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TOP 10 COLLECTABLE LP's RELEASED in NEW ZEALAND compiled by Lester Smith. Any questions or comments please e-mail: lester_s46@hotmail.com Welcome to our list of the Top 10 Most Collectable LP Records released in New Zealand. The list was compiled by LESTER SMITH, one of New Zealand's foremost dealers in rare records. His experience has been gained over 30 years in the collectables field, both buying and selling. All of the prices below were based on values that Lester has personally achieved or of which he has first hand knowledge. In most cases he is not aware of genuine MINT copies so the pricing estimate is based on the actual rarity of the title. *Please note-we do not have these records to sell (I wish)-it's just a guide.* *Prices are in UK pounds (GBP) unless stated otherwise*

      

        

        
1. MANTIS-"Turn Onto
        Music"(Vertigo 6414 851)GBP750.
        
I have sold three copies of this
        over the years - a VG copy for $AU900 about 12 years ago, a VG+
        copy for $US1,200 5 years ago and a M- copy for $US2,000 quite
        recently. I am unaware of any mint copies in circulation and
        many collectors of New Zealand music do not own a copy. I would
        guess that less than 20 are in the hands of collectors locally.
        
Although this LP has been re-issued
        and the music does not really match it's reputation, it is still
        very keenly sought both domestically and internationally. There
        is a long story behind the dubious methods by which the band
        recorded and released an LP on Vertigo, and although I remember
        seeing this in bargain bins in many major outlets at the time,
        few copies have survived.
      

      



      

        

        
2. ELVIS PRESLEY-"Christmas
        Album"(RCA Victor LOC 1055)GBP750.
        
This is a true "condition
        rarity"- not very rare in it's own right (I have handled
        more than 20) it is extremely rare in M- or better. I am aware
        of a recent sale to Italy of a copy I would grade as EX (very
        close to M-...certainly the best I've seen)for $US2,000. It still
        turns up frequently as it was a big seller in NZ. However, it's
        unique cover and label (there are at least THREE cover variations
        and TWO label designs)are still attractive to the enormous number
        of Presley collectors worldwide who keep demand high.
      


      

        

        
3. HUMAN INSTINCT-"Snatmin
        Cuthin"(Zodiac ZLP 1044)GBP500.
        
Not only the rarest Human Instinct
        LP by far, it is also hard to find in genuine mint condition
        because the gatefold cover is susceptible to ringwear. I have
        sold 4 or 5 over the years, the most recent being EX to M- for
        $US800 last year. Again, most hardcore New Zealand collectors
        have copies in much lesser condition and international collectors
        are always trying to upgrade.
      


      

        

        

        
4. BREAKAWAYS-"Album
        Two"(HMV MCLP 6245)GBP500.
        
        
Very rare in collectable condition-best
        I have seen is VG+ and both copies I have sold have reached in
        excess of $NZ1,000 for around VG condition.
      


      

        

        
5. KINKS-"The Kinks
        Are The Village Green Preservation Society"(Pye NSPL 18233)GBP400.
        
Already documented in a RECORD
        COLLECTOR feature on the various rare versions of this title
        issued around the world with the original withdrawn UK track
        listing and unique cover (in fact, it was my own copy used to
        illustrate the article). This is the value quoted by Record Collector
        at that time, which is probably still accurate- a few copies
        have sold on EBay for less, but none have been mint. I understand
        that at least $NZ1,000 is the going rate for a good copy around
        EX to M-...I sold a copy for a little more last year.
      


      

        

        
6. SPACEFARM-"Going
        Home To Eternity"(Zodiac ZLP 1042)GBP400. view image here
        
Average copies still fetch around
        $US500+, but I have seen better copies go higher and I know of
        sales around the GBP350 mark. I have had two genuine mint copies,
        but this was some years ago and both went to Japan for around
        $NZ1,200. For some reason, this record is either trashed or near
        pristine (presumably because listeners either loved it or hated
        it). There are TWO versions in existence, one with Harvey Mann
        vocals, the other one with Murray Grindlay vocals (one has printed
        matrix # in the dead wax, the other is etched). There seems to
        be no difference in value.
      


      

        

        
7. SERENITY-"Piece
        of Mind"(Downunder DL 1501)GBP400.
        
        
This is a hard one to price accurately
        because so few ever come up for sale. A copy sold recently from
        an Auckland store for around $US800, but I believe this was under
        the true market rate. Very few international collectors have
        this in good condition (the gatefold gimmick cover is very flimsy)and
        I am certain that a mint copy would easily fetch the above price.
        This is on a lot of wants lists and remains very rare...most
        recent sales have been ex-radio station copies.
      



      

        

        
8. LITTLEJOHN-"Littlejohn"(Polydor
        2469102)GBP350. 
        
Similar to Serenity in that it
        is incredibly rare and it's recent value has skyrocketed as it
        has been discovered by the international market. I remember in
        the late 70's many collectors and dealers doubted that this LP
        even existed. Bootleg CD's exist and, although I have never sold
        a copy of the original vinyl myself, I do know of copies changing
        hands privately in Europe for around the $US1,000 mark. Again,very
        few seem to be in collector's hands locally or overseas and the
        value is driven by the relative scarcity compared to others on
        the list.
      



      

        

        
9. ROLLING STONES-"The
        Unstoppable Stones"(Decca LKM 6004)GBP350.
        
Not a particularly rare record,
        nor that difficult to find in good condition (I have had 4 or
        5 in M- condition) it is still in heavy demand as there are many
        Stones collectors, and most want to upgrade. Issued here in New
        Zealand to support the Stones tour in 1964, it has a totally
        unique track listing, catalogue number and cover (the UK "5
        x 5" EP cover) and was a big seller. You could still buy
        this for around $NZ5 in second hand record stores in the mid-70's
        and there are still hundreds out there, but good copies sell
        for $NZ500 to $NZ1,000 locally.
      

10. PLEAZERS-"Definitely Pleazers"(Zodiac ZLP 1026)GBP350. I have only ever sold 3 copies of this very rare LP and one was mint-it reached $NZ1,200, but this was nearly 20 years ago. I have never seen another copy in anything like that condition (maybe because it was Shane Hales' own copy!). Never turns up.

If the non-New Zealand items are removed from the above list-excluding Mantis,because even

though they were a Fijian band, their record was only released here and is widely regarded as New Zealand-then out come 2, 5 and 9. I would then include the following...

11. HUMAN INSTINCT-"Pins In It"(Pye NSPL 28107)GBP350. Rarity on condition-nearly always turns up with well played vinyl and textured gatefold sleeve is fragile and prone to ringwear. I have sold around 8-10 copies over the years, but this is getting rare now.

12. BUTLER-"Butler"(Family Label FLY 215)GBP350. Hardly ever turns up outside Christchurch where the band had a following and seldom in good condition. Going rate for VG to VG+ is around $NZ6-800, but a mint copy would fetch far more. For some reason in great demand.

13. TAYLOR-"Taylor"(Polydor 2469101)GBP300. Fantastic record, largely undiscovered by the international market. I've only ever handled 3 copies and none have been mint. Very rare and will increase in value.