect physical media, artists like Taylor Swift are releasing vinyl-exclusive bonus tracks, signed editions and exclusive artworks.
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While it’s more common to pour money into the stock market, collectable investments can also prove to be lucrative.
Some vinyls in particular could fetch you as much as £10,000 depending on their condition, according to research by music technology firm A2D2.
If you have held on to your record collection from when you were younger, you could be sitting on a fortune. We take a look at what’s making vinyl records popular again.
What makes vinyl valuable?
There are many reasons why vinyl records can become valuable, such as the popularity of an artist or a band, or because it’s rare. The more unique something is, the more it could be worth.
That also feeds into another factor: demand. The fewer copies a vinyl has, the more in demand it is likely to be – especially if there’s a unique feature that pushes up the price, such as an autographed or promotional record, early mono pressings, foreign editions or altered track listings.
Condition is also important, with the most pristine versions commanding the biggest sums. That may unfortunately mean tatty covers or well-played scratched discs could struggle to attract buyers.
It also means that if you buy a copy, you may not want to play it too much to preserve its value
10 valuable vinyl records
Here are some of the UK’s most valuable records that could be gathering dust in your home or waiting to be discovered in a charity shop.
Johann Strauss II – Waltzes by Johann Strauss Jr (1956)One for classical music collectors, this rare 1956 Century Symphony Orchestra recording features the then-up-and-coming artist Andy Warhol’s cover art. According to Discogs, the Warhol cover was discovered by a collector at a record fair back in 2007, costing just two euros. Since then, many copies have reappeared. In mint condition, it is valued at up to £4,400.The Beatles – Please Please Me (1963)
A valuable gem from the fab four, the early UK Parlophone pressings of Please Please Me with the black and gold label are highly sought after and sell for around £6,000.
The Beatles – White Album (1968)
Original copies of this seminal album have traditionally fetched up to £10,000, especially those in top condition with low serial numbers and the original Apple logo. However, a copy once owned by the late John Lennon sold at auction for £128,000.
Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin (1969)
The first pressing of Led Zeppelin's debut album, with its turquoise typography and a unique 'Superhype' credit, is a collector's dream. One version sold for £7,100 in 2013.
A Fleeting Glance - A Fleeting Glance (1970)
This self-titled album has fleeting copies known to exist – fewer than five – making it one of the rarest psychedelic progressive rock albums to exist. The last sale almost hit £6,400.
Complex – Complex (1971)
Complex's self-titled psychedelic progressive rock album can go for up to £10,000. Much of its value is due to its rarity, as it was limited to just 99 pressings. A pristine mint copy was once picked up for a mere £1 and later sold for £10,000, according to A2D2.
Leaf Hound – Growers of Mushroom (1971)
This album from the English hard rock band is described as the number one most collectable rock record by Q Magazine. Mint condition copies are known to sell for up to £4,100.
Dark – Dark Round the Edges (1972)
With only 40 copies ever pressed, A2D2 says owning a mint condition copy of this album could enhance your collection's value by up to £8,350. It’s considered to be one of the most valuable records of all time by NME, and has sold for prices of up to £25,000.
Sex Pistols – God Save The Queen (1977)
A first pressing of this infamous record on the A&M label, which was quickly withdrawn, can also command a price of up to £6,000.
Joy Division – An Ideal For Living (1978)
Mint copies can sell for as much as £4,700. With only 1,000 copies pressed, this four-track EP from Joy Division is a collector's favourite. According to Bonhams, the vinyl record has a note from their manager Rob Gretton to radio presenter John Peel in red ink, with the words: “We did send you a copy about six months ago and we weren't going to release it because the sound quality wasn't very good...we would be grateful if you could give it another spin and tell your listeners that it is now available in the shops.” The inner sleeve has Peel’s handwritten track timings in black felt-tip.
How much did the most expensive Oasis vinyl ever sell for at auction?
Oasis is one of the most globally recognised and successful Britpop groups, so it’s no wonder that the reunion after a 16-year hiatus was met with excitement from fans and music lovers worldwide.
It saw an increased demand for the duo’s merchandise, with original Oasis T-shirts, hoodies and CDs selling for around £500 on eBay.
The most expensive Oasis vinyl ever sold was a pristine edition of Oasis' debut album Definitely Maybe, for £250 at Wessex Auction Rooms, according to The Sun.
Instruments are also garnering significant attention. A Silver Sparkle Gibson Les Paul Florentine guitar used by Noel Gallagher on the 1997 Be Here Now album sold for £226,000 at auction house Propstore in November 2024. We look at how to make money from the Oasis tour in a separate guide.
Where can I find reputable auction houses or marketplaces that specialise in rare vinyl records?
You could research record shops in your area to find one that buys and sells vinyl records. It’s a good idea to visit the shops in person.
Here are a few places worth checking:
- Omega Auctions is one of the most popular auction houses for music memorabilia and vinyl records. They host around 10-15 vinyl auctions every year. Some of their most popular sales include David Bowie’s handwritten lyrics for ‘Starman’ that sold for over £200,000.
- Wessex Auction Rooms also holds specialist vinyl record auctions throughout the year.
- Record Planet in the Netherlands is known as the largest vinyl show in the world. It was established in 1993 and has since hosted the event for over 30 years.
- Discogs is a marketplace that lets you find sought-after records, sell your collection and helps value an item. You can search for vinyl records, see similar sales made in the past and get a rough idea of how much it could be worth.
What is the step-by-step process for getting a rare vinyl record appraised for sale?
If you’re thinking about selling your vinyl collection, make sure you understand how to appraise your records to determine the value.
Some of the main factors that appraisers look for are the condition, rarity, demand, type of music, genre, artists and special editions.
If you’re lucky, even a single record could fetch hundreds or even thousands of pounds if it’s well preserved and rare.
Atlas Records outlines the key steps you need to follow for a professional vinyl appraisal and to determine how much your record is truly worth.
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