For the beginner, collecting Beatles records can be a bit of a minefield if you don't know what to look out for. But with a little patience you can get to know your way around the important points fairly quickly.
An interesting point to bear in mind is that, despite the mass production of records produced since the 1950's and 60's onwards, no two records will ever be identical. It is a somewhat human trait, that every single record that was produced is in fact different. They all have their own charecteristics, quirks and personality, both in terms of the particular batch number and of course the condition the records now find themselves in.
Even if you compare two seemingly identical records produced from the same batch, both in absolute MINT condition (i.e. never been played, and in the same NEW condition they were when they left the factory) you will still find differences. They all have their own charecteristics, just as identical human twins do. It's one of the things I like most about collecting Beatles (and other artists') records.
You might think that this makes the business of collecting even more complicated. To an extent, you would be right, but don't let that deter you. There are price guides available that contain the basics which help keep you on the right track. The guide I personally use and would thoroughly recommend to you is the 'Record Collector Rare Record Price Guide'. It is very comprehensive and generally considered to be the industry standard. If you're serious about collecting records, then this really is essential. The latest updated 2008 version has been fully revised and is available now from AMAZON at an excellent price.
12 years ago
