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How to Appraise Beatles Albums

The Beatles, arguably the most important band of the 20th century, redefined popular music and enjoyed widespread critical and commercial success in the span of ten years. Their original recordings are still sought by collectors and the right versions in pristine condition can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Because different versions of the same albums exist, appraisal can be difficult -- but a number of resources are available for collectors looking to evaluate Beatles albums.

Instructions

- 1
  Examine the condition of the record and details such as the label and album sleeve. There are several versions of every Beatles recording and knowing which one you have, as well as the condition of the record, will help to accurately appraise the album.
- 2
  Check popular auction sites such as eBay, which show the selling price for similar albums. Compare several versions of the same album to get a general idea of how much yours is worth. However, this will not necessarily give you a perfect appraisal because the condition of your recording may vary.
- 3
  Check Beatles price guides, such as eskimo.com, which list different albums and how much they are worth, including different versions of the same album.
- 4
  Take your Beatles album to a local record store. Record store owners often have a good idea of how much albums are worth and can also take condition into account. They're likely to tell you how much the album will sell for, as opposed to how much it is supposedly worth.
- 5
  Visit a professional music appraiser for the most accurate appraisal of your recordings. Appraisers can value your record for personal or insurance purposes and are usually able to identify counterfeits.

Record Collecting