Neat Beach Boys Find...

[Shane]

So, today I made a really neat addition to my collection. 

I own a small record store near Fresno, California.  Today a lady brought me a trunk full of records to see if I wanted to buy anything.  I noticed quite a few original pressing Beach Boys LPs in the stack.  She mentioned that she saw the band in concert "a long time ago" and that she remembered getting their autographs.

I pulled a copy of "Surfin' USA" out of the stack, and sure enough, there it was.  I'm trying to figure out another photo hosting service as imageshack is now charging money... hope this works:

https://flic.kr/p/kZqAvB

At any rate, she was kind of surprised when I was able to tell her what year the autographs were from, judging by who signed the album and who didn't sign the album.  Al and Dave are there, but Brian is not, so we're looking at some time in 1963.  She said the concert was at the Fresno Memorial Auditorium... it seems to be a concert that is not listed in AGD's site, so it's probably a situation where no documentation has been found at this point.  The site lists a December 1962 appearance in Fresno, but the Surfin' USA album didn't exist at that point.

So that leaves this album and a mid 1970s 45 pressing of "California Girls" as my two Beach Boys autographed items... and Brian's signature is on neither of them!   

[The Shift]

Terrific! I trust you paid her the substantial sum it's probably worth…?

[bgas]

What the name of your store?

[The Heartical Don]

What the name of your store?

Fort Knox.

[guitarfool2002]

Amazing find, great story! The stuff collecting dreams are made of...

I'd look into Photobucket for free photo uploading and hosting/sharing. It's been good for years, and the ads they throw at you aren't bad and can be easily skipped. No hassle.

I realize I'm posting this reply to an owner of a record shop, so it's probably common knowledge, but I wanted to offer advice just the same if it hasn't already been done. You have a "blue chip" historical item, the value will never go down, obviously.

The value of this kind of piece is also obviously for the signatures, and for collecting purposes, as well as any future resale or even insurance purposes, I'd suggest considering it more of a historical autograph document as much as it's a vintage LP.

If you still can or even want to do this, I'd try to establish a provenance from the original owner in writing. If you can still contact that seller, see if a deal can be made where her story of getting those signatures from the band could be put into writing and signed by her. That kind of thing adds some value to any autograph, and makes a neat package so any future owners can keep the history of that piece together with the story of how it all happened. It's over 50 years old, and as the years go by the stories behind how people got these autographs disappear and a signed album just becomes a signed album with the history of it lost to time. It would also document from the original owner the time and place of when the band signed it.

For valuation and authenticity purposes, if that item should come up for auction or sale or anything of the sort in the future, I would contact one of the reputable and recognized businesses or firms that authenticate autographed material and issue certificates of authenticity. There are a handful which the big auction houses and appraisers trust and use over scores of others who can basically sign anything and stamp it for a high fee. But if you get this checked out and officially authenticated as the original signatures, from one of the firms recognized by places like Sotheby's, Heritage Auctions, Christie's, or any of the other big names in the business, the future value will increase considerably and there will be absolutely no question from a future buyer that the signatures are 100% original and real.

It may cost a bit, but if valuing this piece of history is important for resale or insurance purposes, I'd definitely consider taking those steps: Again I realize I'm replying to a pro collector but thought the info would be helpful just the same. It's just covering the bases of autograph collecting as much as this signed album's place as a record collectible or rock item. There are few artists like the Beach Boys whose aura among fans and whose value goes beyond the usual signed drumstick and tour program rock memorabilia scene, it's a part of history like Elvis and the Beatles, whose signed items are more often than not faked or forged.

Thanks for sharing!

[Mr. Wilson]

   Fort Knox that's funny.!

[bgas]

Amazing find, great story! The stuff collecting dreams are made of...

I'd look into Photobucket for free photo uploading and hosting/sharing. It's been good for years, and the ads they throw at you aren't bad and can be easily skipped. No hassle.

I realize I'm posting this reply to an owner of a record shop, so it's probably common knowledge, but I wanted to offer advice just the same if it hasn't already been done. You have a "blue chip" historical item, the value will never go down, obviously.

The value of this kind of piece is also obviously for the signatures, and for collecting purposes, as well as any future resale or even insurance purposes, I'd suggest considering it more of a historical autograph document as much as it's a vintage LP.

If you still can or even want to do this, I'd try to establish a provenance from the original owner in writing. If you can still contact that seller, see if a deal can be made where her story of getting those signatures from the band could be put into writing and signed by her. That kind of thing adds some value to any autograph, and makes a neat package so any future owners can keep the history of that piece together with the story of how it all happened. It's over 50 years old, and as the years go by the stories behind how people got these autographs disappear and a signed album just becomes a signed album with the history of it lost to time. It would also document from the original owner the time and place of when the band signed it.

For valuation and authenticity purposes, if that item should come up for auction or sale or anything of the sort in the future, I would contact one of the reputable and recognized businesses or firms that authenticate autographed material and issue certificates of authenticity. There are a handful which the big auction houses and appraisers trust and use over scores of others who can basically sign anything and stamp it for a high fee. But if you get this checked out and officially authenticated as the original signatures, from one of the firms recognized by places like Sotheby's, Heritage Auctions, Christie's, or any of the other big names in the business, the future value will increase considerably and there will be absolutely no question from a future buyer that the signatures are 100% original and real.

