Case Studies...
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1960s Autographs
It’s possible to acquire a good autograph collection relatively cheaply, but if you aspire to the biggest names of the 1960s, be prepared to spend a lot of money....
1960s Clothing
What few items of rock star clothing that come up at auction fetch very high prices, especially from the truly iconic names of the 1960s....
1960s Discs
Relatively few records attained gold status during the 1960s. Those that did are eminently worth buying, if you can find them at a reasonable price....
1960s Instruments
1960s instruments come up at auction and often command huge prices, far beyond the pocket of most people. But there are ways to afford period instruments....
1960s Magazines
Magazines and newspapers are some of the cheapest rock memorabilia on the market, but also some of the most entertaining....
1960s Merchandise
In the 1960s, merchandise effectively meant Beatles merchandise – and the prices is can bring are sometimes staggering....
1960s Posters
In the 1960s, posters blossomed into art – and it’s art that’s both collectable and affordable....
1960s Tickets and Passes
Concert tickets are one of the most affordable forms of rock memorabilia; even the big names won’t break the bank....
1970s Autographs
With their prices still low, 1970s autographs could be a good investment in rock memorabilia....
1970s Clothing
You might not be able to afford John Lennon’s jeans, but there are items of clothing from 1970s stars that you can buy without breaking the bank....
1970s Discs
Award discs from the 1970s can make good investments, but be aware of the change in styles in the middle of the decade....
1970s Instruments
Instruments from the main musicians of the 1970s fetch prices in the hundreds of thousands of pounds. There are ways to find cheaper instruments, however....
1970s Magazines
The 1970s brought a large growth to the music press. Although not great investments, vintage issues are excellent value for collectors....
1970s Merchandise
There’s plenty of 1970s merchandise available, more from the American idols than the British ones....
1970s Posters
Plenty of 1970s posters can be bought at very reasonable prices, but the rare ones of the most desirable artists fetch some large amounts of money....
1970s Tickets and Passes
Tickets are among the cheapest memorabilia items, with backstage passes just a notch higher....
1980s Autographs
1980s autographs are very affordable, even for the biggest stars. But do they represent a good investment?...
1980s Clothing
There’s not much 1980s clothing memorabilia on the market. This explains, why, and whether it can be a good investment....
1980s Discs
More sales award discs were awarded during the 1980s, but the styles changed during that time. This will help you distinguish the real from the fake in memorabilia....
1980s Instruments
The guitar hero was still an important figure in the 1980s, although it’s extremely hard to find instruments belong to the new breed of heroes for sale....
1980s Magazines
If you want a collection of 1980s music magazines or papers, the good news is that you won’t have to pay much. The bad news is that they’re not much of an investment for resale....
1980s Merchandise
There was a great change in merchandising in the 1980s, moving from juvenile to more adult items, and this has had an effect on the memorabilia market....
1980s Posters
The 1980s wasn’t a golden age of posters, but prices are still low enough to attract collectors....
1980s Tickets and Passes
Tickets and backstage passes might not be great investments as memorabilia, but collectors love them....
1990s Autographs
Are the autographs of 1990s stars worth collecting yet? In some cases, the answer is definitely yes....
1990s Clothing
Although there’s not a huge demand for 1990s musician clothing, there’s not much supply, either. How will the market go?...
1990s Discs
In some cases, award discs from the 1990s can be an excellent investment for the future....
1990s Instruments
There’s a market for instruments from the major artists of the 1990s. The problem is that there’s no real supply of them....
1990s Magazines
The 1990s brought a renaissance in music journalism, with magazines like Mojo. But are they collectable?...
1990s Merchandise
There are a number of 1990s merchandise items readily available and cheap – but do they make a good investment?...
1990s Posters
Although most 1990s music posters have little resale value, some careful digging can unearth a few gems,...
1990s Tickets and Passes
Tickets and backstage passes from the 1990s can be picked up quite cheaply. But will they go up in price?...
Alt-Country Memorabilia
The alt-country movement began in the early 1990s, but the memorabilia remains more for fans than collectors....
Are Music Books Memorabilia?
