Going Once, Going Twice... Sold!

The BBC is auctioning thousands of rare vinyl records (including Beatles, Bowie, Pink Floyd, and more), as well as vintage radio equipment and funky memorabilia from its archives... place your bets!

Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash

Every now and then, every household will embark on some kind of spring cleaning enterprise with varying degrees of enthusiasm and success.

In my household, spring cleaning happens erratically, if at all. We make a point, throughout the year, of not hoarding stuff we don’t want or need.

So, when the time comes, it’s a relatively quick task: throwing these bits away, rearranging those, and putting these other ones in storage. No pomp and circumstance—the business gets dealt with as quickly and efficiently as possible, so we can focus on other (more exciting) things to do.

If you are the British Broadcasting Corporation, though, and you’ve been hoarding vinyl for decades, you can’t simply get it over and done with in 20 minutes.

Source: Omega Auctions website

You see, for all this uncanny ability of Brits to not make a fuss, when you are an emblematic institution, not only are you expected to make a fuss: it needs to be entertaining. That’s when an equally uncanny ability takes over, and you elevate the fuss into a proper ceremony.

Photo by Luke Ow on Unsplash

When the BBC decided to slim down its archive of rare vinyl records and radio memorabilia, no one would have forgiven them if they had, you know, played it cool.

So what did they do? They called Omega, specialists in vinyl auctions, to sort things out.

Hat tip to my uncle Alejandro from whom I heard this news first.

What’s being auctioned?

The auction is being touted as a treasure trove for record collectors and BBC fans alike.

On the vinyl side of things, a wide array of rock, blues, jazz, classical, folk, R&B, punk, and indie records, predominantly from the 60s and 70s.

From Omega Auctions website: THE BEATLES - PLEASE PLEASE ME LP PRESSINGS PACK. A curious selection of 6 LP copies of Please Please Me by The Beatles, varying pressings. To include (PMC 1202, Decca Contract deep-grooved labels. 1N/ 1N matrix. Record Ex), (PMC 1202, UK 5th. 1N/ 1N. Ex), (PMC 1202, UK 6th. 1N/ 2N. VG), (PMC 1202, UK 7th. 1N/ 2N. VG+), (PMC 1202, 1N/ 2N. Ex) & (PMC 1202, 2box EMI label. Side 1 label misprinted, torn when stuck down. Strong VG+). Please note that all sleeves will contain archival stickers from the BBC. The majority of these stickers are 'on top' of the plastic with some 'underneath' (i.e. on the sleeve itself). Some sleeves have been 'laminated' either by way of 'punching' the plastic wallet to two parts of the sleeve or by fully wrapping the plastic to the sleeve. Generally G to VG.

Highlights include pressings of Please Please Me, as well as Pink Floyd’s first two (Columbia) LPs.

From Omega Auctions website: PINK FLOYD - COLUMBIA LP RARITIES PACK. A super selection of the first 2 studio LPs by Pink Floyd. Titles include The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (SX 6157, UK repress on blue/ black Columbia. Record is strong VG, each side displays a small number of hairline/ light paper marks, nothing feelable of note. The front laminated sleeve with "File Under Popular" text at the top of the rear has BBC Library stickers to both covers, G condition. Has a small tear on the rear opening edge and a split in the middle of the bottom edge) & A Saucerful Of Secrets (SX 6258, UK original. Labels with "Sold In UK" text and 'Let There Me More Light' track mispelling. Record is in strong VG condition, some light/ paper marks. Some writing in runout groove area. The front laminated flip-back sleeve has been fully laminated by the BBC Archive. Displays BBC Library stickers on both covers, G condition).

Soul and blues fans can get their hands on some William Bell, Albert King and Jean Knight records, among others.

From Omega Auctions website: STAX RECORDS - LP COLLECTION. Another wicked instant collection of Stax LPs with 27 included. With deep grooves from Albert King - Lovejoy (2325-042) and I'll Play The Blues For You (2325-089), Rufus Thomas - Did You Heard Me?, William Bell - Phases Of Reality and Wow, Carla Thomas - Love Means..., Jean Knight - Mr. Big Stuff, Israel Tolbert - Popper Stopper, John Lee Hooker - That's Where It's At!, Rufus Thomas, The Soul Children - Genesis, Margie Joseph - Makes A New Impression, The Bar-Kays (x2), David Porter, Billy Eckstine (x2), The Temprees, The Staple Singers, Delaney & Bonnie, Jonnie Taylor and Isaac Hayes. Please note all sleeves with archive stickers, where these are laminated they (stickers) can be removed. The records are largely in clean VG+ to Ex+/archive condition.

The auction also includes vintage audio equipment, plaques, signs and other radio memorabilia.

From Omega Auctions website: An original BBC used panel board from a 'Type B' broadcasting console. As per info tag affixed to item this console was used in studio '8A' at Broadcasting House. Unit measures approx 84cm across, 37cm tall, 34cm deep.

The small print

When?

The auction is officially on 30 January, but online bidding has already started.

How to bid

You will need to register and provide payment card details for security reasons.

Can I bid from outside the UK?

Apparently, yes. You can find out more here.

So now you know, folks: if you’re going to do some spring cleaning, follow the BBC’s example and do it in style.

And if you get your hands on one of these records, let us know in the comments!

That’s all for today. Thanks for reading/listening. Happy spinning… and bidding!