Auction Alert: Sale of specialist vinyl and related items

Cream - Disraeli Gears

The auction that we’re alerting you to this week is a little different to the usual. It’s the sale of a load of vintage vinyl. Not the type you lay on your floor – but the type you listen to on a record player.

Justin often muses about the vinyl he’s let go – and how much he regrets doing it. This may be the opportunity for him (and for you, if you’ve done the same) to restart his collection. It’s all our era of music – and alas, many of the actual things that Justin has sold at one point or other in his life. There’s a huge range of 60s, 70s and 80s music from various genres; pop, rock, disco, punk, reggae and jazz. There’s Bowie, Hendrix, Prince, The Clash, The Smiths, Nirvana and Depeche Mode.

It’s a two-day auction – a sale of specialist vinyl and related items in 164 lots. It’s being held by Sullivans Auctions in Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan.

  • Monday 13th June 2022, from 1pm (lots 1 to 1040)
  • Tuesday 14th June 2022, from 5pm (lots 1041 to 1820)

Buyers Commission Charge
A buyers commission Charge of 15% will be added to the hammer price.
Value-added Tax (VAT)
Where a lot is marked by a (*) in the auction catalogue VAT is payable on the hammer price at the standard rate of 20%

Bid via EasyLiveAuction which incurs a fee of £3.00 or 3% of the final hammer price.

As with all auctions – but especially with this one as condition is everything with vintage vinyl records – items are ‘sold as seen’ so it’s a case of caveat emptor or ‘buyer beware’. If you are interested in any of the lots, you can contact the auctioneers for a condition report before bidding.

The Human League - Reproduction, Depeche Mode - The Singles 81-85, Depeche Mode - Violator

Lot 3:
The Human League – Reproduction
Depeche Mode – The Singles 81→85
Depeche Mode – Violator
Estimate: £20 – £40

The Clash - Black Market Clash (1980), Ian Dury - New boots and Panties!!, Clockwork Orange

Lot 14:
The Clash – Black Market Clash (1980)
Ian Dury – New Boots and Panties!! (cover worn)
Clockwork Orange (cover worn)
Estimate: £10 – £20

New Order - Substance 1987

Lot 16:
New Order – Substance 1987
Estimate: £30 – £60

The Smiths - The Queen is Dead

Lot 18:
The Smiths – The Queen is Dead
Estimate: £20 – £40

David Bowie - Space Oddity, David Bowie - ChangesOneBowie, David Bowie - Fame and Fashion, Tin Machine - Tin Machine

Lot 21:
David Bowie – Space Oddity
David Bowie – ChangesOneBowie
David Bowie – Fame and Fashion
Tin Machine – Tin Machine
Estimate: £20 – £30

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland (gatefold)

Lot 32:
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Electric Ladyland (gatefold)
Estimate: £40 – £70

Nirvana - Live at Reading Festival

Lot 33:
Nirvana – Live at Reading Festival
Estimate: £20 – £30

Cream - Disraeli Gears

Lot 41:
Cream – Disraeli Gears
Estimate: £20 – £30

Ozzy Osbourne - No More Tears, Black Sabbath - The Eternal Idol, Black Sabbath - Master of Reality, Black Sabbath - Vol 4, Black Sabbath - Greatest Hits

Lot 55:
Ozzy Osbourne – No More Tears
Black Sabbath – The Eternal Idol
Black Sabbath – Master of Reality
Black Sabbath – Vol 4
Black Sabbath – Greatest Hits
Estimate: £50 – £80

7 Miles Davies albums and books including Bitches Brew

Lot 72:
7 Miles Davies albums and books including Bitches Brew
Estimate: £20 – £30

Bob Marley and the Wailers - African Herbsman (on Trojan)

Lot 79:
Bob Marley and the Wailers – African Herbsman (on Trojan)
Estimate: £20 – £40

Queen (1973), Jazz (1978), A Day at the Races (1976), Hot Space (1982)

Lot 89:
Queen (1973)
Jazz (1978)
A Day at the Races (1976)
Hot Space (1982)
Estimate: £40 – £60

