Queen are one of the most collectible bands on the planet, it's almost impossible to buy everything they ever released around the world (unless you're rich and have an awful lot of space to store your collection, that is). Therefore, choices have to be made when you want to build up a Queen collection.
Since I live in Canada, I decided some years ago to concentrate on first pressings of every official Canadian release (LPs, singles, cassettes, CDs...) Of course there are some exceptions, like CD singles, which weren't pressed here; neither were LPs after "The Miracle". For those, I chose to buy releases from UK/EU. And if I find some foreign release in good condition and not too expensive, I might buy it if it adds something relevant to my collection. I have other "rules" as well but it would be too long (and boring) to list them all here!
What about you, do you have any guideline regarding your Queen collection?
Good topic. After 25 years of collecting Queen I've changed my "rules" more than once to say the least. Right now my rules are:
Main rule:
Queen only. 1973-1997 and the 2011 re-releases of KYA.
- UK vinyl studio LPs + Live Killers and Live Magic.
First press, vinyl in near mint condition only. Sleeves are less important but I want them to be as good as possible as well. Not really for collecting. Just for listening. Of course I take care of them but I wouldn't call that a collection. It's just the albums on the format that I prefer: first press UK vinyl. I don't like cds/streaming/itunes.
The only Queen items I do collect are 7" singles. Mainly with picture sleeves. My main "rules" are:
-The item has to be as cheap as possible in the best possible condition I can find. Sleeves are more important than vinyl, but the vinyl must sound nice when played.
-UK releases are my main goal. I prefer the hard sleeves, not the thin paper sleeves. Some releases only had a thin paper sleeve though.
-Non-UK 7 inch releases: Only if they are near mint, not expensive and relevant for my collection. However, If it's cheap, near mint and missing in my collection, I pick it up too. More of that later.
My two main rules with the non-UK 7 inch releases are:
1)
A non-UK 7 inch release is relevant for my collection if it's a single that was not released in the UK (sleeve or no sleeve) Mustapha from Germany or Liar from the USA for example.
2)
The non-UK 7 inch release is a regular release but it has a picture sleeve while the UK release didn't have one (Killer Queen for example). I try to pick the one I like the most. For example the Spanish Killer Queen.
However, if I find a version that doesn't fit these criteria but it's cheap and near mint I pick it up for my collection as well. I might sell those later though to fund items that are relevant for my collection. I try to spend as less as possible on my collection. Of course that's impossible with some items. But patience pays.
7" I don't collect: promos, proofsleeves, bootlegs / pirates, testpressings/unreleased ones etc.
I use link as a guide.
Hopefully you find this somewhat helpful.
Have fun collecting!
Something else to note. Even though it's not a polite topic.
You DO know what will happen to your collection if it isn't "bequeathed" to somebody in the event of passing.
1) if married it will be thrown in a bin at a local goodwill
2) unmarried it will be taken by a relative or
3) thrown in the trash once rent is no longer met
4) possibly left unclaimed at a storage facility.
My video game collection met almost certain death when I moved out of home. Now it will cost me almost $2000 to reacquire them all in their comparable condition.
My collection rules are not as big as yours up there.
Just focused on picture discs and that's pretty much it.picture discs and anything else collectible I come across. Never really looked for pressings but I DO have odd stuff like HOLLYWOOD promo posters. Some back stage passes. Souvenir programs, tin cars (one van ANATO, one larger NOTW car) even a pair of marquees from the theater presentation of QUEEN: livein Budapest a couple years back.
Casual collector. Not an avid collector
matt z wrote:
Something else to note. Even though it's not a polite topic.
You DO know what will happen to your collection if it isn't "bequeathed" to somebody in the event of passing.
1) if married it will be thrown in a bin at a local goodwill
2) unmarried it will be taken by a relative or
3) thrown in the trash once rent is no longer met
4) possibly left unclaimed at a storage facility.
My video game collection met almost certain death when I moved out of home. Now it will cost me almost $2000 to reacquire them all in their comparable condition.
My collection rules are not as big as yours up there.
Just focused on picture discs and that's pretty much it.picture discs and anything else collectible I come across. Never really looked for pressings but I DO have odd stuff like HOLLYWOOD promo posters. Some back stage passes. Souvenir programs, tin cars (one van ANATO, one larger NOTW car) even a pair of marquees from the theater presentation of QUEEN: livein Budapest a couple years back.
Casual collector. Not an avid collector
:)
Nice one.
An art collector once explained to me why she collected and why she didn't care what her children would do with it after she would be gone.
It's not about what happens with a collection after you're gone. It's about the feeling you get out of it while you are alive.
I will stop collecting the day I no longer like it. Sell all the crap and do something else.
For now I like it, so I keep doing it. That's all there is to it really. An inexpensive hobby that I enjoy. Nothing more.
people on streets wrote:
I use link as a guide.
Hopefully you find this somewhat helpful.
Have fun collecting!
Cool, I didn't know that site, thanks!
matt z wrote:
Something else to note. Even though it's not a polite topic.
You DO know what will happen to your collection if it isn't "bequeathed" to somebody in the event of passing.
Got that covered, my collection is in my will (not even 40 yet and I already have a will, it's a long story...) and after I die, it will be passed on to my best friend, who also happens to be a Queen collector, so I know it will be in good hands!