What makes a vinyl variant truly valuable? Who knows what gold could be hiding on your shelves?
It’s no secret that vinyl has had a comeback story of Rocky Balboa proportions over the past 15 years. According to Official Charts data, 6 million vinyl records were sold in 2023, the highest annual level since 1990! This has given birth to a new generation of vinyl collectors, hunting for the weirdest, rarest and bonkers Limited Edition vinyl. The demand could make your vinyl even more valuable than you realise.
To help you navigate through the bizarre world of record collection, and help you understand what makes a record valuable, we have written a beginner's guide to Limited Edition vinyl the different types to look out for, and some of the most valuable examples out there.
Always keep an eye out for Rough Trade Exclusive vinyl, as limited runs of the best new music and classic reissues are announced regularly.
Colour Variants
Definition and Appeal
If you’ve been buying vinyl in the past few years you’ll have noticed the chromatic rainbow of vinyl out there. This is important to us collectors as it adds to the vinyl experience, which is more than just an aural experience, but also a visual and tactile one. Take it from us that there is no end to the tones, effects and designs that people can print on vinyl - and the best ones tie into the art and concept of the album. We’ve seen it all from [insert colour] to [insert colour]. Some of the most common styles are…
Solid Colours: Single-colour vinyl, such as blue or red. These can come in different levels of transparency, from crystal clear through to opaque.
Splatter Vinyl: A unique colour splatter effect that often ties into the album’s theme or cover art.
Marbled and Swirled Variants: A blend of colours that creates a distinctive, unpredictable pattern on each record.
Other colour versions include half and half, tri-colour, yolk, and pin-wheel.
Limited Pressings and Numbered Editions
Definition and Rarity: It’s no surprise to learn that the more rare something is, the more people value it. The most valuable vinyl is always the rarest. So when there is a Limited Edition vinyl variant, and there is plenty of demand. Vinyl colours, signed copies, bonus material can make something limited and increase the value to the listener and collector.
Numbered Editions: Here, you can see the production number and run figure (often presented as 1/100, 2/100, 3/100 etc.), which means people can see in which exact order their copy was made, and how many there are available in the entire world. In some collector's eyes, a lower number also holds more value.
For example: Jean Michel Jarre - Musique pour supermarché (1 copy produced ever).
First Pressings, Deleted Titles and Out Of Print
Significance of First Pressings: First editions of books are famously prized by bibliophiles all around the globe, and it is no different for vinyl collectors. Although it can be very hard to determine what a future classic is if you can get behind an artist from the ground up, that first edition will increase in popularity as their star rises.
Deleted titles and out of print: Some titles are limited, maybe because labels decide to delete it from their index, or due to disputes over royalties or copyright. Whatever the reason, if an edition cannot be reproduced its value will remain high.
Examples: The withdrawn version of The Freewheelin Bob Dylan with extra tracks. The original artwork of Sufjan Stevens’ Illinois that included an image of Superman was withdrawn due to a legal dispute with DC comics.
Artist-signed and Handcrafted Editions
The Power of Autographs: This might sound like an obvious one, but signed copies will hold more value to collectors and fans. Keep your eye out for signed stock on our site and in our stores, or come down to our in-stores to meet the artist and get your album signed after the show.
Handcrafted Elements: Look out for art sleeves, postcards, prints and other elements hand-crafted by the artists themselves. Being unique and a creative element connected to the artist, these really are things to treasure.
Rough Trade Exclusive Vinyl: A Collector’s Dream
Rough Trade is a shop filled with fans just like you, and we work hard with our favourite artists and labels to create unique variants that make the vinyl you buy from us extra special.
Other Factors Influencing Value
Misprints and manufacturing errors: Errors in the artwork or even the vinyl print can impact how much people value a vinyl as they often tell their own stories. Below are some our favourite examples of the most sought-after mistakes in vinyl.
Imports: Look out for imports that have different covers, and even different track listings. Japanese imports are famous for OBI strips which add even more peculiarity to their editions.
White labels and test pressings: Super rare pressings made by vinyl pressing factories to test the quality of the overall sound, the mix/mastering, the lacquer and the plates.
Further Reading
Check out our Vinyl Glossary if you want to know more about the features of vinyl that could add value.