75-cent flea market record turned out to be rare, sold for $25,200
A collector discovered a rare Velvet Underground acetate in 2002. This recording contained early versions of songs from their debut album. He later sold the acetate for $25,200 to an anonymous buyer. The acetate's existence remained largely unknown for many years. A remastered version was eventually released to the public.
In 2002, Warren Hill stumbled upon a rare 1966 acetate recording of The Velvet Underground during a flea market in Chelsea. The acetate, created by Andy Warhol’s manager Norman Dolph, contained nine early versions of songs that later appeared on The Velvet Underground & Nico, the band’s 1967 debut album. Hill purchased the record for just 75 cents, unaware of its historical significance.
After years of storage, the acetate resurfaced on eBay, eventually selling for a staggering $25,200. This 1966 recording, known as the “Scepter Studios” acetate, remained unknown to the music industry for decades, as record companies declined to distribute the band’s music even after Warhol recorded it secretly. The acetate’s fragility and instability meant it could only be played a few times before deteriorating.
In 2012, the 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition of The Velvet Underground & Nico included a remastered version of the acetate’s recordings, bringing the hidden sessions back into the public eye.
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