Which Sex Pistols records are faked most
The targets are the withdrawn singles and the debut album.
- God Save the Queen (A&M AMS 7284, 1977) — the withdrawn A&M pressing is one of the most valuable UK singles ever and the single most faked Pistols item.
- Anarchy in the UK (EMI 2566, 1976) — the original EMI single with company sleeve is heavily reproduced.
- God Save the Queen (Virgin VS 181, 1977) — the standard Virgin single, including the rare A-label variant.
- Never Mind the Bollocks (Virgin V 2086, 1977) — the album, including the variants with the 'Submission' one-sided extra single.
EMI, A&M and Virgin label details
Each label era has its own fingerprint. The EMI 'Anarchy in the UK' single uses the early EMI label with the correct catalogue (EMI 2566) and was issued in a plain EMI company sleeve — fakes often supply a wrong sleeve or a label with incorrect rim text and font. The A&M 'God Save the Queen' is the rarest: only a small number survived destruction, so genuine copies have the exact A&M label design, catalogue AMS 7284, and the correct B-side ('No Feelings'). Reproductions get the label colour, logo and matrix wrong.
Virgin-era pressings use the green Virgin 'twins' label and later designs. The catalogue numbers (VS 181 for the single, V 2086 for the album) and the publishing and distribution credits must match the era. Counterfeit Virgin labels frequently show the wrong shade of green, mis-set logos, or modern credits. Always verify the label generation against the documented original for that catalogue number.
Withdrawn pressings and sleeve tells
The A&M God Save the Queen was withdrawn and almost entirely destroyed within days, so genuine copies are vanishingly rare and command extraordinary prices — making it a magnet for forgers. Genuine A&M copies have correct period label printing, the right matrix, and an authentic plain or company sleeve; fakes typically use modern label stock, incorrect catalogue or B-side details, and printed-looking run-outs.
Never Mind the Bollocks had several variants, including pressings with a bonus one-sided 'Submission' single and different track listings and stickers. Counterfeit albums often miss the correct inserts, use thin glossy board for the sleeve, or pair a first-pressing sleeve with a later label. The sleeve's bold pink-and-yellow 'ransom note' typography should be sharply printed; pixelation or wrong colour is a clear warning sign.
Matrix numbers for genuine pressings
Genuine pressings carry matrix numbers in the dead wax that match the catalogue and pressing plant. The EMI Anarchy single shows EMI 2566 family codes, the A&M God Save the Queen shows AMS 7284 codes, and Virgin pressings show VS 181 and V 2086 family numbers, often with cutting-engineer etchings such as 'Porky' or 'A Porky Prime Cut' on certain Virgin releases.
Counterfeits commonly show matrix numbers that are too uniform, in the wrong font, or that don't match the documented pressing. The A&M single in particular is so valuable that any copy must have a fully consistent label, B-side, sleeve and matrix; a single inconsistency is enough to condemn it. Always cross-reference the run-out against documented examples.
Current market value of genuine pressings
A genuine A&M God Save the Queen is one of the most valuable records in British music, regularly selling for £8,000-£15,000 or more depending on condition. The EMI Anarchy in the UK single in a company sleeve runs around £80-£300. The Virgin God Save the Queen single sits around £20-£80, with the rare A-label variant far higher. A clean first-pressing Never Mind the Bollocks with the correct inserts runs £40-£150.
Given the A&M single's value, treat any affordable 'A&M God Save the Queen' as a fake unless backed by impeccable provenance and matching details. The price gap is the whole reason the counterfeits exist.