Beatles Auctions Universe

Get to Know Types of Music Memorabilia

Music memorabilia includes of a wide range of vintage and current items, from collectible ephemera to out-of-print records. On eBay you’ll find items ranging from LPs signed by the Beatles to guitars, guitar picks, and other memorabilia signed by Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Jimmy Page, Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews, and the great Jimi Hendrix.

Popular music collectible items include apparel, concert memorabilia, music novelty items such as bobbleheads and mouse pads, autographed photos, posters, and album covers. You can easily search for your favorite artists by genre.

• Rock and pop music memorabilia: Whether you want to take a Magical Mystery Tour with The Beatles, visit Scarborough Fair with Simon and Garfunkel, or lament that your friend is Leaving On a Jet Plane with help from Peter, Paul, and Mary, you’ll find an incredible selection of rock and pop music memorabilia on eBay. You can find The Beatles programs from 1964, Fab Four dolls, albums, postcards, and posters. If you adore Elvis Presley search for Elvis jewelry, sunglasses, photos, posters, albums, and concert tickets. Other popular rock and pop music memorabilia searches include AC/DC, Grateful Dead, Hard Rock Café, Jimi Hendrix, Kiss, Madonna, Metallica, Pink Floyd, and The Rolling Stones. And don’t forget about current acts! Search out music memorabilia from Green Day, Dave Matthews, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Coldplay, U2, Bruce Springsteen, and many others.

• Country music memorabilia: Enter the world of the Grand Ole Opry with country music memorabilia. Locate apparel, concert memorabilia, novelty items, photos, and posters featuring Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, George Strait, Hank Williams, Shania Twain, Reba McEntire, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Garth Brooks, and other favorites.

• Rap and R&B music memorabilia: Find mementos from top stars of rap and hip hop from Run DMC and MC Hammer to 50 Cent, Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls, Will Smith, Lauryn Hill, and Lil Kim.

To determine how much you should expect to pay for specific types of music memorabilia, search Completed Listings to find out what similar items sold for on eBay in the past 14 days.

Determine the Value of Music Memorabilia

Check item listing for photos and other important details, such as how, when, and where the item was obtained. Do your homework and get as much insight into the circumstances surrounding the item’s acquisition as possible. When shopping for autographed music memorabilia, also research what an artist’s signature is supposed to look like.

Several key factors help determine the value of a particular piece of music memorabilia, including age, condition, content, rarity, and authenticity.

• Music memorabilia age: Like antiques, older autographs and pieces of music memorabilia often cost more than current autographs and music memorabilia, which may be easier to obtain.

• Music memorabilia condition: Typically, the better the condition of a piece of music memorabilia, the more valuable it becomes. When you evaluate photos in item listings, look at whether the music memorabilia looks pristine, clean, and intact.

• Music memorabilia content: Having an item such as a signed document or handwritten letter that provides some insight into an autograph author’s character or an item’s historical context goes a long way in creating value. In general, less personalized autographs and music memorabilia hold a higher value. Also, ink signatures tend to fetch a higher price than pencil signatures because they often last longer and fade less quickly.

• Music memorabilia rarity: Unique music memorabilia and rare autographs of famous, or infamous, people often have a high value. For example, if a person is no longer living, and therefore no longer producing autographs, the value of their autograph increases significantly. However, rare autographs of poor quality may not be as desirable or as valuable as an excellent specimen from someone less well-known.

• Music memorabilia authenticity: Authentication is a way of determining whether an item is genuine and described appropriately. Because of their training and experience, experts can often detect counterfeits from subtle details. However, you should know that two expert authenticators may differ on the authenticity of the same item. Proof of authenticity can take many forms, including still photographs of individuals wearing a certain item or signing a certain item, testimonials from someone associated with a band or artist, or a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) from the studio, an authenticator with industry credibility, or an entity that has a proven track record of experience and integrity. Some COAs come from divisions of publicly traded companies while others come from individual dealers and collectors offering their own personal guarantees. The credibility of a COA depends on the issuing party’s track record.

You may want to use an authentication and grading service to evaluate an item before bidding on or buying memorabilia. For example, an independent, experienced evaluator can help examine a listing on eBay and point out potential problems with an autograph for a small fee. You can also use an authentication and grading service to get a thorough evaluation of a recently purchased item. You’ll find a list of well-known authentication sites and resources on eBay’s Opinions, Authentication, and Grading webpage. This page includes organizations by industry that you can use to grade and authenticate items for sale on eBay. eBay has reviewed the credentials of these authenticators and each has a good reputation in their field. eBay has also obtained a pledge from these evaluators that they will offer services to buyers and sellers, maintain independence from any individual party so that they can evaluate an item without a conflict of interest, and provide eBay users with competitive prices. The authenticators have also pledged not to buy or sell on eBay’s core site, thus keeping them out of competition with the buyers and sellers they serve.

