John Barleycorn Must Die vinyl value
Traffic — John Barleycorn Must Die: pressings we track
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes | Asking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Island | 775 125-6 | Worldwide | Reissue, Remastered, 180g | $24–$45 |
9 more pressings we track (no quoted eBay range)
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 Island | 90058-1 | US | Reissue, Specialty Pressing |
| 1987 Island | ILPM 9116 | UK | Reissue |
| 1987 Island | 90058-1 | US | Reissue |
| 2008 Island | 0042284278010 | Europe | Reissue, Remastered, 180 Gram, Gatefold |
| 2008 Island | 0042284278010 | US | Reissue, Limited Edition, 180 Gram |
| Undated Island | 842 780-1 | Europe | Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered |
| Undated Island | ILPM 9116 | Germany | Reissue |
| Undated Island | 88 018-270 | Germany | — |
| Undated Island | 90058-1 | US | Reissue, Specialty Pressing |
No quoted range right now (why). Scan your copy in the app for a current read.
10 pressings tracked · 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 1982 US pressing it reads “ST-IL-825111-A 1-1 SRC STERLING” on side one and “ST-IL-825112-A 1-1 SRC” on side two. Trust the etching over the jacket: covers get traded around, dead wax stays put.
- 3
Grade the condition. A clean copy and a worn one of the same pressing sit several grades, and several multiples, apart. Grade record and sleeve separately; see our grading guide.
Do not price the cover. A later disc in a 1970 jacket is a reissue, whatever the sleeve says: the pressing lives in the runout etching and on the label.
Questions
Which pressing of John Barleycorn Must Die is worth the most?
Original 1970 pressings lead; they predate everything in our table, and that scarcity is the point. Among tracked copies, the 1982 pressings come first. Scarcer variants (the 2008 “Reissue, Limited Edition, 180 Gram” and the undated “Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered”) 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 which pressing I have?
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 1982 US pressing the runout reads “ST-IL-825111-A 1-1 SRC STERLING”. A period jacket with a later disc inside is still a reissue.
How much is John Barleycorn Must Die worth today?
Sellers typically ask $24 to $45 for the later pressings we have quotes on; for the 2021 775 125-6 the median ask is $39 over 9 listings (eBay, Sep 16, 2026). The 1982 pressings have no quoted range right now. 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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