From The Beatles to Hockney: Inside the Extraordinary Collection of Music Visionary Herb Belkin

Mastering the Art of Vinyl—Herb Belkin President and Co-Founder of Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab.

As a tribute to the enduring legacy of music visionary Herb Belkin (1939 - 2001) and inviting a moment of reflection in his memory, the following assemblage reveals extraordinary connections: from David Hockney to The Beatles, from Pink Floyd to Frank Stella, and from The Rolling Stones to Alexander Calder.

These connections, at once wonderfully sincere and deeply complex, are illuminated through the presentation of a collection of the total group of works, by renowned artists who need no introductions, and that are sourced from a single distinguished collection—underscoring a deeply profound appreciation for the interconnectedness of music and art.

Thomaston Place Auction Galleries is proud to announce a very important auction of music recordings and contemporary works from the deeply personal and historically significant collection of the late Herb Belkin. Thomaston Place is honored to be entrusted by the Belkin family estate and delighted for this very privileged opportunity to offer an unprecedented discovery of more than 60 highly collectible objects—from high-fidelity audio recordings to modern furniture designs to limited edition prints. This phenomenal group of works celebrates the legacy of the American music producer, avid collector and recording pioneer—and is scheduled to be unveiled at auction for the first time this June.

Celebrated as one of the defining figures of the audiophile movement, the collection is presented in honor of Mr. Belkin, President of the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab— a record label renowned for its innovative production of audiophile-quality sound recordings.

The collection includes an archive of music and contemporary works from the personal collection of Mr. Belkin, a celebrated music industry executive, music business lawyer, and benefactor of the visual arts—with leading examples by contemporary artists including Frank Stella, Helen Frankenthaler, David Hockney, Joan Miró, Helen Pashgian, Alexander Calder and more. The sale also includes important recordings by significant music artists including The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Frank Sinatra, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Natalie Cole, and many more to list.

Herb Belkin (second from left) with members of the band Genesis circa 1974.

Mr. Belkin was born in New York in 1939 and graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1962 with a B.A. and received a J.D. from Rutgers School of Law in 1965. Joining the music business in 1969, Mr. Belkin became a highly-regarded music executive and music attorney who held A&R and General Manager positions and a professional career which included influential positions at Capitol, Atlantic, and ABC Records.

Mr. Belkin was involved in launching the careers of Grand Funk Railroad, The Raspberries, plus other artists.

In 1977, Mr. Belkin began a collaboration with the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL) and by leveraging music industry contacts, made the arrangements for MFSL to get exclusive access to the original master tapes of Dark Side of the Moon (DSOTM). MFSL’s remastering of DSOTM made its debut at the 1979 Consumer Electronics Show.

Subsequently, the reissue of DSOTM resulted in an incredible response by music collectors and audiophiles, and the demand for ultra-high-quality rereleases was so overwhelming, that MFSL’s original founder Brad Miller asked Belkin to take helm of the company where his vision helped to pioneer the LP vinyl revival. Among the highlights of the sale is a very impressive DSOTM LIMITED EDITION UHQR 200G LP BOX SET presented as a factory-sealed UHQR (Ultra High-Quality Release) on vinyl.

A true centerpiece is a factory-sealed box set of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon." Limited Edition UHQR 200G LP BOX SET from the personal collection of Mr. Belkin.

In 1980, Mr. Belkin departed ABC Records to work exclusively as a consultant for MFSL and eventually became President. In this capacity, Mr. Belkin further advanced MFSL and co-founded a record company that had first made its mark with location-based live recordings (hence the name) of antique steam engine trains—and further developed the music project into the first and best-known audiophile remastering record label.

Mr. Belkin’s previous work in various high-profile positions in the music industry made it possible for MFSL to remaster music recordings from the original tapes and reissue iconic titles from artists including The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, and many other iconic artists. Notably, The Beatles tapes were flown First Class in lead-lined boxes to ensure their pristine condition for MFSL's landmark reissues.

Released with great anticipation in early October 1982, The Beatles high-fidelity recordings were praised by critics and Beatles fans worldwide for the superb sound and the first reissue sold out within the first year. Each album was pressed on black vinyl by the Victor Company of Japan, and the album covers were replaced with photographs of tape boxes and log sheets. On offer is an exceptionally rare #15/5000 The Beatles "The Collection" Original Master Recordings Box Set. The original album covers are included in a booklet and feature a certificate of authenticity.

This remarkable collection features highly sought-after Original Master Recordings from Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab—on offer from Mr. Belkin’s personal archive is The Beatles: The Collection — Mobile Fidelity 14 LP Box Set (#15/5000)

The Beatles Collection (catalog number MFSL BC-1) was a vinyl set of every album remastered at half-speed from the original stereo master recordings. The innovative process for the record press included using the master tapes and then utilizing the "half-speed" mastering of the lacquers. This was then pressed onto high-fidelity "super vinyl" and sent from Sebastopol California (MFSL headquarters) to the Yokohama factory of the Victor company in Japan to fabricate the metal masters and the press the vinyl. The "super vinyl" is transparent when held up to light and produced as heavy vinyl (from 180-220 grams) that is much harder than regular vinyl in order to establish the best possible sound.

