Greatest Hits vinyl value
Queen — Greatest Hits: pressings we track
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes | Asking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 EMI | EMTV30 | UK | Compilation, Reissue | from $27 |
| 1981 EMI | EMTV30 | UK | Compilation, Reissue, Barcode, square cornered innersleeve | from $27 |
| 1987 EMI | EMC. 178041 | Australia & New Zealand | Compilation | from $27 |
| 1988 EMI | 64-1780411 | Italy | Compilation, Reissue | from $27 |
| 1988 EMI | 3C 064-78041 | Italy | Compilation, Reissue, Barcode | from $27 |
| 2016 Virgin EMI | 0602557048414 | Europe | Compilation, Reissue, Remastered | $40–$80 |
| 2016 Hollywood | D002449501 | US | Compilation, Reissue, 180g | $35–$55 |
| 2018 Hollywood | D002953501 | USA & Canada | Compilation, Reissue, Remastered | $35–$55 |
| 2019 EMI | EMTV30 | UK | Compilation, Reissue | from $27 |
7 more pressings we track (no quoted eBay range)
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 EMI | 1A 058-15 4107 1 | Netherlands | Compilation, Reissue |
| 1981 Elektra | 5E-564 | US | Compilation, SP |
| 1982 Pathé Marconi EMI | 17 8071 1 | France | Compilation |
| 1987 EMI | EMS - 81801 | Japan | Compilation, Reissue |
| 1987 EMI | EMS - 81801 | Japan | Compilation, Promo, Reissue |
| 2018 Hollywood | D002449701 | USA & Canada | Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue |
| 2019 Virgin EMI | 0602557048414 | Europe | Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue |
No quoted range right now (why). Scan your copy in the app for a current read.
29 pressings tracked, 16 shown · catalog of 974,753 releases, August 2026
What separates the pressings
How to identify your copy
Three checks, in the order worth doing them.
- 1
Match the catalog number. It is printed on the spine and the record label. Check it together with the country against the pressings table above: the same number can appear in more than one country.
- 2
Read the runout. The code etched in the dead wax near the label names the exact pressing. On the 1981 US pressing it reads “5E-564-A-9-SH-AR-RE B-16142-A9-RE STERLING + SLM + Δ959” on side one and “5E-564-B-RE-ED-SP 0-1 SP. STERLING EDP M1 SF1 SM2” on side two. Jackets get swapped over the decades; the runout does not.
- 3
Grade the condition. The same pressing can be worth several times more in near mint than in VG. Grade the vinyl and the sleeve separately — our grading guide shows the standard scale.
A 1981 jacket with a later disc inside is a reissue in an original sleeve. Judge the pressing by the runout etching and the label, never by the cover.
Questions
Which pressing of Greatest Hits is worth the most?
The 1981 originals lead. Scarcer variants (the 1987 “Compilation, Promo, Reissue” and the 2018 “Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue”) can beat an ordinary early copy. After that it is all condition: the gap between near mint and VG is usually larger than the gap between pressings.
How do I tell if I have a 1981 original?
Match the catalog number on the spine and label against the table above, check the country, then read the etched code in the runout groove. On the 1981 US pressing the runout reads “5E-564-A-9-SH-AR-RE B-16142-A9-RE STERLING + SLM + Δ959”. A period jacket with a later disc inside is still a reissue.
How much is Greatest Hits worth today?
Sellers ask from $25 for the pressings we track; for the 2016 0602557048414 the median ask is $56 over 7 listings (eBay, Sep 17, 2026). Sold prices usually close lower. Scan your copy in the app for the range on your exact pressing and condition.
Not sure which pressing you have? Photograph the label and RecordScout names it, then shows a current value range for its condition.
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