Appraisals of your Rolling Stones memorabilia. How does this work?

I guess it’s about time I finally write up how to get your memorabilia appraised. I’m getting a dozen or so posts a week, sometimes more on “How much is this worth?” or “Where can I get this appraised?”

I’m happy to help out…. for a small fee.

The knowledge I’ve gained over the years  from researching memorabilia, the countless hours online, the gathering of thousands of images and filing them away, the money spent on books and magazines, takes lots of time.

And lots of money.

I’m happy to share this knowledge, but unfortunately can’t do it for free.

If you are interested in having me either appraise your item or sell it, post a comment on my blog. I get an alert to approve this comment.

Usually your email is given to me.

I will contact you directly and ask for details and photos and the information you are looking for.

I have a Paypal account and based on the information you need, will give you a price.

I can also authenticate autographs and provide a letter.

Happy to help.

Thanks,

Garyrocks

The Rolling Stones autographs. The “real deals” are there, you just have to do your homework.

Probably the one question I’m asked constantly by those who know I collect or have seen my collection is, “How do you know it’s real?”
My answer is usually, “I just know.”
As easy as that sounds, it’s not that easy.
But with a little work you will know, and you can protect yourself and your collection.

Start with the simple notion that 95% of autographs sold on eBay and through memorabilia sites are fakes.
Yup, 95%.
Why is that?
Easy.
These alleged reputable dealers are looking for people who don’t know what they’re are looking at.
People that want to believe at that price, it’s too good to be true.
Want to believe that the dealer is reputable.
And to borrow a quote, “There’s a sucker born every minute.”

Check out this link to find out who really said this.

http://www.historybuff.com/library/refbarnum.html

So how do you know if a set of signatures you’re buying is fake?
If there’s a certificate of authenticity offered, it’s fake.

Any a-hole can print up a impressive looking “certificate”, sign it, offer a lifetime guarantee, and sell pretty much anything.
People think this is their protection.
Sorry, it don’t mean shit.
You need to know your stuff. Buy from the right people. Get knowledgeable.
Read up.
Study.
It’s work.
But like anything else, you want to make good decisions, you do your homework.
I own many signed Stones items.
Frankly it’s easier to buy a legit set of vintage autographs from the Brian Jones era, than a set from today.

Begin at the beginning.
Familiarize yourself with the earliest signatures of the band.
What did they sign like in the 60′s say. Gather images you find online and through eBay and compare them.
Try to think of the circumstances in which they might have signed these items, how much time they had, what they were signing. A card, paper, magazine.
All bands in the 60′s signed in ballpoint pen.
There were no sharpies.
Study how their styles changed throughout the years.
Usually over the years, not unlike us all, our signatures deteriorate and get sloppy.
We get lazy.
No different for rock stars.
Look at Charlie Watts today, barely understandable or readable.
A large C and B.
Stands for “Charlie Boy”, the way he used to originally sign his name back in the 60′s.
A signature reduced to letters.

I found on eBay a year or so ago a signed album.
It was a “Get your Ya Ya’s Out,” signed by all the original Stones, including Brian Jones.
The album as recorded in 1969 and released in September of 1970.
See where I’m going with this?
How could this be signed by Brian Jones if he died in July of 69 and the album was released in 1970?
This is the kind of crap that goes on all the time.

Of course it came with a certificate of authenticity.

Buy from reputable dealers. If you do your homework and ask around you can find them.
I buy from Recordmecca in LA, and Tracks in the UK.
These guys know their shit.
They give a lifetime guarantee and it means something.

Some examples I own are shown here. Bought from the dealers listed above.

Beautiful exmaple from Recordmecca

Where do Stones stay when they’re on tour? At the Queen’s Hotel of course.

An amazing collection of items from the early sixties, including a handwritten letter to a fan from Keith Richard.
The grouping is detailed below.
An example of how provenance can add incredible value of your collection.
The signed Queen’s Hotel stationary came from the same young woman, Angela, that obtained the rest of these fine signatures.