In addition to the half-speed mastered vinyl albums, the state-of-the-art gold CDs produced by Mr. Belkin from the 1980’s onwards captured the imagination of audio fanatics and music collectors worldwide. Every MFSL Gold Super Audio CD provided a new listening experience, and released as limited editions, the CDs guaranteed collector status.

A list of artists whose music has been released on Super Audio CDs included classic titles by Traffic, Cream, XTC, The Kinks, Robbie Robertson, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Ten Years After, Nirvana, Neil Young, and Queen as a few examples from the catalog.

The private collection also includes Mr. Belkin’s personal archive of rock, classical and jazz recordings, in addition to the high-fidelity reissues produced by Mr. Belkin. Among the treasure trove of works on offer is a Custom Replica CD Jukebox by Rock-Ola, a limited edition Lenticular photograph (3D image) for the Rolling Stone's, as well as a collection of modern furniture designs and several large-scale contemporary sculptures.

Mr. Belkin’s Custom Replica CD Jukebox by Rock-Ola, in a classic design featuring eight bubble tubes lining the front of the machine and walnut stained wood cabinet, sn 187801, with five internal speakers, a disc loader designed after the older models that played 45 RPM records, and a 100-capacity disc magazine, 60" high, 34" x 24". With manuals and remote control.

Lenticular photograph (3D image) for the Rolling Stone's 1967 album "Their Satanic Majesty's Request". This particular image is an award by the Decca International Special Projects presented to Herbert Belkin. Printed 1980. Michael Cooper, British photographer, 1941-1973. One of only 150 of the 14" x 14" images made, no similar printings since.

"York Factory #1",1971, forty-three color silkscreen, pencil signed, numbered 87/100.

Published in 1971, a forty-three-color silkscreen by Frank Stella on special paper, pencil signed, and numbered 87 of 100.

As a benefactor to the arts, the private collection also includes a distinguished collection of contemporary art—from paintings to sculpture to limited edition prints. Mr. Belkin was a passionate collector of numbered editions, and a few highlights of the contemporary art includes a pristine, limited edition silkscreen by Frank Stella, "York Factory #1". Another highlight is an Artist Proof edition of only 50 by Alexander Calder.

A lithograph by Alexander Calder on Arches paper, pencil signed and numbered 17/50. Printed by Mourlot, Paris and published by International Rescue Committee, New York.

Also on offer is an exquisite limited-edition lithograph by David Hockney, "Henry at the Table" from "Friends II", published in 1976, pencil signed, large format lithograph on paper, dated and numbered 42 of 96. The portrait is of the artist’s friend Henry Geldzahler, curator at Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and includes accompanying literature.

An exquisite, limited edition print from the collection is David Hockney’s "Henry at the Table" from "Friends II", 1976, pencil signed, large format lithograph on Arches cover wove paper, dated and numbered 42 of 96. Framed under glass, OS: 31" x 43 1/2". Includes two books and documents.

To be unveiled for the first time at auction, this extraordinary collection includes around 60 lots offering the public an unprecedented opportunity to own works produced and collected by a trailblazer in the music industry. With exceptional and highly collectible objects, including high-fidelity audio recordings and limited edition prints, the collection celebrates Mr. Belkin’s impact as a music producer, distinguished art connoisseur, and recording pioneer.

“From high-fidelity recordings to limited-edition prints, this phenomenal group of works provide a front row seat to Mr. Belkin’s unrivalled music ingenuity and presents a repertoire of important artists. Together, this superb collection is both a study of the producer’s reflections on music as well as a study of contemporary art covering more than four decades of collecting, and presented for the first time at auction as a showcase of a pioneer behind the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab. The MFSL catalog continues to spark conversation among audiophiles and music enthusiasts as vividly today as it did at the time of its inception. The full scope of the offerings are a rich and varied selection of audiophile records and contemporary artworks that will resonate with both music lovers and art collectors around the world – there is truly something for everyone.”

—Kaja Veilleux, Owner, Appraiser and Auctioneer

As a distinguished collector and a music visionary, it is with great honor that Thomaston Place Auction Galleries celebrates Mr. Belkin’s legacy. This collection offers a glimpse into the work and passions of a man who shaped how we listen to music—and whose influence continues to be felt today.

The full collection will be available to preview online at https://live.thomastonauction.com with a full selection on view at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries ahead of the sale in June. 

In the meantime, stay tuned for announcements regarding the full exhibition at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries ahead of the auction. This is an event that music lovers and art collectors will not want to miss.

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