Rarest and most valuable Oasis vinyls worth up to £250 – do you have one?

THE return of Oasis in a reunion tour next year has boosted interest in the band, so if you have a box of their old records at home you could be sitting on a goldmine.

The rarest and most valuable of the band’s records can fetch as much as £250 at auction – and now is a great time to sell, says Martin Hughes, a vinyl expert at Wessex Auction Rooms.

“Oasis are arguably the most iconic British act of the 1990s, so the announcement of a reunion this past week has seen interest surge in what was already one of the key areas of collecting,” he told The Sun.

“All of those original fans in their forties and fifties who didn’t have a record player back in the 90s, but have recently discovered the joy of listening to music on vinyl, are now clambering to find original pressings of the first two albums.

“That means anyone who bought them back in the 1990s could be sat on a tidy sum.”

Martin says original vinyl pressings of the band’s first two albums – Definitely Maybe and (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? – have increased in value over the last three years.

A copy of either album in a good condition could make £70-£100 at his auction house.

Meanwhile, last year the vinyl expert sold a pristine edition of Definitely Maybe for £250.

And as we get closer to the concert dates Martin estimates that demand for Oasis records could increase even more.

“I would think that in the next 12 months we will see demand for these recordings reach their peak as frenzy for all things Oasis sweeps the nation,” he said.

Check your attic for Oasis 12” singles, 7” singles, autographs or memorabilia and get in touch with an auctioneer such as Martin who can sell them to specialist collectors worldwide.

What about other 90s records?

The “vinyl revival” has been in full swing for several years and has been fuelled by enthusiasts who want to build a physical collection and enjoy the sound of a record player.

“Nostalgia certainly has an impact on the value of all records,” said Martin.

“As we approach the 30th anniversary of Britpop, interest has been increasing in vinyl records from the era.”

In the mid-1990s most of the albums on sale were released as CDs, which had become a cheap way to enjoy music.

Many bands did not release their albums on vinyl at all as records were becoming more expensive to produce and were not popular.

This means original pressings of an album from this decade are very rare and are highly sought after.

“Any of the big 1990s British indie bands such as Blur, The Verve, Pulp, The Bluetones, Elastica and The Charlatans are making serious money in my specialist auctions,” Martin said.

Just last week the auctioneer sold an LP and 12” single by The Verve for £60, well above the original £40 estimate.

Meanwhile, an Elastica LP fetched £70 at the same auction.

How do I know if my vinyl is valuable?

When trying to figure out if your record is valuable, start by checking the release date, Martin recommends.

“The golden rule is that if it was released from 1993 onwards, the vinyl record is probably worth more than you paid for it,” he said.

Next, check to see how many of the records were released.

Remember, the more rare a vinyl is, the more you can expect it to fetch at auction.

Another way to see if your vinyl is rare is to look for the matrix number, which is scratched or stamped into the surface of the actual vinyl.

Check the “run out” (the bit in the middle where the grooves stop, just before the centre label) to determine its rarity.

You can look up this number online on websites such as Discogs and the Record Collector guide.

Condition is also important but if your disk has scratches or damage then do not fear.

Records are there to be played so small scuffs or imperfections should not make the item unsellable.

But you should not be able to see the damage as you do not want the cover to look beaten up.

There are exceptions to this rule though.

If your vinyl is particularly rare then it will still sell for a premium, regardless of its condition.

How can I sell my vinyl?

Once you are ready to sell your records, you may find it’s worthwhile to get some expert advice.

Auctioneers can help you guide you through the process of selling an item and can value it, catalogue the object and advertise it for you.

In exchange, the auction house will usually charge you a percentage of the hammer price, which is known as the vendor’s premium.

There may also be other fees for collecting the records and insurance.
You can find an auction house using platforms such as The Saleroom or Easy Live Auction.

If you’re happy to go it alone then you could list your items on secondhand website eBay.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.