(Image: T&A)
A BEATLES album once owned by Ringo Starr has become the world’s most valuable vinyl record, selling for more than £500,000.
The personal mono copy of The Beatles’ White Album, numbered 0000001, fetched £522,438 ($790,000) at Julien’s Auctions in December 2015.
Sophie Rhone, founder of Masc Femme Clothing, said: "Seeing The Beatles written on an old record doesn't automatically mean you've hit the jackpot.
"Two copies of what looks like the same album can be completely different to a collector depending on the pressing, condition and what is still with it."
The value of the record came from its provenance and being the first numbered copy.
A more typical example is an original 1994 UK Creation Records pressing of Oasis’ Definitely Maybe, which sold for £320 in September 2024.
Vinyl is making a strong comeback, with UK searches for "vinyl records" rising 26 per cent year-on-year to 455,000 in the past month.
Family members are being encouraged to check old record collections before discarding them, as hidden gems could hold significant value.
Ms Rhone said: "If you're clearing out a collection that's been sitting untouched for decades, find out what you've actually got first."