MovieChat Forums > Pawn Stars (2009) Discussion > Led Zepplin autograph on Zeppelin 1

Led Zepplin autograph on Zeppelin 1

posted 7 years ago by scottedgell
3 replies | jump to latest

Since 1973 I have a friend/acquaintance who has been collecting many rare Zeppelin items including a Page guitar and a JPJ bass and both are signed by each musician, and actually has first 4 albums signed by the original band including by John Bonham exactly the same way the album, Zeppelin 1, was presented last night on the show. That guy who appraised the album on Pawn Stars was not serious. He knew the album was worth way more than he stated but purposely undervalued the record for Ricks sake to make Rick happy. My friend saw the replay of the show today, and when he heard the bid that was made by Rick, my friend broke out laughing uncontrollably.

I know Rick wants to make a profit on the resale but only offering the guy $8500 was a joke. My friend told me that an autograph Zeppelin 1 with all 4 including Bonham got over $46,000 at a music show last year in NYC and many felt that was a very undervalued price for the sale of that album. There are/were VERY FEW signed Zeppelin items out there. All the guys hated signing albums especially Plant and Page.

Rick made he same mistake a few years earlier when a Hendrix guitar came in the shop, and he seriously underbid for that item too. You will get very few chances to get was has been offered. Jewelry aside, when something like that comes in you go for it. It was authenticated by his own expert.

[–] A_New_Hope 7 years ago

The guy selling the album is full of *beep* i myself have several Zeppelin collectables because my father was a fan. I have sold some over the years to help pay for school and so forth and at the end of the day, you cannot display that album properly. Everything i have you can see all signatures. It adds value. That guy will not sell it for the price he is after ever.

You also never argue with a professional, not like that and not in that setting. He lost all respect when he did that.

As we grow we learn, i have learned that if you don't like me grow up or ignore me.

[–] scottedgell 7 years ago

I bet he will if not more. There are a number of ways you can display it especially in a setup room designed for showing off items such as records signed the way it was on television. I have about 6 friends who have been serious memorabilia from big name rock bands in the 1970s from Deep Purple to The Cars to the Who to the Stones and each has designed a room in their home specifically devoted to the collectables and as a result the setups look like a museum. Again Zeppelin was unlike many bands because Page always wanted to show that he was the leader, that Zeppelin was his baby, and the others though band members were under him. Page signed albums that way for years.

I do agree though that man should have not said what he said, but serious Zeppelin collectors wont care what he said. I would not call that signature guy a professional though. He authenticates signatures yes, but that is about it. He really has no idea what a very serious Zeppelin collector will pay for it or what that album is really worth.

Most people probably will not know anything about the airing of the show. Rick purposely underbids so most people do not take him seriously unless they are desperate to get rid of the item.

[–] swtdelt 7 years ago

I've said this before and people seem to not understand is that a you'll NEVER get as much from a pawn shop as you would a private collector. People on this show don't seem to understand this.

Basically the purpose of a pawn shop is to offer a quick and easy solution to someone needing fast money. A pawn shop is a resale business not a private collector. He's purchasing these items from people with the intent to resell them and turn a profit. He's got a building to pay for, a staff, electric/misc. bills that he pays for so I don't see why people get so angry and feel he's "lowballing" people.

Sure this guy on this episode could probably get the $20K he was asking for on his autographed Zeppelin album by selling to a private collector BUT doing so would require a lot of time and effort. He'd have to place ads, take it different places, perhaps finding someone to sell it for him (in which case he'd still have to pay a small commission). Finding a buyer willing to give him what he's asking could take month or even years.

If you're not desperate to sell then I'd say wait it out, but if you're in some sort of financial difficulty that you need immediate cash then the pawn shop is probably going to be your best option.