I guess it’s only human nature to hope that the things we’ve collected over the years have some value beyond the sentimental. Especially if we inherited said items and have dragged them from hither and yon like a yoke around our necks!
But guessing the value of old records is a crapshoot as far as I can tell. The above recording of The Tone Poem Don Quixote was sold with a linen cover as a part of the Soria Series of classical recordings produced by Dorle and Dorio Soria for RCA Victor probably in 1958. Each came with a booklet written by experts on the subject. For Don Quixote, the booklet was written by Walter Starkie, an “authority of Spanish history and culture, an eminent scholar and writer” and illustrated by the artists inspired by Cervantes’ (Dali, Picasso, Goya and Dore)
From what I’ve been able to tell, this album plus booklet is only worth about $30 to collectors. So we shall hold onto it. I never made it through Cervantes’ masterpiece so perhaps it shall give me the motivation!
On the other hand, this album is highly sought after.
All I can say is Ugh. I guess there are a lot of conspiracy theorists out there!
I also counted about a dozen “Live on Stage” albums in our collection. I don’t really understand the allure of the live-on-stage recordings. Who wants to listen to the applause or the back and forth with the audience? Not me. However, the following recording might be interesting. I was in grammar school when it came out as was my husband so how it came into our possession is anyone’s guess.
Unless my prim and proper MIL had a Walk on the Wild Side? Noooo.
I’ve gotten tired of researching the value of old records and so I will conclude with the most valuable record set I found. From around 1946, the six record set of The Merry Widow. Estimated value $60-70.
I’m not sure I’ll be able to play this set on my record player. The discs are only 10″ and very heavy. But we’ll see. If not, I know a near-by thrift store that might welcome the donation!
Saying nothing in particular 
I remember Kitty Carlisle from that game show, a Tic Tac Toe type one. Peter Frampton Live was THE ALBUM when I was in college and was blasting from every dorm and fraternity. It had a certain excitement to it that other studio recordings lacked. Plus, Peter was hot. 🙂
I remember Carlisle too – she probably did a number of those game shows after light opera faded from popularity. We have one Frampton record “Somethings Happening.” I liked him but at the time he was popular I was living in Europe so I missed all the Frampton mania!
I looked up Walter Starkie. He had multiple Knighthoods and Commander titles. He was a blood brother to a band of Gypsies. His photos look like a guy having a good time. World traveler and polyglot. Art expert, life long learner, overweight with a glass in his hand. My kind of guy. Duke
The booklet he wrote has me interested in tackling Cervantes … so I have no doubt he was a character. The Sorias were quite an interesting couple as well. Hobnobbed with all the important artists of the time.
Some of those are probably 78’s and not 33 1/3’s. Most of the high ticket albums are classic rock from the 60’s with psychedelic covers and rare presses from the 70’s. It can drive you nuts trying to price them because only the originals are worth money, not the restrikes and it can be very hard to tell the difference.
Fun to go through collections though. I have a few Lenny Bruce’s myself.
It was fun to look through them and see how the album covers have changed over the years but, after pricing out a few of the sets my MIL took such good care of, I realized it could soon drive me quite insane! Why some old things become collectibles and others do not … boggles the mind!
It does. Watch Antique Roadshow and you’ll want to pull out your hair. There’s no sense to it…
Lenny Bruce was featured heavily in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, worth the watch.
Fun! I regret selling my albums in college for extra cash. My mom has a victrola with the original records. We will keep that in the family!
You’re lucky to have children who want to carry on that tradition! Our children have shown little interest – they’d love for us to store them forever but that’s not going to happen. I’m not moving with seven very heavy boxes full of vinyl!
That’s a lot!
The illustrations are incredible. Your post reminds me I need to reread Don Quixote—it’s been decades.
It’s a long one! Over 700 pages!
Not too bad. I’m getting better at reading, so hopefully it won’t take too long.
I guess it’s all a matter of taste 😄
I think it has more to do with how rare the recording is – how many copies were produced, etc.
Yes indeed that too 💜💜💜
Awww so nostalgic to see Nipper again. He’s that furbaby on RCA Victor’s records. When I was a kid, I would be mesmerized watching the logo go round and round while the record was playing. In retrospect, I must have looked like Nipper in front of our turntable, lol.
The album is a beautiful shape. I also found some red records – mostly children’s albums. I think we were all Nippers! Thanks so much for visiting and commenting!
Quite a selection. The 1963 record is historical…
It scares me to tell the truth.
I remember that day very well. We lived in Africa. The place of this last movie. My parents had left us in the house to a dinner party at the US Embassy. They came back very early. Word had been sent to the Ambassador. All guests left. In shock.
I had a teacher who’d been a Marine and he was famous for being a tough guy. He broke down in tears that day and then we all got sent home from school.
He was human…
The day after all the wives of the American Embassy went to the tailor to get black dresses…
PS. And a Marine in those days had seen serious combat. Either WWII of Corea.
I can still see him in my mind’s eye – looked a bit like the actor Lee Marvin only his complexion was really bad.
An interesting image of “Liberty Valance” crying…
PS. Lee Marvin was fantastic actor. I liked him very much.