Note: The opinions expressed by evaluators are theirs alone. eBay does not examine items listed on its site and does not have the expertise to evaluate items. eBay cannot guarantee the findings of these evaluators—authentication and grading are difficult, often subjective matters where the experts themselves occasionally disagree. Each of the companies listed on the Opinions, Authentication, and Grading page that provides authentication and/or grading services is an independent company, and eBay is not responsible in any way for any action, inaction, opinion, or service in connection with these companies. You should review the credentials of each company and use your own judgment before using a company’s services.

Understand Music Memorabilia Terms

Sellers use a variety of terms to describe specific editions of music memorabilia.

• Limited edition (LIM ED, LTD ED, LTD, or LE): Music memorabilia may be limited by a specific, announced number (such as 5,000 or 10,000) or by time period. Collectible limited edition music memorabilia pieces show two sets of numbers, usually on the back or base of the item. The higher number indicates the total number produced while the lower number indicates which one you (or a seller) have. Limited editions often come with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
• 30-day-firing limit: Companies such as Bradford Exchange and Hamilton Collection frequently set firing limits for music collector plates. The company making the plate often sets a limit of 30 firing days, but you may also see higher limits, such as 100-day firing limits.
• Annual edition: Annual edition music memorabilia is produced for one year.
• Open edition: Open edition music memorabilia is not limited and could still be in production.
• Artist Proof (AP): Artist proof music memorabilia is art of an edition set aside for the artist.

Common abbreviations in the Music Memorabilia category include:

• NR: No reserve. Seller has not set a minimum price for sale.
• MIB: Mint in Box. A new, never displayed item in mint condition.
• NIB: New in Box. A new, never displayed item.
• COA: Certificate of Authenticity
• LOA: Letter of Authenticity.
• BNB: Brand new boxed.
• NLA: No longer available.
• LP: Long playing. A record designed to be played back at 33.3 rpm.
• EP: Extended play. A record or CD containing 15 to 35 minutes of music. EP records are designed to be played back at 33.3 rmp or 45 rpm.
• IMP: Import.
• OOP: Out of print.
• ORG or Orig: Original.
• Promo or PR: Promotional.

Abbreviations that refer to music memorabilia condition include:

• M: Mint condition.
• EX: Excellent condition.
• VG: Very good condition.
• G: Good condition.
• F: Fair condition.
• P: Poor condition.

To see additional terms related to collecting music memorabilia, visit eBay’s Popular Items - Entertainment Collectibles page or eBay Pulse.

Find Music Memorabilia on eBay

Once you know what type of music memorabilia you need, go to the Entertainment Memorabilia category portal, click Music Memorabilia, and start searching for music memorabilia on eBay.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow listings by item type. Initially you’ll find links for Blues, Classical, Opera, Ballet, Country, Jazz, Big Band, Rap, Hip Hop, Reggae, R&B, Soul, Rock, Pop, and Other. Subsequent Categories lists allow you to narrow down listings by subcategory.

• Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find photo from the Rolling Stones 1965 German tour, type “Rolling Stones German tour” (without quotation marks) into the Search box. If you want to look for an item that’s autographed, type “signed” or “autographed” (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click “Search title and description” to expand your results. Remember to use a “+” between consecutive words in a keyword phrase. After conducting your initial search, try misspelling the name of the item you desire, trying several variations. You’ll likely come across additional listings. Visit eBay’s Search Commands page for more tips on searching with keywords.

• Advanced search: eBay’s Advanced Search feature allows you to conduct a more precise search and gives you the option to search by seller, buyer, or store. You can also narrow results to “All of these words,” “Any of these words,” or “Exact phrase.” Search All Categories to find music memorabilia listed in multiple categories on eBay, including DVDs & Movies, Clothing, Shoes & Accessories, Jewelry & Watches, Music, Toys & Hobbies, and more.

If you can’t find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Music Memorabilia With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you’re buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.
• Does the item come with a Certificates of Authenticity (COA)? Who issued it?
• If you want more information, ask by clicking the “Ask seller a question” link under the seller’s profile.
• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.
• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller’s Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?
• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?
• Does the seller belong to reputable organizations, such as UACC, Manuscript Society, PADA, or IADA?
• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,000.
• eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay’s quick and efficient resolution tools.