Selling a special LP collection

Discussion in 'Marketplace Discussions' started by Kenny Gunlock, Aug 15, 2022.

  1. Kenny Gunlock

    Kenny Gunlock Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cal
    Hello,
    I need some suggestions from experienced sellers of rather expensive vinyl.
    I am helping the family of a recently deceased collector sell the equipment and records. This collector bought the Rudy Van Gelder collection upon his death, and the cream of this collection is going to be sold, along with about 7,000 other titles. It looks to be a couple complete numbered set in NM to Mint condition (hundreds of unplayed 12" and 10") and much Blues as well.
    As a collector myself, I was given a few of the classic rock titles as payment (Led Zep WLPs and test pressings, Floyd 1st pressing of DSOTM, the Doors WLPs) and there's much more.
    However, we have had one silly offer from someone who's company sells worldwide. We understand this collection will not get anywhere what it's really worth...but the initial offer we got was a slap in the face. (We are talking well under $50 per title)
    We are not sure who to contact, but one thought has been Sotheby's auction?

    Thanks for any suggestions,
     
  2. eddiel

    eddiel Senior Member

    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    An auction house is definitely worth considering. Heritage Auctions usually does very well with their auctions and I'm continuously amazed at some of the bids their lp auctions attract. They are consistently higher than say Discogs or eBay prices.

    The titles alone (if they are of the level of those you were given and better) would be enough to spark interest from an auction house but the connection to Rudy Van Gelder will definitely help.

    I wish I knew enough of the big players (non auction) in the US but I don't so I can't recommend anyone for you. I recall a few names being mentioned on here over the years though so perhaps others will chime in.
     
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  3. R. Totale

    R. Totale The Voice of Reason

    I'd talk to Heritage Auctions. They have been getting good prices on heavy hitters lately and I think they are better attuned to the modern record market.
     
    eddiel and showtaper like this.
  4. danasgoodstuff

    danasgoodstuff Forum Resident

    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Rudy's own copies of things he recorded, I'd think someone would pay a hefty premium for that.
     
    klownschool and rcsrich like this.
  5. Ken Dryden

    Ken Dryden Forum Resident

    If the provenance documentation is available to buyers that the LPs are from Rudy Van Gelder’s personal collection, an auction house seems like the best route, though I don’t have experience with any.
     
    faceinthecrowd likes this.
  6. Kenny Gunlock

    Kenny Gunlock Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cal
    Thanks,
    I will be looking into Heritage a little deeper. I took a real quick look earlier, but couldn't find the right selling format. Neither myself or the other person working on this live close, so we are going to have to find a "do it all" auction house or couple buyers. The logistics of trying to sell this collection piece-meal will not work.
    Based on an earlier auction, I know Sotheby's will send a representative to do their own official documentation, and just take over from there.
     
    eddiel and showtaper like this.
  7. R. Totale

    R. Totale The Voice of Reason

    Heritage has sold single items for me although nothing in that league. Even with my lower value items I didn't mess around with filling out forms on the website, I found the name for the expert in that area and called her on the phone. For a major consignment like you are talking whichever lower level guy you get first will find the guy you should be speaking with. There will be much to discuss including commission levels

    Ultimately you will get the items to them and they will catalogue and photograph them at their premises.
     
    chazz101s likes this.
  8. Chee

    Chee Forum Resident

    Location:
    Denver
    Heritage. Do not set sale this. You'll be lowballed everywhere you turn by record stores and collectors and big players.
    "We understand this collection will not get anywhere what it is worth". Incredible statement. It will. All the "big players" just resell by auction or big set sale. You make the money. Auction.
     
  9. kwadguy

    kwadguy Senior Member

    Location:
    Cambridge, MA
    Auction house for sure for the Rudy stuff. Keep that together.

    The rest you'll need to work through and decide how to do things, depending on what's there.
     
    LordThanos1969 likes this.
  10. Chee

    Chee Forum Resident

    Location:
    Denver
    Van Gelder collection.....you'd have every high end Jazz collector in the world bidding. You'll have every jazz collector and record store trying to mow you down before you auction it. Don't let them do it because all they going to do is auction it.
     
