Is an LP flat really an LP?

I was looking at Frank Caiazzo's site this morning and saw that he has a beautifully-signed Hard Day's Night LP flat for a cool $55,000.

We all know that signed LPs are usually the things that most people want when it comes to musicians. The argument is that the LP represents their creative output and so a signed LP is like a signed work of art.

Personally, I cannot really see why a signed mass-produced LP should be worth so much more than a quality signed photograph, which could be practically unique, but I know that it is so there is no point in worrying about that.

Where I really do have a problem is in carrying this LP premium over to LP flats. Since the musicians' work was never actually housed in such flats I cannot see how they are really much better than litho prints of the LP cover (like the Sgt. Pepper lithos churned out by Peter Blake). Can anyone enlighten me? 

In the case of the HDN flat I also wonder where the air stewardess who obtained the signatures actually got the flat from. This is not mentioned on the site. For $55,000 it would be good to know.

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Permalink Reply by J. Mikael on April 30, 2017 at 1:30pm

I have no idea about fair market values for Beatles items, but fully signed items being relatively rare, I guess it never hurts to aim high unless you're in a hurry to sell.

Not all autographs are equal, nor albums, or photos, or flats. There are so many factors in play, I guess a nice looking unique photo could, under the right conditions, trump an album. Eye appeal is crucial, and a larger size (typically 12x12" for a flat) would also push up the price.

Also, like you mention, not everybody had access to promotional items such as flats, so I guess that makes them rare, even more so if signed. I agree of course that a flat, although depicting one for promotional display purposes, isn't nearly as desireable as an actual album.

Permalink Reply by marc e on April 30, 2017 at 2:45pm

i can chime in a little as i worked in the industry and had boxes of flats or as we called them 12 x 12 s we used them displays in record stores or promotinal  merchindising and marketing.

if told u the amount of that crap  that was made and thrown out especaily for bands that never went any were.

we also called pop meterial

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