Is a restored award worth more or less than an award in unopened, “First-State” condition?
The award you see here for the Pointer Sisters Energy is nearly thirty-five years old, and it’s in relatively good shape. With the exception of the label fallen off the disc. There are certainly examples of awards from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s with more exaggerated condition issues, from discs or plates coming loose, to the frames being cracked, or the mattes being stained or faded.
So how does this affect the award’s value?
There are collectors who think an award is more valuable if it is restored to look like new, and facilitate display. In the case of this Pointer Sisters RIAA Floater, it would mean opening the award, re-attaching the label, and then re-sealing.
There are collectors, including myself, with another school of thought. That an award is more valuable in it’s unopened, original, or “First-State” condition.
As to why, consider this:
– First-State awards are rarer. A good percentage of awards have been opened to repair.
– Unopened awards make it easier to confirm that construction materials are original.
– Authenticity and provenance are not affected by condition issues (in some cases they’re better explained).
– Photographs of original unopened condition add provenance should an award need restoration for display or sale.
What about taking a longer term view from other more established collectibles? Is value enhanced like in cars when one is restored to perfect, all original part, condition? Or is value decreased, like in antique furniture and rare coins, where something as simple as polishing, dramatically decreases their value? Fifty years from now where will awards fit in?
If you believe a restored award, or an unopened award with condition issues, is more valuable, there’s one more thing that we haven’t discussed. By how much? 5%, 10%, 20% 50%??? Love to hear your thoughts.
Backing paper and manufacture sticker are original.
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If you received awards in the 60′s – 70′s – or 80′s, and you want more information on them, please contact me, Jim, at (818) 416-3770 or jim@honormusicawards.com
