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collectible

Posted: 8/9/12 at 9:26pm

Hi all collectors out there,

I need a little advice. I have something a Broadway collector might want but don't know how much to sell it for. I have a cassette tape of Stephen Sondheim recording corrections to a text book on musical theater. On the tape, he's being rather--well--himself if you get my drift.

How much do you all think I should sell it for? And if you don't know, please point me in the direction of someone who might be able to price it for me.

Thank you.

Jan S.

collectible

Posted: 8/9/12 at 10:23pm

Why not contact Sondheim himself and see if he would like to purchase it? He'd probably offer more money than a collector or fan would!

"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

collectible

Posted: 8/9/12 at 10:26pm

Those things don't really have a "set" value to them. The 7 hour Sondheim interview with the Library of Congress guy DVD's that newly surfaced aren't "worth" anything in particular, just what some random person would pay for them.

collectible

Posted: 8/9/12 at 11:10pm

Thanks Capn but Sondheim is an ass. He probably wouldn't care.

collectible

Posted: 8/9/12 at 11:14pm

It seems to be almost as expensive as a priceless Fabergé egg.

collectible

Posted: 8/9/12 at 11:17pm

Sondheim is an ass? That's news to me.

collectible

Posted: 8/9/12 at 11:28pm

^He has an ass. I think everyone does.

collectible

Posted: 8/10/12 at 12:03am

Whether he is an ass or not, why wouldn't he not want it, or at least be curious to listen to it? One the one hand, he may not care. On the other hand, he may want it for several reasons: he's curious to listen to it, he remembers the people involved with the text book and would want to give it to them, he is afraid of comments he may have made on there being released to the public, nostalgia, etc.

collectible

Posted: 8/10/12 at 12:10am

Capn! How come you don't respond to your PMs?

#10

collectible

Posted: 8/10/12 at 2:46am

Mr. Sondheim is an archivist-- at least, when it comes to his own career. He probably would care and he'd probably like a copy.

#11

collectible

Posted: 8/10/12 at 9:24am

He is an archivist of sorts, indeed. It might be a good idea to get in touch with him for that very reason-he will likely will his papers/archives to an institution (maybe LPA or something) and your tape sounds like just the sort of thing an institution of that nature would love to have.

#12

collectible

Posted: 8/10/12 at 7:53pm

What's LPA? And what are the other institutions that might be interested in this tape? Considering Sondheim's attitude on this tape, I'd rather try to do this without contacting him. Plus, I'm really not looking to make a donation. As harsh as this sounds, I'm looking to sell the tape.

#13

collectible

Posted: 8/10/12 at 7:55pm

Seriously Jordan? You're the first person I've mentioned Sondheim to that seems surprised by this info.

Updated On: 8/10/12 at 07:55 PM

#14

collectible

Posted: 8/10/12 at 7:57pm

LPA is the Library for the Performing Arts.

#15

collectible

Posted: 8/10/12 at 8:18pm

Jordan Catalano: The 7 hour Sondheim interview with the Library of Congress guy DVD's...

What is this? Is the "Library of Congress guy" Mark Eden Horowitz?

Thanks.

#16

collectible

Posted: 8/10/12 at 8:25pm

Why would his attitude on the tape affect his wanting it? Even if he was negative/harsh/cruel on tape, wouldn't he want it, even if for no other reason than he wants to prevent the public from ever hearing it?

Again, he also would pay more than a lot of fans would, I'd imagine. Institutions such as libraries and colleges may want it, such as Williams College (his alma mater), but I couldn't see them being able to pay much for it.

If your only goal is to make money, your best bet is Sondheim himself or an avid collector/historian who has the money to offer that you're looking for. How much ARE you expecting?

#17

collectible

Posted: 8/10/12 at 8:49pm

CapN, Sondheim just didn't seem like a person who cares what others think. If the tapes gets into someone else's hands, I just don't think he'd care.

I don't know how much to expect. That's why I posted a message here. I thought someone could answer that for me or point me to a collector who could value it for me.

#18

collectible

Posted: 8/10/12 at 8:51pm

Here's the thing - If you get $20 for them, you got a good deal. People who would want to hear this would trade for it, generally. If they were to pay for it I can't imagine anyone offering more than $10, so that $20 is a REALLY generous estimate.

#19

collectible

Posted: 8/10/12 at 8:54pm

Thanks, I'll keep it in mind.

#20

collectible

Posted: 8/10/12 at 9:59pm

I'd be shocked if a fan paid over $100 for it.
Maybe check and see if an auction house would want to consign it for you?

#21

collectible

Posted: 8/10/12 at 10:08pm

Good idea CapN! Thanks.

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