I purchased this amazing collection from Tracks LTD. of England.
The World’s Leading Dealer in Beatles and Pop memorabilia.
Their autographs are the best bar none.
All come with a lifetime guarantee, that means something.

Keith Richard Handwritten Letter.
A piece of white lined paper on which Keith Richard has handwritten a letter to a Rolling Stones fan. The letter reads
‘Dear Angela, Thanks for your letter, I hope you enjoyed the 2nd show as well. Anyone who queues for 2 days deserves to come backstage, and it was a pleasure meeting you.
Anyway must go – Keith Richard’.

The letter was written backstage at the Odeon Theatre, Leeds, England on October 9th 1965.

*Note…English slang for queues..or queuing.
A waiting list or other means of organizing people or objects into a first-come-first-served order.

An original black and white photograph of Angela and her friends queuing for tickets outside the Odeon Theatre, Leeds, England.

The photograph was taken on September 16th 1965 shortly before tickets went on sale for the show which was going to take place on October 9th 1965.

Tickets for the Rolling Stones show which took place at the Odeon Theatre, Leeds, England on October 9th 1965. Consists of a stub for the 1st performance and a complete unused ticket for the 2nd performance.

Newspaper article. An original newspaper article taken from the Yorkshire Post which details the girls two day wait for tickets to the show.

An original black and white photograph of Angela and her friends backstage with the Rolling Stones at the Odeon Theatre, Leeds, England.
The photograph was taken on October 9th 1965.

Is “Rare” an over used word? “Rare” Rolling Stones items found on ebay.

Sure I could be accused of using the “R” word maybe a bit too often when listing items on ebay.
And if I had a dime for everyone that used the word rare or priced their item as if it were Keith Richards’ liver, I be, let’s say well off.
So at this point nothing really shocks me.
That said, I’m fascinated at what people deem as rare and therefore feel has incredible value.

If you search ebay highest first prices searching in all categories, it’ll give you a good sense of what people consider valuable.
For the most part you’ll find two categories, signed guitars and Ronnie Wood art.

Here’s a few items I found on ebay that have been listed for some time.

The only known surviving printer’s block for the Rolling Stones first US album, “England’s Newest Hitmakers” (LL3375). Comes in its original cardboard storage box with hand written labeling on spine. Originated from the printing firm of C.L. Schmoyer & Sons in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Provenance from the grandson of the company’s founder.

$95,000.

Autographed Rolling Stones jacket with an embroidered BUDMAN insignia was obtained directly through Electric Factory Concerts in 1989 and features the bold signatures of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman and Ronnie Wood. Item was signed backstage on opening night of the Budweiser sponsored Steel Wheels North American Tour at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium.

$25,000.

This jacket is a really great piece.
Never seen another.
The signatures are the real deal and it’s an unusual item to have signed.
It’s over 20 years old now.
The fact that Bill Wyman has signed this and of course is no longer playing with the band, adds to its value.
4 of the 5 original Stones signatures are not that easy to find. Current signatures sets usually are just the 4.
It has everything going for it, maybe except the price.

What would you pay for this?

Rolling Stones signatures and vintage autographs still bringing strong prices in auction.

Like most seriously dedicated, obsessive collectors I try to keep up with the latest prices on items I’m currently collecting and have in my collection.
I’ve posted several times on Rolling Stones signed items, autographs etc.
I’m happy to say the prices are still strong in the auction market and on ebay.

The auction market tends to get better and higher prices than the budget focused buyer trying to grab a bargain on ebay.
Most bidders in the high profile auctions run by Gotta Have It, Heritage, Christie’s and the like are usually more savvy and willing to spend more to get the rare and unusual.

Early sets of signatures including Brian Jones are still coveted by even the most seasoned collector looking to add to their treasure trove of Stones items.

These examples are some signed pieces that went for pretty solid and in some cases killer prices.

This first photo is of an early fan club card signed by the entire band on the front and personalized by Charlie Watts on the back brought a whopping $2342.00 including buyer’s premium.

Wow.

