Which David Bowie albums are faked most
Counterfeiters concentrate on the classic RCA-era titles, especially those with valuable artwork variants.
- The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust (RCA SF 8287, 1972) — the orange-label first pressing is the prime target.
- Aladdin Sane (RCA RS 1001, 1973) — the gatefold with lyric inner and the lightning-bolt artwork are reproduced.
- Diamond Dogs (RCA APL1 0576, 1974) — the uncensored 'genitalia' gatefold is the most faked variant.
- Heroes (RCA PL 12522, 1977) — later catalogue but still copied, especially with the correct inner.
RCA and Mainman label details to check
Early-1970s Bowie appeared on RCA Victor with the orange label, later changing to the tan/cream 'dynaflex'-era design and then the later RCA designs of the mid-to-late 1970s. The orange-label Ziggy is the first-pressing benchmark; counterfeits often use the wrong orange hue, mis-set the RCA Victor logo, or carry credits from a later pressing. Genuine labels also show the correct publishing and the management credits associated with Bowie's MainMan and Gem Productions, which must match the era of the record.
Examine the rim text, the catalogue number format (SF for stereo on early UK pressings, later PL/APL formats) and the printing sharpness. Reproductions tend to look flat, slightly fuzzy, or use modern paper. A mismatch between the label generation and the catalogue number — for example an orange label paired with a late-1970s catalogue layout — is a strong sign of a fake.
Withdrawn artwork and cover tells
Bowie's most valuable variants are withdrawn covers. Diamond Dogs originally featured a full gatefold painting by Guy Peellaert showing Bowie as a half-dog with visible genitalia; RCA quickly airbrushed it out, making the uncensored version extremely valuable — and extremely faked. Genuine withdrawn copies have the correct period printing, board stock and matrix; reproductions show pixelated artwork, glossy modern lamination and wrong colour registration.
Other artwork tells include the Ziggy cover's 'K. WEST' sign and the correct rear photo, and the Aladdin Sane lightning bolt's exact colour and the presence of the lyric inner. Counterfeit sleeves often have oversaturated colour, thin board, and a flat lamination that doesn't match the laminated heavyweight covers RCA used in the period. Always compare the printing detail to a known original under magnification.
Matrix numbers for genuine pressings
Genuine UK RCA pressings carry matrix numbers in the dead wax that correspond to the catalogue — Ziggy shows codes derived from SF 8287, while Aladdin Sane shows RS 1001 family numbers. RCA pressings frequently include stamper and tax-code information and, on many UK copies, cutting-engineer etchings. The matrix should have an authentic hand-cut or stamped appearance consistent with early-1970s pressing practice.
Counterfeits commonly show matrix numbers that are too uniform, in the wrong font, or that don't match the documented first pressing. A particularly common giveaway is a run-out that has been photographically copied from the original lacquer, producing a slightly 'soft' or printed look rather than the crisp incised lines of a genuine stamper. Always verify the full matrix against documented examples for the exact pressing.
Current market value of genuine pressings
A clean orange-label Ziggy Stardust first pressing sells for around £80-£250. Aladdin Sane originals with the lyric inner run £40-£120. The censored Diamond Dogs is modest at £30-£80, but a genuine uncensored withdrawn gatefold commands £1,500-£5,000 or more, which is precisely why it is so heavily counterfeited. A clean Heroes original sits around £30-£80.
Given the gulf between a censored Diamond Dogs and a genuine withdrawn copy, any 'uncensored' example offered cheaply or without convincing label, matrix and printing evidence should be assumed to be a reproduction until proven otherwise.