    fretter and Dave like this.
  11. Kenny Gunlock

    Kenny Gunlock Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cal
    Yeah, we do understand that for anyone who's going to go through the work...and time to piece this out, they need to make a good profit. Which means a lower price for the family that owns it. However the wife has no knowledge of such things, and the person who has verified the spreadsheets doesn't have time to piece it out. That leaves the two of us that are helping pack the stereo gear & LPs (this is audio by the pound, starting with 800 lbs of speakers and amps that total about 900 lbs over six chassis)
    We both have full time jobs and live more than 3 hours away...so logistics just don't work out to sell this off in pieces.
    Van Gelder's collection...and one other he bought (Ira ??? can't think of last name) make this whole collection worth that much more. We believe once the two main collections sell, the rest would be pieced out in small groups or single titles, which is going to be a large headache.
    If I lived closer, I'd do it...as you all correctly state, the Van Gelder collection alone will bring a high price
     
    eddiel likes this.
  12. Kenny Gunlock

    Kenny Gunlock Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cal
    AND...it does look like we have someone who's starting to get serious, but that will only be for the jazz and blues titles.
    That leaves a few classical and rock titles to deal with, but most of them are collector type stuff with respect to promos and UK 1st pressings, so we might look at helping sell some of that
     
    eddiel likes this.
  13. Bingo Bongo

    Bingo Bongo Music gives me Eargasms

    Location:
    Ottawa, Canada
    Sell them here..... :shrug:
     
    klownschool likes this.
  14. rcsrich

    rcsrich Forum Resident

    Location:
    Virginia
    Could it be Ira Gitler? Good grief…Van Gelder’s and Gitler’s personal collections…sheesh
     
    caravan70 and fretter like this.
  15. Kenny Gunlock

    Kenny Gunlock Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cal
    Gitler, yes! you've jogged my memory.
     
    rcsrich likes this.
  16. astro70

    astro70 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Southern Illinois
    Not sure how else to say it, but this collection needs to be kept together, maybe even in the library of congress or something. Honestly it sounds like more of a national treasure than a record collection due to the cultural significance...
     
  17. rcsrich

    rcsrich Forum Resident

    Location:
    Virginia
    Agree- maybe consider reaching out to the Library of Congress or Smithsonian- the personal collections of the foremost recorder of jazz and one of the most notable jazz critics probably does qualify as a national treasure.
     
  18. Kenny Gunlock

    Kenny Gunlock Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cal
    Interesting thought, Also it couldn't hurt to send of an email or two. I will give it a shot.

    Also, Astro70 the Velvet Underground Warhol cover you have as an avatar...there are three NM unpeeled copies in this collection
     
  19. astro70

    astro70 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Southern Illinois
    Nice! I can imagine most of our jaws would drop several times looking through the collection!
     
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  20. Kenny Gunlock

    Kenny Gunlock Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cal
    I know my jaw stays on the floor when I'm there!
     
    astro70 likes this.
  21. DanOmegaAuctions

    DanOmegaAuctions Active Member

    Location:
    Manchester
    Hi Kenny - Dan here from Omega Auctions. We're the world's number one auction house for vinyl records - based over in the UK. Would be more than happy to discuss how we could work with you on this. We've had auctions for many of the greatest collectors of vinyl / memorabilia worldwide and have sold many of the rarest records in the world. We've worked on big collection based in US before and can certainly assist on logistics.

    You can reach us on [email protected] or call on 01925 873 040

    Some links for prev results:

    Lot 888 - DARK - DARK ROUND THE EDGES LP (ORIGINAL

    Lot 148 - LEAF HOUND - GROWERS OF MUSHROOM LP

    https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/beatles-record-auction-1.3465685

    And our most recent sales

    Auction Results

    Thanks!
     
    Shoes1916 likes this.
  22. Kenny Gunlock

    Kenny Gunlock Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cal
    Thank You Dan!
    I have sent your information on to the person I am working with on this.
    We have contacted someone who is pretty serious, however if they are not serious enough, we will certainly reach out to you.
     
  23. kwadguy

    kwadguy Senior Member

    Location:
    Cambridge, MA
    It is quite unlikely that any private party sale of the name collections would come anywhere close to what you'd get at auction, even after commission.

    Those are once in a lifetime things, and there are very rich collectors around the world who would probably bid.

    For the rock stuff, if someone offers you a number for the lot and you're inclined to take it, I'd describe what you have here before you agree.

    If you decide to piece it out, let the auction gallery look first and let you know if there are pieces worth auctioning.
     
  24. Chee

    Chee Forum Resident

    Location:
    Denver
    "Once in a lifetime things" is 100% correct. I almost died when it was offered to a store. This is a worldwide auction with monster bids. Don't let the emails from people who want to buy it from you set sale raise your eyes, they'll bid.....they can talk all day about what they have bought in decades previously and big numbers but in the end an auction format will win.
     
    Dave and pscreed like this.
  25. pscreed

    pscreed Upstanding Member

    Location:
    Land of the Free
    Auction with a reputable house. Rely on them to help you. Do NOT let anyone come in and pick this beforehand no matter what they tell you. Reading between the lines this looks like a major event. Would not surprise me to see write ups in major media (NYT, WSJ, WAPO, etc.) either.
     
    caravan70 and Dave like this.

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