To identify unknown white labels, locate the catalogue number engraved in the run out groove and using a search engine like Google, you'll usually get a match. Alternatively, if you know your record labels, it's quite easy to deduce which label it is from the abbreviation in the catalogue number. Try Google for a catalogue number search below.

To give you a good idea of values and degrees of rarity with dance/electronica vinyl, it's a good idea to get some catalogues from major independent dance music retailers. The bigger ones have been around since the birth of the scene and have well and truly got their finger on the pulse. HTFR.com and DMF.co.uk have got very good catalogues that make great reference material, breaking down into genres and include information on country of origin, year of release, versions etc.

Auction sites on the internet such as ebay and QXL, are excellent places to see what's actually available on the market, although do not give any real valuations due to the nature of ferocious last minute bidding, and auctions lasting between three and ten days usually means a collector can easily miss the tune he's after.

If for example you were to search on Todd Terry at ebay you can easily come up with 50-200 records including many releases, promos, test presses, Ltd editions, remixes, re-releases, coloured discs and picture discs you may never have known about.

Books are a definite must for research on vinyl, many dots can be joined and grey areas filled by doing some reading.

Some of the books in my collection include: The Rare Record Price Guide, Last Night A DJ Saved My Life, The Guinness Book of Top 20 Charts, The Rough Guide To Drum & Bass, The Rough Guide To Techno, The Rough Guide To House and the Hard To Find Records Master Catalogue (160,000 records!). Cross referencing these with current and back issues of magazines such as DJ,and Mixmag and past and present catalogues from the likes of Beat Street, HTFR and Dance Music Finder, you can find a lot more about your record's life and what else is available.