Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (1975 Harvest First UK Pressing, Black Shrink)

Among vintage vinyl collectors, few albums hold the mystique of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. Released in September 1975 on Harvest Records in the UK, the album arrived with one of the most unusual and deliberately provocative packaging choices in rock history: the cover was hidden inside opaque black shrink wrap, with only a small round sticker on the outside hinting at what lay beneath. The buyer had to purchase the album without seeing the cover, a pointed commentary on the music industry's commercialization of art.

This original black shrink wrap pressing is now among the most prized Pink Floyd collectibles and a benchmark item for serious classic rock vinyl collectors.

The Story Behind the Black Shrink

The packaging concept came from the band's collaboration with design group Hipgnosis, the firm responsible for most of Pink Floyd's iconic artwork. The album's themes centered on absence, loss, and the corrosive effects of the music business on artistic integrity, ideas born from Syd Barrett's tragic departure and mental decline. Hipgnosis and the band decided the packaging itself should embody these themes.

The black shrink wrap meant that every copy sold looked identical from the outside, a deliberate leveling effect that stripped away the visual product placement so central to record marketing. On the shrink wrap sat a round sticker bearing the album title. Inside, buyers found the full sleeve with the famous burning handshake image and the four inner photos depicting allegorical scenes of selling out.

The album was pressed on Harvest Records (SHVL 814), EMI's progressive rock imprint. First pressings were cut from master tapes that many audiophiles consider superior to later reissues.

Identifying the First UK Pressing

Not all copies of Wish You Were Here with black shrink are first pressings. Here is how to identify a genuine first UK pressing:

Catalog Number: The sleeve and label should show SHVL 814.

Harvest Label: The original label is the harvest gold and green design. Look for the "Made in Great Britain" text and the specific matrix information in the deadwax.

Deadwax Markings: The key identifier is the matrix etched into the deadwax (the blank area between the last groove and the label). First pressing matrices typically show SHVL 814 A-1 and SHVL 814 B-1, though variations exist. The original lacquers were cut by Harry Moss at EMI, and some copies show "H.M." in the deadwax alongside the matrix numbers.

The Postcards: Many first pressings included a set of four postcards inside. Not all copies retained these over the decades, but presence of the original postcards is a significant plus.

Spine Shape: The spine of the gatefold sleeve shows a distinctive shape on earliest pressings, either narrow-pinched at top and bottom or uniformly wide.

The Black Shrink Itself: The shrink should be the original opaque black polythene wrap, not a later attempt at reproduction. On genuine copies, the sticker and shrink show appropriate age and the sticker adheres in the characteristic way of original factory application.

Values and Condition Grades

Values for this pressing depend heavily on whether the black shrink is present, intact, and the condition of both the vinyl and sleeve.

Condition	Approximate Value
No shrink, vinyl VG, sleeve VG	$30 - $80
No shrink, vinyl VG+, sleeve VG+	$80 - $150
No shrink, vinyl NM, sleeve NM	$150 - $300
With original shrink (opened), vinyl VG+	$200 - $400
With original shrink (opened), vinyl NM/NM	$400 - $800
With original shrink (sealed/intact), excellent	$800 - $2,000+

Recent Discogs sales show opened copies with original shrink in NM/NM condition regularly trading in the $300-$600 range. Sealed or barely-opened examples in exceptional condition have achieved over $1,000 in auction settings. The combination of original black shrink, postcards, and NM vinyl and sleeve represents the ceiling of the market.

Grading the Vinyl

For vinyl grading, the Goldmine scale is standard:

Mint (M): Perfect, unplayed. Practically theoretical for a 50-year-old pressing.

Near Mint (NM or M-): Nearly perfect. May show a light sleeve mark or hairline from careful play. This is the best realistic grade for a played copy.

Very Good Plus (VG+): Shows light signs of play with minimal surface noise. The standard for a highly collectible record that has been played.

Very Good (VG): Noticeable surface marks and some background noise during play. Acceptable for playback but reduces collector value significantly.

Good (G) or below: Heavy wear, audible noise, potentially unplayable. Sleeve value only for most purposes.

The sleeve should be graded separately. Watch for seam splits, ring wear from the record itself pressing through the sleeve, writing, or sticker damage.

Audiophile Considerations

Beyond collector value, the first UK pressing is considered by many audiophiles to be among the best-sounding versions of the album. The original EMI cutting preserves dynamics that later pressings and CD releases sometimes compress. Collectors who play their records (rather than just preserve them) prize these first pressings for both historical and sonic reasons.

For playback, the classic recommendation is a high-compliance cartridge and good stylus to extract maximum information from the grooves without accelerating wear.

Where to Buy and Sell

Discogs.com is the primary marketplace for this pressing, with a comprehensive sales history allowing buyers to verify current market prices. Search for "Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here SHVL 814" and filter by condition. Major record fairs such as the Brooklyn Record Fair, Austin Record Convention, and Record Store Day events at specialist shops also surface copies.

For selling, photographing the deadwax matrix clearly, showing the label, and documenting the black shrink condition carefully (including sticker condition and shrink integrity) will help attract knowledgeable buyers willing to pay appropriate prices.

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