About the Collection

Hello and welcome. THIS IS THE BIG ONE! I am thrilled to present to you here, what is known as, THE VERY FINEST QUALITY COLLECTION OF AMERICAN BEATLES RECORDS THAT IS KNOWN BY US THAT EXIST!!! This statement is not made lightly. I am an expert in the hobby of collecting Beatles records since I have been collecting twenty three years and have obtained the necessary knowledge. I know a vast array of dealers and collectors who knows that this is indeed THE BEST Beatles record collection that is known by them. To add some more credibility in case new or other collectors don’t know me, I thought that I would also have other experts verify my statements that I have made here since they have personally seen and appraised my record collection. Noted Beatles and world renowned record expert John Tefteller, who has been a record dealer for over thirty five years in the hobby and Perry Cox who has been dealing in Beatles records is known as THE leading expert in American Beatles records have stated numerous times to me and all the other dealers and collectors that this collection of rare Beatles records you are about to view on my website at www.ultimatebeatlescollection.com, is simply the best collection that they are aware of and that it has no peer that they or anybody else is aware of, anywhere! (And they have a vast amount of collectors and dealers that they have asked all over the world!) Indeed, this collection was recently featured on CBS news, radio, VH1 and in magazines such as Goldmine magazine (the best printed source for information on records). Every now and then I get a few emails from record collectors and non record collectors congratulating me, asking questions about the hobby and with some even wanting my autograph! Many record collectors have stated to me that they have dreamt of seeing this exquisite quality Beatles record collection in their dreams, but NEVER thought that it really ever existed. This MAGNIFICENT COLLECTION IS CURRENTLY NOT OFFERED FOR SALE! In the world of record and Beatles record collecting, this is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity, a historic event the likes of which have never been seen before anywhere!

In my quest for collecting, only the very best examples of Beatles records and picture sleeves would do. I created a list of the “Top 40” Beatles records and picture sleeves, in terms of historical significance, rarity, demand and value. It makes the most sense to create a list of the top forty because The Beatles were in the era of Top Forty music. I decided to make it my “shopping list” for this project. All of the records and picture sleeves which comprise the list of the “Top 40” are all Beatles records and picture sleeves. I had little interest in collecting solo Beatle records. In addition, I believe that there should be no solo Beatle records on a Beatles Record list because John, Paul, George and Ringo worked as a group called The Beatles and not by themselves as John Lennon or Paul McCartney for example. Thus the solo Beatle records and sleeves should have their own “Top of The Pops Chart”. My focus would be on acquiring only Beatles records and picture sleeves for the collection. The “TOP 40” would be my main focus, but not just any record and picture sleeve that is in my Top Forty list would do. My goal would be to obtain the ABSOLUTE AND VERIFIABLE VERY BEST CONDITION EXAMPLE THAT IS KNOWN IN THE WORLD of each of those 40 rare records and picture sleeves and each one had to be in VERY STRICT Near Mint or better condition and had to be the best condition example known or I would not buy it. Only The Best Example of that title In The World would do!

It is very hard to sell me a record. I am very strict and very picky when it comes to buying a record! Those dealers found this out the first couple of years of doing business together when I kept passing on rare and very rare records they were offering to me because they did not meet my very strict grading standards. Most of the records and picture sleeves that are in this collection are in beautiful like new Near Mint or Better condition! Quite a few of these rare Beatles records are in stunning MINT condition! To those Beatles record collectors who bought records in the 1990’s: If you ever wondered where most of the REALLY good records went, look through the pages of this catalog. You’ll probably find them in there! In fact, many of these same collectors have already found this out!

Now, after twenty three years of collecting, most of the records and picture sleeves that I have that are in my collection that are in the “Top 40” are in the best condition that is known by US (Perry Cox, John Tefteller and myself).

Here are some of the highlights from this truly amazing Beatles collection:

FACTORY SEALED First State Mono Butcher Album in Mint condition!!

The FINEST condition commercial My Bonnie single on the Decca label known by us!!

The FINEST condition Stereo “Portrait Cover” album known by us!!

The FINEST condition Stereo Beatles VS The Four Seasons album known by us!!

These are just a few examples of the kinds of records that you will find in this truly amazing one of a kind record collection! A good number of records in this collection are acknowledged as being the best condition example of that record known by us. I encourage you to contact these two experts and talk to them about my collection. After you talk to them ask them about other experts who you can talk to. They will give you other well known experts who have the proper credentials that you can ask. These guys are the top people in the hobby. When you talk to the other experts don’t forget to mention Perry Cox, John Tefteller and my name and what they had told you about my collection. See what the other experts and collectors say about my FAB collection!!!!