That same fan club type card as above has been listed on ebay for several months, just signed by Mick and Keith for $1599.99.
See photo.
For another $700.00 the bidder that won the first card described, got the entire band.

Is the two signature card overpriced?
I’d say……yeah, big time.

This next piece has been on ebay for just over a month and priced at $4675.10, marked down from $5995.00.

This is a limited edition print by pop artist Jeff Koons done for the Stones Licks tour, it brought $1758.00, well under the $2000.00-3000.00 estimate.
This edition was numbered 66/1000.
So not a one of a kind piece.
Still collectible, but there are 1000 out there…..and they all look the same.

Photos courtesy of Gotta Have It.

http://www.gottahaveit.com/

The promo photo above is currently listed online at Heritage Auctions HA.com.
Beautifully signed in blue ink by all the Stones.

Price is currently at $2000.00 and still has 4 days to go.
No doubt it will exceed that price.

Check out the final price for this beauty!!!

Happy Birthday Ringo! Merry Christmas Happy Hanukkah Me!

http://garyrocks.wordpress.com/2010/01/03/the-christmas-present-that-never-came-my-ringo-starr-drum-kit/

Copy and paste this link and refer to a previous post I made.
Should be able to link directly from this page, but for the life of me can’t figure out why WordPress makes it so difficult.

Anyway, Christmas/Hanukkah came early this year.
July 5th to be exact.
When a special package showed up at my office.
The present that I so desperately wanted back in 1965 that never came, finally did.

My Ringo Starr Drum Kit from Selcol Industries.
Circa 1964-65.

Purchased from my friends at Tracks in the UK.
Just in time for Ringo’s 70th birthday.

Life is good.

The “ultimate” Rolling Stones collectible. What would it be?

If you could own anything, the ultimate Rolling Stones piece of memorabilia, what would it be?
For most, maybe they would say they couldn’t imagine.

A Jagger sparkle jumpsuit?
The Omega shirt from the 69 tour?
His Uncle Same hat?
Keith’s “Little Queenie” guitar owned by the Hard Rock.
His Micawber maybe?

For me, here are 3.

One is currently for sale through Gotta Have It.
The second was up for auction and never sold.
The third recently sold unfortunately not to me, in the $15,000 range.

This is the original Rolling Stones “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” 45 single gold record award that was presented to Mick Jagger to commemorate the sale of more than one million copies of the pop single record that was released by London Records. This extraordinary award is a completely unique, original gold record that was presented directly to the artist, and there is not another one exactly like it in existence. The award is presented in its original frame with original backing. It is very rare to find a prestigious gold record award such as this in its 100 percent original condition. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, “Satisfaction” is perhaps the most famous song from The Rolling Stones. The song was first released as a single in the United States in May 1965, and the smash hit became the group’s first number one song in America.

Price $29,000.

http://www.gottahaveit.com/ItemDetail.aspx?itemid=9578

This is a complete set of liner notes written by Jagger for the landmark “Let It Bleed” album.
Amazing.

The Rolling Stones autographs. The “real deals” are there, you just have to do your homework.

Probably the one question I’m asked constantly by those who know I collect or have seen my collection is, “How do you know it’s real?”
My answer is usually, “I just know.”
As easy as that sounds, it’s not that easy.
But with a little work you will know, and you can protect yourself and your collection.

Start with the simple notion that 95% of autographs sold on eBay and through memorabilia sites are fakes.
Yup, 95%.
Why is that?
Easy.
These alleged reputable dealers are looking for people who don’t know what they’re are looking at.
People that want to believe at that price, it’s too good to be true.
Want to believe that the dealer is reputable.
And to borrow a quote, “There’s a sucker born every minute.”

Check out this link to find out who really said this.

http://www.historybuff.com/library/refbarnum.html

So how do you know if a set of signatures you’re buying is fake?
If there’s a certificate of authenticity offered, it’s fake.

Any a-hole can print up a impressive looking “certificate”, sign it, offer a lifetime guarantee, and sell pretty much anything.
People think this is their protection.
Sorry, it don’t mean shit.
You need to know your stuff. Buy from the right people. Get knowledgeable.
Read up.
Study.
It’s work.
But like anything else, you want to make good decisions, you do your homework.
I own many signed Stones items.
Frankly it’s easier to buy a legit set of vintage autographs from the Brian Jones era, than a set from today.

