Never Mind the Bus Pass

At number 3 is a jazz record from 1957, Hank Mobley’s eponymous album, recorded on the Blue Note label and worth more than £2,000 to people who can find the version with an incorrect Blue Note address on the label. First editions, in mint condition, of Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin albums are also worth more than £1,000

Some of the other records on the list are more affordable, with mint condition first pressings of popular albums like David Bowie’s The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars worth around £40 and likely to increase in value

Top 10 precious vinyl

1. Sex Pistols, God Save The Queen, 1977, £8,000
2. The Beatles, Please Please Me, 1963, £3,500
3. Hank Mobley, Hank Mobley, 1957, £2,000
4. Wil Malone, Wil Malone, 1970, £1,500
5. The Rolling Stones, The Rolling Stones, 1964, £1,000
6. Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin, 1969, £1,000
7. Dr Z, Three Parts To My Soul, 1971, £1,000
8. The Open Mind, The Open Mind, 1969, £750
9. Agincourt, Fly Away, 1970, £700
10. Mr Magic, Kazoo’s/Dance To The Drummer’s Beat 12in, 1982, £500

But all of these are dwarfed by the ‘Holy Grail’ of record collecting, That’ll be the Day, a seven-inch single recorded by the Quarrymen – the group that later became the Beatles. The acetate 78rpm was cut in a booth in 1958 by a five-man combo that included John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison

On paper it’s worth £100,000, but experts believe it might fetch more than double this at auction, if the only known disc could be wrestled from its owner, Sir Paul McCartney!

How do I value my records?

The Rare Record Price Guide, produced by Record Collector, is seen as the industry bible for those interested in vinyl. It puts the Beatles top of the pops, with a limited reissue of the Quarrymen single and the first numbered White Album copies at £10,000 each

A good way to inform yourself when searching for records to invest in is to have an understanding of what details are important and where to search. Condition is a big factor. Mint, or never taken out of the plastic, could increase the value exponentially, while an out-of-package record that is considered ‘very good’ can mark down the potential value by up to 50 percent. The cover should also be in excellent condition with no marks or wear. A badly scratched LP, even if it is very rare, might only garner a tiny percentage of its original worth. The issue code on the disc and sleeve can help you identify more about the record

First pressings are the most valuable, and thus much harder to track down as they were produced in limited numbers before the band or performer became more well-known. Limited exports and demos from early on in the career can also be of value. Other factors to consider in your search include whether or not the release is commercial or promotional, and how it was recorded (stereo or mono)

Some records sell for a few pounds, but it’s important not to waste your money on an LP that won’t increase in value. Make friends with record dealers and owners of secondhand record shops in your region. They are more likely to help you or potentially hold onto records you’re searching for. Trade Fairs and eBay are also excellent sources for the beginning collector. Most importantly, define a focus for yourself and do your homework concerning the musical genre you intend to invest in