Donna Summer - Greatest Hits, Pretenders - Pretenders 2, Kate Bush - Lionheart, Toyah - Anthem, Thompson Twins - Quick Step & Side Kick, Rose Royce - Greatest Hits

Lot 103:
1980s selection x 6
Donna Summer – Greatest Hits
Pretenders – Pretenders 2
Kate Bush – Lionheart
Toyah – Anthem
Thompson Twins – Quick Step & Side Kick
Rose Royce – Greatest Hits
Estimate: £20 – £40

13 Prince and Prince and the Revolution singles

Lot 134:
13 Prince and Prince and the Revolution singles (varying quality)
Estimate: £20 – £30

10 David Bowie singles

Lot 135:
10 David Bowie singles (varying quality)
Estimate: £10 – £20

Designer Desire: Alex Steinweiss

Mosaic of Alex Steinweiss LP cover art | H is for Home

New Yorker, Alex Steinweiss (1917-2011) is considered the father of LP artwork. Prior to the 1930s, the vast majority of records were sold in plain sleeves or record shop advertising ‘bags’. As the first art director at Colombia Records, he recalled what record covers used to be like:

The covers were brown, tan or green paper. They were not attractive, and lacked sales appeal.

They were so drab, so unattractive, I convinced the executives to let me design a few.

He went on to design album artwork for other record companies such as Decca, London, Remington and Everest.

Examples of his work can be found in Jazz Covers, a book we’ve reviewed in the past. There are two books dedicated to his huge back catalogue; For the Record: The Life and Work of Alex Steinweiss and Alex Steinweiss. The Inventor of the Modern Album Cover. There are three editions of the latter available costing from £15 to £1,000.

Portrait of Alex Steinweisscredit

Wednesday Wish: Crosley turntable and stand

"Wednesday Wish" blog post banner

record stand available from Urban Outfitters Crosley turntable available from Urban Outfitters
Crosley Tan Keepsake Turntable £160.00 | Black Record Stand £60.00 – Urban Outfitters

What do you think of this 21st century, new & improved version of the Dansette? Not only does the Crosley turntable play your cherished vinyl records, it can convert them to MP3 files so you can enjoy your tunes on your smartphone or computer – a smart bit of kit! And it looks great with this great retro mid-century modern wire stand; available in black, white or turquoise.

Bernard Buffet

Bernard Buffet blog post banner

detail from vintage 1968 Bernard Buffet exhibition poster | H is for Home

We’ve been meaning to do a blog post about Bernard Buffet for a long time.

detail from vintage 1968 Bernard Buffet exhibition poster | H is for Home

The recent purchase of this vintage poster brought it to mind once again. We had it sent from France and it advertises an exhibition held in 1969 at the Musée d’Unterlinden in Colmar.

detail from vintage 1968 Bernard Buffet exhibition poster showing gold frame

It’s just come back from our wonderful local framers, Abacus. We chose burnished gold – reminiscent of an antique religious icon.

detail from vintage 1968 Buffet exhibition poster

It now hangs above our bedroom fireplace. We love it!

pile of Ella Fitzgerald LP covers illustrated by Bernard Buffet

We also framed these vinyl album covers that were illustrated by Buffet.

pile of Ella Fitzgerald LP covers illustrated by Bernard Buffet

The set – Ella Fitzgerald sings Gershwin – dates from 1959.

Ella Fitzgerald LP cover of a corner in a room with bed, chair and picture on the wall illustrated by Bernard Buffet

Ella Fitzgerald LP cover of a table with wine bottle, glass and vase of flowers illustrated by Bernard Buffet

Ella Fitzgerald LP cover of a table with alarm clock, paper, envelope and pen illustrated by Bernard Buffet

Ella Fitzgerald LP cover with a woman's face illustrated by Bernard Buffet

Great records and great covers – a perfect combination.

four framed Ella Fitzgerald LP covers illustrated by Bernard Buffet

He’s a fabulous artist – so distinctive – and one of our real favourites. Here’s a link to the online Musée Bernard Buffet

…and here’s a 2-minute, black & white film from 1962 of Buffet and his wife, Annabel in their château and private chapel. We discovered on the British Pathé website – there’s so much beautiful art on the walls!

We’ve set up a Buffet Flickr group – please add your images if you have some or just have a browse!