Post #198422 by Tangaroa on Wed, Nov 16, 2005 10:21 AM

78s were sold in paper sleeves - and if it is a artistically designed label, it makes it more desirable for me. Generally, the paper sleeves were thrown away (especially if the owner had an "album" to store the records in). I'd say, based on my collecting over the last few years that about 1/6th to 1/8th of all 78s sold today still have their sleeves.

Here are a few examples of 78s I may have bought anyway, but the sleeves clinched the deal (they display the record so much better):

http://www.christophermerritt.com/78/radiex.jpg
http://www.christophermerritt.com/78/OkehVanEps.jpg

Or in this case, for the label (some labels, like Sabu mentioned are highly collectible regardless of the artist or tune):

http://www.christophermerritt.com/78/AmericanRecordCo.jpg

Of course, as usual - it all depends on how you list it & what the demand is. I just won this one on Ebay today:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4792012143

It ended up being $10.50, but I would have paid upwards of $20, just because of the sleeve & the rarity of the label (and the fact that there is a "rag" on the reverse that I've never heard before).

Of course - I'm talking about pre-WW2 78s here. If many of them are opera, or Big Band / Swing from the 40s, I'm afraid your collection probably isn't worth much. Now if there are any "Black Patti's" in there - that's another story!

Here's a great article on newbies for selling your 78s:
http://www.garlic.com/~tgracyk/tips.htm

Good luck!