Rare Coloured and White Vinyl Records
In addition to the rarity or desirability of a recording, and the appeal or historic value of the cover, the material of a vinyl record itself can make it a collectable. Specifically, the record can be made of coloured vinyl, white vinyl, or clear vinyl over a paper photograph or other illustration (known as a picture disc).
These specialty pressings of records are frequently limited editions, commanding higher prices when first produced, and retaining disproportionately higher prices in the aftermarket. You can buy vinyl records that are newly pressed on coloured or white vinyl and still in shrink wrap. There is no way of knowing if these records will rise in value, as determining factors such as artist popularity will fluctuate with time. On the other hand, if you purchase specialty pressings of records in the aftermarket, you will have a good idea of the long-term market value of the record.
Because online retailers tend to specialise, you will often find that an online record store sells only new vinyl records or only second hand vinyl records. You can also purchase vinyl records from online auction websites or in person at specialty retailers.
Some of the most sought after specialty pressings are Metallica’s “Black Album”, Prince’s “Black Album”, and The Beatles’ “White Album”, all on white vinyl. There were only 50 copies of Metallica’s “Black Album” specialty pressing, and a complete set of all four records can sell for over $900AUD. There were 300 copies of Prince’s “Black Album” produced in the specialty pressing, and those can sell for nearly $400AUD. Even though there were thousands of copies of the specialty pressing of the “White Album”, the popularity of The Beatles means that they can sell for over $100AUD.
As you can see, rarity is one of the leading drivers of resale price for specialty pressings. If you were lucky enough to have one of The Police’s test discs for their album that used coloured vinyl imbedded within the black vinyl, it could sell for over $2000AUD. Since these records were never manufactured, only the few discs created to test the process exist.
So, if you are going to buy vinyl records that are newly released on coloured vinyl, one of the things you should consider is how many copies were pressed to coloured vinyl versus pressed to black vinyl. A specialty record that has a standard counterpart is generally worth more than a record that was released entirely in a specialty format.
If you are buying from an online record store or non-local specialty retailer, they should be able to tell you the number of copies in the release. If you are buying from an online auction website, the seller may or may not have that information available. If you’re willing to do a little research on your own, you can often discover the answer at online forums and discussion groups devoted to vinyl records.
These tips should help you to buy vinyl records which will appreciate in value. Bear in mind, however, that the true value of a vinyl record lies in how much you appreciate it. If you enjoy the music, it is a good purchase.