Music memorabilia is a popular collectible category, and it includes an item which we will discuss in more detail: vintage concert tickets. Vintage concert tickets are valued by collectors as they hold lots of nostalgia for bands of the past. They typically list the name of the band and the date of the concert, and their design can also be a unique factor.

You may be wondering – just how collectible are vintage concert tickets? Are they worth anything, or are they just a fun way to reminisce? How many people actually collect concert tickets? Read on to learn more about vintage concert tickets and their value as a collectible item.

Do people still buy vintage concert tickets?

The most valuable kind are those tickets that are unused where the entire ticket is intact, but ticket stubs can be worth something as well if they show the band’s name, the venue, and the date. Another factor contributing to their value is if the tickets date back to when the original members of the band were playing.

Tickets from the 60s and 70s are in high demand, but other decades of tickets hold value as well, such as tickets from the 90s, which have recently become popular. Condition plays a role in the value of the tickets, but some wear is expected as it’s rare to find them in perfect condition.

Some examples of valuable tickets are Woodstock Festival tickets from 1969, which are highly collectible. In 2014, a vintage Beatles ticket sold for a whopping $16,488.

What causes the value of vintage concert tickets to rise?

When it comes to vintage concert tickets, not all of them will become super valuable. Some factors such as historical importance, rarity, and condition all have an impact on a ticket’s value. Read on to learn more about these factors!

Historical Importance

Collectors will shell out more money for tickets that have some sort of historical significance. Tickets for the final performance of a popular artist, for example, will tend to sell for more. In recent years, tickets for the final performance of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper have climbed in value to around $17,000. Other historical moments include the first performance of a hit song, a performance on a historic date, or an artist’s career milestone.

Cultural Impact

Sometimes, a ticket has more than just historical significance – it could be that the ticket has some sort of relevancy in the current culture. If a band is in the news a lot or something significant is going on with them, the value of their past concert tickets could skyrocket.

Current Condition

Scratches, fading, and bent corners all affect the value of the concert ticket. Many tickets used to be torn by the ticket collector, so finding an entire ticket intact is a great find that can be quite valuable. As an example, a Beatles ticket in great condition sold for $16,000, while a ticket to that same concert with a slight tear sold for just $1,842.

Rarity

Rare tickets have a tendency to be more valuable than common ones. The more scarce a ticket is, typically the selling price will be higher.

What are the most valuable vintage concert tickets?

The most valuable vintage concert tickets feature legendary bands or popular concerts. Tickets from special milestones in a band’s career also tend to have more value.

Legendary Bands

There are some legendary bands whose concert tickets tend to be the most valuable collectible items. Here’s a list of the top twelve collectible bands and artists.

• The Beatles
• Rolling Stones
• Bob Dylan
• The Doors
• Jimi Hendrix
• Pink Floyd
• Eric Clapton
• Queen
• Led Zeppelin
• The Who
• Nirvana
• Janis Joplin

Popular Concerts & Events

Certain popular concerts over the years have produced more valuable ticket stubs than others. This includes Woodstock Festival 1969, which at the time was a big cultural phenomenon. It was all about protesting for peace against the Vietnam War, and it became an example of what that generation was all about. No one has ever been able to recreate such an event, making the tickets to it quite valuable. Other valuable and memorable events include Live Aid and Woodstock.

Get your vintage tickets graded

PSA is best known for grading sports cards, but they will also grade your tickets for you. If you are a serious collector or are looking to sell, consider having your tickets graded. This will verify their condition as well as ensure their authenticity. PSA will grade your tickets on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being Poor and 10 being Gem Mint.

Buy shares in vintage concert tickets

If buying vintage concert tickets is too expensive, there’s an alternative option! The online platform Rally offers a new approach to investing in concert tickets. Rally is offering shares of a ticket to Elvis’s last performance in 1977 for just $8 a share. The ticket itself is worth around $40,000.

FAQs

What do I do with vintage tickets from concerts?

Save your old tickets and stubs! They could be a collector item. Even if yours don’t increase in value, they can be quite nostalgic and provide a great way to reminisce about a band or concert.

Do old ticket stubs have value?

Old ticket stubs can be quite valuable. Typically, the most in-demand item is a full ticket in its original condition, but if the ticket stub contains important information about the concert, it can still be worth something.

How can I keep vintage tickets from fading?

Store tickets at room temperature out of direct sunlight. Also, be sure to store them away from humidity to prevent other types of damage.

Sources

https://moneymade.io/learn/article/vintage-concert-tickets

https://hobbylark.com/collecting/collecting-vintage-concert-tickets