There are plenty of music books on the market, but can any of them ever qualify as memorabilia?...
Are Music Magazines Classed as Memorabilia?
Music magazines have become collectable for themselves, as much as for their subject matter - making them true music memorabilia....
Auction Houses
The big auction houses sell plenty of high end items, fetching many thousands of pounds. But smaller auctions have material to appeal to the more modest collector....
Autographs
Autographs can be an easy and affordable entry in rock memorabilia, but you have to be sure the signature is real, not a forgery....
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan remains one of the most fascinating and enigmatic characters for collectors. However, whilst items that give an insight into the man go for tremendous sums, other items can be picked up quit...
Bob Marley
Bob Marley remains the iconic figure of reggae. Very little Marley memorabilia is available, and what appears fetches large prices....
British Blues Memorabilia
The British blues boom was vital to the development of British rock, but there’s very little memorabilia of the “scene.”...
British Psychedelic Memorabilia
Britain had its own psychedelic period in 1967 and LPs, singles and posters from the period have become very collectible....
Britney Spears
Britney Spears was one of the top stars of the 1990s. Is here memorabilia collectable? We tell you…....
Bruce Springsteen
One of the most admired 1980s musicians, Bruce Springsteen’s memorabilia is very collectable and likely to rise in price very sharply....
Clothing
There’s very little 1950s rock clothing memorabilia on the market, largely because very little of it was saved....
Collecting 78s as Memorabilia
There's a collectors' market for 78rpm records, whether in general or for specific musical genres....
Collecting Different Recorded Formats
Collecting a release in all formats can prove to be a good investment - at least with the right artist and if you can get your hands on some limited-edition formats....
Collecting Foreign Memorabilia
There can be real satisfaction in adding foreign memorabilia to your collection of an artist - but it won't make you rich....
Collecting Old Vinyl
There's a large market among collectors for old vinyl that's in excellent condition, and the prices keep going up....
Collecting Promotional Items
Promotional items are usually little extras sent out by a record label to push an artist or release, and can cover a wide range of things....
Country Music Memorabilia
Country music memorabilia doesn’t command anywhere near the same prices as rock memorabilia. But, since many country artists operate their own museums, there’s also far less on the market....
David Bowie
Although an iconic figure, David Bowie isn’t big on the memorabilia market – indeed, you might have a problem even finding many quality items....
Early Blues Memorabilia
There’s very little early blues memorabilia available – you’re really limited to old 78s and posters, all of which are becoming rarer....
Early British Pop Memorabilia
Early British pop and rock had its own flavour, but what memorabilia is available?...
Early Rock 'n' Roll Memorabilia
Although Elvis is the biggest name, items from all the early rockers are collectable, especially those of artists like Buddy Holly, who died young....
eBay
For low ticket items, such as music magazines and papers, Ebay is an ideal place of buying and selling....
Electro Memorabilia Items from the 80s
For the first half of the 1980s electro was a major musical style, and there is memorabilia to be collected, especially vinyl....
Elton John
Elton John sheds memorabilia on a regular basis, through his annual Elton’s Closet sales and regular auctions....
Elvis Presley
Elvis was the iconic figure or early rock’n’roll. Perhaps surprisingly, Elvis memorabilia remains reasonably affordable....
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton is one of rock’s guitar gods, and although much of his memorabilia is reasonably priced, his instruments sell for astronomical sums....
Festival Memorabilia
Festivals are big business everywhere these days, and that means artefacts from most of them only have low value....
Fillmore
The collection of Fillmore memorabilia owned by Bill Graham was privately bought and items are readily available now. Some items make excellent investments....
Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack
Frank Sinatra’s popularity last long into the rock era. For such a figure, however, Sinatra memorabilia remains reasonably priced, although relatively little finds its way onto the market....
Frank Zappa
With his cult status, Zappa memorabilia appeals more to collectors than investors. But if you’re a fan, some careful shopping can bring you interesting items....
Glam Rock of the 70's
Glam rock was an important movement in British rock music in the 1970s, but there’s very little memorabilia around. Why?...