A WORD ON GRADING AND “VALUE”

Any time the value of a record collection is discussed, the primary determining factors are the quality in terms condition, of the individual items, as well as their significance and scarcity. When it comes to record grading, having a reputable appraiser is of paramount importance. I don’t want to think about the amount of wasted time I’ve spent looking at what a dealer would call “Near Mint” records, which in reality were VG at best! Based on my expertise of collecting Beatles records for the past twenty three years and getting opinions from many other well known collectors and dealers about their methods of grading records and sleeves I found that most dealers and collectors (97%) do not grade as tough as I do. All of these same dealers and collectors told me that they also came across several dealers and collectors alike over the years who did not know how to grade records accurately because the methods that they used to grade records resulted in grossly over graded records. From my knowledge and experience, in my opinion, less than .5% (one half of a percent) of the original, black label Capitol albums are still in Near Mint condition and are very rare indeed!! Naturally, if Near Mint records are that hard to find, MINT records are far, far rarer and more valuable! I estimate those to be .2% to perhaps .3% (less than one third of a percent)! The reason why is simply this: records were made to be played and The Beatles records were no exception. In fact, many people had to buy several copies of each album because they played them to death. Back in the 1960’s the needles were heavy and they really killed the disc fast. Yes, they sold millions of records, but only a select few have been known to survive in Near Mint or better condition.

Without a doubt, records on the Vee Jay label are the hardest to find in Near Mint or better condition. For example, it is nearly impossible to find a truly Near Mint copy of either the Introducing The Beatles album or the “Please, Please Me” 498 single. In my opinion, the chances of finding these records in Near Mint condition are equal to the chances of finding a Mint original black label Capitol album (see above).

Most Beatle record collectors believe that records in Mint condition should sell for two times more than a record with the same title in Near Mint condition. Records on the Vee Jay label are the exception to this guideline. Because of the scarcity and demand for Mint Vee Jay records, many collectors including myself believe that they should sell for perhaps up to three times the same title as in Near Mint condition. When did you last find a MINT Vee Jay Record or picture sleeve (other than in this collection) of any of the titles? A Special Note regarding only the records and sleeves from my TOP 40 list: Regardless of their condition, whatever example is recognized as being “The best known example” they deserve a “special premium”. Since these are considered to be the rarest of the rare and if there is only one example that can indeed be called the best example of that record or sleeve that is known then that record or sleeve is TRULY a one-of-a-kind item and thus their value should reflect their uniqueness. In my opinion, the “best copy known” of a record or sleeve that is in the Top 40 should bring “SKY IS THE LIMIT” prices. NO EXECEPTIONS!

THE VALUE OF THIS COLLECTION

Please remember the fact that there are several hundred records in pristine condition. As stated above, many of the records that are from the Top 40 are considered to be the best known example of that title that we know of in the hobby! Please keep in mind that record price guides tend to reflect values on a conservative basis including my Beatles record price guide which just came out which contains up to date pricing information. There are many times when a dealer will call one of their customers and sell a record that is in near mint condition for more than what the guide states that the value is for that record in near mint condition. When I purchased many of these records I had to pay anywhere from two to four times price guide values. This especially applies to the records and picture sleeves that are in my Top 40 list. So don’t expect to go strictly by price guide values. One should expect to pay a premium price for the ability to buy a collection that is all in one place and all in one time. This saves years of time of putting a collection together one record at a time. Please keep in mind that in our opinion, if you were to spend the time that it would take to accomplish this task that you still would NOT have a collection that is as good as mine is PERIOD.

Please keep in mind that good quality Beatles records will continue to rise in value. The price of the rarer and rarest records in exquisite quality will increase at an even much faster rate. The general feeling among dealers and collectors is that a collection of this type appreciates at an average of 4% to 10% a year for most years depending upon various conditions.

The bottom line is this: Of all the Beatles record collections in the world to own this is UNEQUIVOCALLY THE COLLECTION TO OWN! CONDITION IS EVERYTHING AND THIS COLLECTION HAS MOST OF THE MOST VALUABLE BEATLES RECORDS AND PICTURE SLEEVES IN THE BEST CONDITION THERE IS THAT IS KNOWN BY US!! ASK AROUND AND SEE WHAT OTHERS THINK ABOUT MY COLLECTION!