Begin at the beginning.
Familiarize yourself with the earliest signatures of the band.
What did they sign like in the 60′s say. Gather images you find online and through eBay and compare them.
Try to think of the circumstances in which they might have signed these items, how much time they had, what they were signing. A card, paper, magazine.
All bands in the 60′s signed in ballpoint pen.
There were no sharpies.
Study how their styles changed throughout the years.
Usually over the years, not unlike us all, our signatures deteriorate and get sloppy.
We get lazy.
No different for rock stars.
Look at Charlie Watts today, barely understandable or readable.
A large C and B.
Stands for “Charlie Boy”, the way he used to originally sign his name back in the 60′s.
A signature reduced to letters.

I found on eBay a year or so ago a signed album.
It was a “Get your Ya Ya’s Out,” signed by all the original Stones, including Brian Jones.
The album as recorded in 1969 and released in September of 1970.
See where I’m going with this?
How could this be signed by Brian Jones if he died in July of 69 and the album was released in 1970?
This is the kind of crap that goes on all the time.

Of course it came with a certificate of authenticity.

Buy from reputable dealers. If you do your homework and ask around you can find them.
I buy from Recordmecca in LA, and Tracks in the UK.
These guys know their shit.
They give a lifetime guarantee and it means something.

Some examples I own are shown here. Bought from the dealers listed above.

Beautiful exmaple from Recordmecca

Keith Richards was wearing pirate shirts way before Johnny Depp.

This is for me perhaps the most interesting area of collecting.
It’s been a focus of mine for the last few years. Items owned and worn by the artists.
It’s also the easiest area to get screwed and ripped off in.
How real are the items?
How do you verify their authenticity?

Two tough questions.

As I have mentioned before, do your homework, buy from only the most reputable dealers, and ask a lot of questions before sending the check.

The photos here are the real deal.
The linen shirt I bought from a high end auction house but not before researching the crap out of it.
I tracked it back to the UK, a Christie’s auction and bought the catalog in which it was featured.

I tracked down and talked to the photographer, Michael Putland that took the photo that was displayed with the shirt.
Michael is a well known photographer in England that photographed the Stones extensively throughout the 70′s.
He was assigned to shoot the stills at this video shoot.
The shirt was worn during the filming of the “Respectable” video to promote the release of the critically acclaimed “Some Girls” album in 1978.
Got from him additional photos from that shoot that showed the shirt up close.
I then matched up the stitching, seams, etc. to make sure the shirt shown in the pictures I found was the same one being sold.
As I was told, seldom do designers make only one of something.

Below is the description direct from the auction catalog.

Description:

A ‘pirate-style’ shirt of white muslin, slashed to the waist and fastening with wrap-around ties, the material finely gathered at the shoulders, the loose sleeves trimmed with a ruff — worn by Richards on tour in America and Europe in the mid to late 1970s and given by him to the vendor Prince “Stash” Klossowski de Rola NOTES Prince Stash designed this shirt for his own use in 1975. Richards’ however took an instant liking to his friend’s shirt and according to Prince Stash, wore it himself extensively while on tour in Europe and the States in the 1970s, before returning it to its original owner.

None of this was detailed or described in the auction listing.

Prince Stash Klossowski De Rola, known to the Stones as “Stash”.
Hmmmm, wonder why?
He was the son of Balthus Klossowski de Rola, an esteemed Polish/French modern artist.
He was also Keith’s roommate from the early days.

Check out the picture of the guitar referred to as “Little Queenie,” part of the Hard Rock’s collection.
Also a gift from Stash to Keith.

Finally I decided to place a bid.
I stole the shirt for all intents and purposes.
It should have sold for a lot more money and is worth 3 times what I paid given all the photos and information I have found since.

But I did enough up front to have the confidence, it was real.

Check out the video of Keith wearing the shirt.