Heavy Metal Memorabilia
Heavy metal memorabilia remains very much the province of collectors, rather than investors....
Hip-Hop Memorabilia
Hip-hop might be one of the major global music styles, but it’s yet to make an impact in the memorabilia market. Will that ever happen?...
How do You Know it's Real?
It’s not always easy to be certain a particular item is real. Do your research before your spend hundreds or thousands on something....
How to Buy it
Anyone can begin collecting rock memorabilia. But before you begin, it’s wise to think what you want to collect, and why – and how you’re going to find it....
How to Sell it
There are several ways to sell your items of rock memorabilia, but one question to ask yourself is whether you should sell now or wait....
How to Spot Counterfeit Memorabilia
There’s plenty of fake music memorabilia around these days. But there are signs to tip you off about the counterfeits and precautions you can take to safeguard yourself....
Instruments
It’s very difficult to find instruments associated with 1950s rockers. However, ironically, if you can, they’re not as expensive as those of later decades....
Insurance for Memorabilia
Don't assume that your memorabilia collection will be covered by your contents insurance; all too often this won't be the case....
Is Collecting 78s Worthwhile?
Collecting 78 rpm records can be an expensive hobby, especially if you have designs on real rarities. But it's a great way to connect with the past....
James Brown
Given his iconic status, it’s perhaps a surprise that there’s so little James Brown memorabilia around, and that prices remain low....
Jazz Memorabilia
Jazz memorabilia is a relatively small field, and one that’s dominated by collectors, rather than investors....
Jimi Hendrix
Apart from the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix memorabilia is the most collectable of the 1960s, often commanding spectacular prices....
John Lennon
Possibly the most revered figure of the whole rock era, Lennon memorabilia goes for very high prices. But you can still find the occasional bargain....
Kendo Nagasaki's Mask, Could it be Valuable?
What might a piece of wrestling memorabilia from one of the legends of wrestling be worth?...
Led Zeppelin
Few rock bands have more enduring popularity than Led Zeppelin. Those looking to invest in rock memorabilia would do well to buy before prices go much higher....
Madonna Memorabilia
Madonna is one of the major stars of the 1980s, but if you’re looking for Madonna memorabilia as an investment, you’ll really need to go for the high ticket items....
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is one of the major divas of the last two decades. But how collectable is her memorabilia?...
Memorabilia to Invest In 2000 & Onwards
Finding recent artists and items worth investment for memorabilia isn’t easy, but these tips will guide you....
Memorabilia: How to Qualify?
There can be a very board definition of what qualifies as memorabilia, and to an extenet it depends on your reason for collecting it....
Merchandise
In the 1950s, rock merchandising meant one person – Elvis. Everything from dolls to lunchboxes were made, and if you can find them, they’re very collectable these days....
Merseybeat Memorabilia
Merseybeat was an early, vital local rock music scene, and you can still find some memorabilia of it....
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson might not be the star he once was, but that just gives you the chance to buy his memorabilia at a lower price as a good investment....
Music Memorabilia by Region
We think of collecting memorabilia from bands and artists, but they're usually part of a larger regional scene, the artefacts of which are often very collectible....
My Beatles Memorabilia: A Case Study
Even a relatively modest memorabilia collection can take time to acquire - but it can bring a lot of satisfaction....
New Music Memorabilia
Trying to collect new music memorabilia can be tricky - there's just so much new music - but with judicious choices it can become a worthwhile investment....
New Romantics Memorabilia
The New Romantic period produced plenty of memorabilia, especially on picture discs, and prices remain low enough to attract collectors....
Oasis
Oasis led the Britpop pack in the 1990s. Although their memorabilia prices are still generally quite low, they’re likely to rise in the near future....
Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne is more than a legendary heavy metal singer – he’s also a TV star. But his high visibility has actually kept merchandise prices low....
Posters of Rock
1950s rock posters are very collectable, both those for concerts and movies in which rockers appeared....
Prince Memorabilia
One of the most explosive artists of the 1980s, Prince has been an enigmatic figure in the music business. How collectable is his memorabilia?...
