vshreyas

Hi folks, I'm new to this forum, so please forgive me if I unwittingly break any posting rules. I hope this is the right subforum. I'm looking into buying rare collectible editions, mainly for speculative purposes but also for enjoyment. I'm not very knowledgeable about vinyl records, and in fact don't personally own a gramophone. With that in mind, do you have any tips/guidelines for avoiding forgeries and for paying an appropriate price? I have a few questions related to this:- 1.I've read this article and it mentions catalog numbers and matrix numbers. Could someone point me to the online databases they are talking about? 2. If a vinyl is in mint condition, would it lose monetary value if I opened it? If so, how can I verify its quality without opening it? 3. Also, what signs of damage should I watch out for while buying a mint/near-mint/VG+ records? 4. Are there any resources for determining if I'm paying an appropriate price? I prefer free but am open to paying a nominal fee Thanks, Newbie