Hi. I would normally put this kind of thread int he Collector's forum but not a lot of people post there so I guess "Queen General" is another option.
I was offered a Queen Greatest Hits picture disc recently and I am wondering if it is the real deal or a fake/counterfeit record. I got the following pictures (which are very good, actually): link link link
It says it was made in West Germany (not Bulgaria) and the catalog number is PD BTA 11253/54.
I know that there is a "first edition" and a "second edition" and the difference relies on the "zoom" of the picture. In one of them, more of the "Marshall" amps' names are visible than in the other. I also know that there is a fake/copy version of it (perhaps more?).
More importantly, I know the original is worth some good money and the fake one is somewhat common so I want to make sure I don't make a mistake.
Does anybody know for sure if this is real or fake? How much would you pay for it?
Thanks in advance! :D
I used to have one of these - the original genuine version and not one of the bootlegged copies. I bought it for £17 in a second hand record fair about 20 years ago, but had to sell it about 3 years ago on Ebay to get some cash. Mine sold for £400, and had previously been rated at £600 in Record Collector magazine, and appeared in their top 10 of all time collectible Queen items. I'm not sure whether the value of the original has depreciated due to the mass release of the bootlegs though?
Yours does look fairly clear (aprat from the out of focus camera!) where as the bootlegs are quite 'smudgy' in places. Having said that, from memory the 'defining test' of a genuine copy is that there should be the tail end of the 'Marshall' writing on the amp head directly behind John, but this doesn't seem to be the case here.
Another good test is to look at Freddie's head - if the picture is sharp and clear things are looking good, but if the features are more blurred and the edges of the pic are not defined, then you're definitely looking at a bootleg.
The above assessments are from my memory of when I had my disc, but I'm sure some others posters will be able to help, and I'm sure some other in depth Queen fan sites will also be able to provide what you're after.
Good luck!
hi jc!
beware, this is the second pressing.
i would not spend any money on it at all.
look here: link
if you can read "shall" from "marshall" on the amps top, above johns head, then it is the first pressing.
also johns hair and face is half cut off on the second pressing.
as far as i know also the first pressing is not an officiall pressing, made by stupid german bootlegers to rip off people and get money for their own collection.
sorry for mexico losing against argh entina
Thanks for your comments, guys.
From the "Trainspotter's Guide To The Records Of Queen":
The original (MEGARARE) has catalog number BTAPD 11253/54
The picture disc re-pressing (SCARCE) has catalog number Balkanton QN-03 A/B
AND
there is a counterfeit picture disc with the same catalog number BTAPD 11253/54.
So, based on what you both said, I take it I have the Counterfeit?
Having said that, Why does it say "Made in West Germany" if it's supposed to be the "Bulgarian GH Picture disc"?! hehe :)
This guy is selling it at about $40 USD, which I believe is a lot for a counterfeit (?), eventhough the same version apparently has fetched more on eBay a few times.
And Thorsten, about the soccer match...
I could blame it on the ref, because Argentina's first goal was a clear offside and it all went downhill from that moment on, but I guess a team can't just fall apart just because they feel "robbed". We lacked attitude in the defining moments and you can't do that against one of the best teams in the world.
Let's just say I'm rooting for Germany now, at least in that particular game. :)
I think the disc was made in Germany for sale in Bulgaria.
You might like to buy the copy anyway for your collection!
Regarding the World Cup, my friends and I were following Mexico. I saw three of their games (not Uruguay).
In them all they failed to put in crosses or take shots. They even used short corners for crying out loud!
So many times they had good possession and didn't even get a cross in!
There it goes!
I appreciate people wanting to know the monetary value of Queen items and not wanting to get ripped off. However, another way to judge 'worth' is simply to look at the item itself and decide for yourself: how much do you want it? Why do you want it? Some valuable Queen singles really have ugly picture covers: some that are not valuable have great covers. Japanese 7-inch vinyl releases are often expensive to buy on places like Ebay because they are really beautifully done, not because the items themselves are that scarce. I'll never quite understand why people pay hundreds of pounds for a plain promo cd just because it's scarce. I'd rather have something that looks great.
I agree with your comments.
The Mexican soccer team has a history of having excellent ball possession and do nothing (or very little) with it.
Our "aerial" game is mediocre and that's why you saw the short corners. In those plays, usually the defense loses the mark and additional opportunities appear. It didn't work in the World Cup.
The last 5 World Cups we have reached the second round and lost there. Only in our local World Cups (Mexico 1970 and 1986) we have reached the Final 8 round.
Who are you supporting now?
Voice of Reason 2010 wrote: I agree with you Holly but what has that got to do with Mexico's performance in the World Cup?!!
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Put your money on Uruguay. Big odds, dark horses.
Hahaha :) The original topic is about the Greatest Hits Picture disc, apparently (And I'M the original poster).
This particular record looks great and if it costed 10 dollars or something I wouldn't hesitate.
It's like with the pair of MBADTK CDs from The Cross that I bought recently. I paid 20 USD for each of them and they turned out to be counterfeits of very good quality. I don't think 20 USD is a fair price for a counterfeit, if I can get the real deal for a bit more than that (with a little luck).