Provenance
With higher ticket items, establishing the provenance of a piece of memorabilia is vital, and there are a number of ways to do it....
Punk Memorabilia
Memorabilia from the punk era is rapidly rising in price and becoming one of the most collectable areas in the field....
Queen, the Rock Band
Queen were one of the most loved British groups, and their memorabilia is beginning to rise in price....
Rave Memorabilia
The rave era was very significant in music, yet there's very little rave memorabilia available....
REM, Rock Band Memorabilia
One of the biggest groups in the world, prices on REM memorabilia look set to rise sharply over the next few years....
Reproductions
There’s a flourishing market in reproduction memorabilia, mostly in posters and clothing, some of which is quite collectable....
Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams is a huge star. But how does his memorabilia sell?...
San Francisco
The music of San Francisco in the late 1960s was special, and artefacts relating to it, and the people who made it, have become very collectable....
Seattle Grunge
The Seattle grunge scene enjoyed brief popularity, but prices for the late Kurt Cobain’s items have reached spectacular heights....
Selling a Memorabilia Collection: A Case Study
There are many reasons for selling a memorabilia collection: moving countries can be one of them....
Sheet Music: Is it Memorabilia?
Although it's a small market, there are those who collect vintage sheet music as memorabilia....
Should You Collect Reissued Vinyl?
Some vinyl has been reissued in remastered form to cater to audiophiles, but is it worth collecting as memorabilia?...
Signed T-shirts and Other Items/Things
How should you look at autographed t-shirts, and where do they fit on the memorabilia scale?...
Soul and Funk Memorabilia
Prices for soul and funk memorabilia remain low, even for such icons and Ray Charles and James Brown....
Take That Memorabilia
Take That have managed the unprecedented feat of being popular twice, but although their earlier memorabilia (with Robbie Williams) commands a higher price, it’s not stratospheric....
Tamla Motown
Motown was one of the biggest record labels of the 1960s. But only a tiny amount of Motown memorabilia trickles out onto the market....
The 8-track as Memorabilia
There are those who collect 8-track tapes, but all too often it's for either the nostalgia or the novelty....
The Beatles
The Beatles are the holy grail for all who buy, sell or collect rock memorabilia, and the prices reflect that demand....
The Big Players
There are individuals who spend literal fortunes on rock memorabilia, but they can’t compete with institutions like the Hard Rock Café or the Experience Music Project and their huge collections....
The Doors and Memorabilia
The Doors are one of the most collectable 1960s groups, but it’s the late singer Jim Morrison who exerts the most fascination....
The Eagles
In spite of their huge success, you can find good deals on Eagles memorabilia. However, as an investment it might a long time before you find a real return on your money....
The Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead are the most collectable of the San Francisco bands, but Dead memorabilia can be surprisingly cheap....
The Monkees Memorabilia
The Monkees were the first, and one of the most successful 'manufactured groups,' and some of their merchandise and memorabilia has become collectible over the years....
The Rolling Stones
Rolling Stones memorabilia can represent some of the best investments in the market, as the prices are surprisingly low....
The Who, What Memorabilia Should You Buy?
The Who were one of the top groups of the 1960s and 1970s. Much of their memorabilia is still reasonably priced, but is likely to greatly increase in value....
U2, One of Ireland's Biggest Rock Bands
U2 are one of the major bands of recent years, which means that their memorabilia is almost certain to rocket in price....
What is Rock Memorabilia?
Rock memorabilia is a rapidly expanding field for collecting and investing. It’s also a very broad field – you’d be surprised what qualifies as rock memorabilia....
What Rock Memorabilia Should You Collect?
Before you begin collecting, it's worth asking yourself some questions as to exactly what you want to collect....
Where to Store Memorabilia
Having a collection of memorabilia is one thing, but finding a good place to keep it, especially as it grows, can pose a new set of problems....
Who Collects Memorabilia?
Those with a love and memorabilia and willingness to spend money on it fall into three main groups....
Why Collect Memorabilia?
There are two real reasons to collect memorabilia – either you’re a fan, or you hope to make a profit from it....