Promo albums: Can they be legally sold?

These were provided by the record labels to retailers for demo use (I don't know how radio was handled). They couldn't resell them. After the records were no longer new releases, these promo copies were typically given away, sent home with employees, friends, etc.

I have a few I got when I worked for record stores in the 80s. No one is going to stop me from selling them. The point of them was only to promote a new release for sales.

I have seen some sellers ask a premium for promo copies. I don't really get that. Yes, they may be more rare, but they are also probably a lot more beat up, since they were tossed around in a record store rather than bought and loved by a paying customer.

I wouldn't lose sleep over it, Tony.

Many of the s/h LPs I buy are promo copies.  Some have no promo labeling on them but have a hole punched through the jacket or a corner cut off.  Overall, I find the condition of promo copies is no better or worse than regular copies.  Many are in very good or better condition.

As far as legality, no one in the US seems concerned with sale or purchase of 30-50 year old LPs.  I doubt Interpol is going to come busting down your door.  However, I wonder why the Goldmine Record Album Guide (US LPs) generally prices promo copies about 20% higher than standard issues that are otherwise identical.

Those are cut-outs, which are not promos.

Cutouts were returned records from retailers that were then notched or cutout to be sold for discount. They are really the same as regular issue records, except that the jacket has that hole or notch in it and was retailed at a lower price. I used to go through the cutout bins looking for stuff before going on to the full price bins.

Good to know the distinction between the two, RT. 

I see the promo copies for sale s/h as well as cut-outs.  I've asked retailer about reselling promos and there was no concern.  Any idea why Goldmine typically prices them higher?

Two reasons:  They are rarer than a regular copies and are often, though not necessarily, among the first to be pressed,

Indeed, they would, logically, be early pressings.  Duh to me!  

Thanks digger

Just as I thought. Common sense would dictate promo= first pressings. Thank you gentlemen.

Sometimes Promo copies are a different mastering to the eventual production releases.  This is more common with test pressings though.  Many of the latter found their way to reviewers so the review could go to press just before the proper release.  I have quite a few of these and in a number of cases the test pressing shows differences from the proper release.

In general that would usually be the case Tony but sometimes LPs were re-released and the promo copies of these obviously aren't. Check the dead wax and usually you'll find A1 and B1 at the end of the matrices. 

Sometimes you find white label promos which are test pressings put in sleeves and then sent to radio stations etc. I have a few of these.

Sorry Richard. Your post came up whilst I was composing mine. You'e correct about the white label test pressings though, I have a test pressing copy of Blue Horizon's Bacon Fat 'Tough Dude' which has a different track order to the eventual release.

I have a few promo stamped/stickered and white labels records but  thought they would logically be  1st pressing. Thanks for clarifying that.