It may cost a bit, but if valuing this piece of history is important for resale or insurance purposes, I'd definitely consider taking those steps: Again I realize I'm replying to a pro collector but thought the info would be helpful just the same. It's just covering the bases of autograph collecting as much as this signed album's place as a record collectible or rock item. There are few artists like the Beach Boys whose aura among fans and whose value goes beyond the usual signed drumstick and tour program rock memorabilia scene, it's a part of history like Elvis and the Beatles, whose signed items are more often than not faked or forged.

Thanks for sharing!

Autographs, sheesh!  They're everywhere....     now if it also had Mark Groseclose instead of Dennis.....

[bringahorseinhere?]

cool! what else could a collector want......

I mean the obvious next best thing to want to have is a Murry Wilson 'I know Brian's dad' badge button... 

RickB

[Shane]

Thanks for the replies.  Despite being a "record dealer", when I bought this album I didn't have any thoughts whatsoever of reselling it.  The Beach Boys are my favorite band, and this is a real treasure.  I'm really happy to have it in my collection.   

[Ian]

I don't doubt that they appeared in Fresno a few times in 1963.  Unfortunately, the Fresno Bee simply didn't care much about rock shows in 62-63 and seldom mentioned them in the paper-so I couldn't find anything on them when writing the book (though by 1964 they had begun to review BB shows).  As I said in the book-I am sure we are missing anywhere from 10 to 40 California concerts in the 62-63 period-that probably were only advertised on radio.  By the way-I just found an ad for a previously unknown Nov 28 1969 Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, MO show-so if you have the book you can add it in with your pencil!!!

[bgas]

 By the way-I just found an ad for a previously unknown Nov 28 1969 Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, MO show-so if you have the book you can add it in with your pencil!!!

Because it might still be changed?

[Yorick]

Thanks for the replies.  Despite being a "record dealer", when I bought this album I didn't have any thoughts whatsoever of reselling it.  The Beach Boys are my favorite band, and this is a real treasure.  I'm really happy to have it in my collection.   

Congratulations! But what did you pay her?

[guitarfool2002]

Thanks for the replies.  Despite being a "record dealer", when I bought this album I didn't have any thoughts whatsoever of reselling it.  The Beach Boys are my favorite band, and this is a real treasure.  I'm really happy to have it in my collection.   

I understand. What got me into trouble too as a journeyman collector of all sorts of stuff was trying to balance buying things to flip and make some extra money (hobby-wise) and finding something so unique, and enjoying both the challenge of the hunt and the random luck of finding those really cool items, that I did get attached to too many items and couldn't part with them. Until I had too!   

Seriously though, something like this is really unique and special, I might still try to nudge you into getting something in writing from the original owner if that can be worked out. I say that from a strictly historical/for-posterity kind of angle because finding such an item signed by so many band members of any legendary band, and dealing with the person who actually got those signatures in the 60's is *rare* and personalizes the whole thing...and the album itself is a shining gem of an item in a business where all kinds of hustlers and crooks try to sell bogus blue Sharpie signatures on 8x10's and other junk as authentic autographs when they're nothing of the sort.

Thanks again for sharing the story, it really did make me smile!

[Ian]

well…I hate to see you deface the book with pen!

[bgas]

Thanks for the replies.  Despite being a "record dealer", when I bought this album I didn't have any thoughts whatsoever of reselling it.  The Beach Boys are my favorite band, and this is a real treasure.  I'm really happy to have it in my collection.  

I understand. What got me into trouble too as a journeyman collector of all sorts of stuff was trying to balance buying things to flip and make some extra money (hobby-wise) and finding something so unique, and enjoying both the challenge of the hunt and the random luck of finding those really cool items, that I did get attached to too many items and couldn't part with them. Until I had too!    

Seriously though, something like this is really unique and special, I might still try to nudge you into getting something in writing from the original owner if that can be worked out. I say that from a strictly historical/for-posterity kind of angle because finding such an item signed by so many band members of any legendary band, and dealing with the person who actually got those signatures in the 60's is *rare* and personalizes the whole thing...and the album itself is a shining gem of an item in a business where all kinds of hustlers and crooks try to sell bogus blue Sharpie signatures on 8x10's and other junk as authentic autographs when they're nothing of the sort.

Thanks again for sharing the story, it really did make me smile!

I

[guitarfool2002]

Holy cow! That's awesome. Brian's sig on that piece is the icing on the cake.

[Alan Smith]

Nice one, bgas! What are the words next to Carl and Dave's JH's - something luck always?

[bringahorseinhere?]

looks like 'good luck always'...

RickB

[Alan Smith]

Zoom in; I read ?-e-v-i-l luck always - not sure if it's a popular phrase from back in the day

[Ebb and Flow]

It does kind of look like it says that...if you entirely miss the G.

[Alan Smith]

  Which I did miss! Entirely!

I see it now.

Cheers Ebb and Rick; good luck always to you both!

[RiC]

I hope this isn't considered offtopic. I'd appreciate your opinion about these signatures. I bought them a year ago from British record store. I paid about 20 bucks of the Al one and a little bit more of the Brian Wilson vinyl. To me they look like real, but I don't have any kind of proof about them so that's just speculation. What do you think, do they look like real or fake?

http://i59.tinypic.com/2vvo0u8.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/5lqgp4.jpg

[mikeddonn]

Rest easy they look like the real deal!  I have a signed Brian Wilson lp like that too, except it's got my name on it!

[bringahorseinhere?]

yeah! definitely look genuine! 

I would have no doubt there..

RickB