The Smiths "Hand in Glove" Rough Trade 7" First Pressing Value & Price Guide

On May 13, 1983, Rough Trade Records released a 7-inch single by a Manchester band that barely anyone had heard of. The A-side was called "Hand in Glove." The B-side was "Handsome Devil." John Peel played it on German radio and called it "perfectly adequate, that, as a debut single." Catalog number: RT 131.

Forty years later, the rarest version of that single, the so-called "negative sleeve" misprint, sold at Omega Auctions for approximately $6,500. Peel, to his credit, would probably still call it "perfectly adequate."

Quick Value Summary

Item: The Smiths - "Hand in Glove" / "Handsome Devil" 7" Single Year: 1983 Label: Rough Trade (RT 131) Category: Vinyl Records

Condition Range (Standard First Pressing):

• Good (sleeve and vinyl show wear): $20 - $40

• Very Good+ (light marks, plays well): $40 - $80

• Near Mint (minimal signs of play): $80 - $200

• Mint (unplayed or near-unplayed): $150 - $350

Negative Sleeve Misprint:

• Very Good+ to Near Mint: $2,000 - $6,500

Record Sale: Approximately $6,500 (negative sleeve, Omega Auctions, September 2024) Rarity: Standard first pressing: Uncommon. Negative sleeve: Extremely Rare (approximately 25 surviving copies)

The Story

Morrissey and Marr wrote "Hand in Glove" in early 1983. The recording was done at Strawberry Studios in Stockport with producer Troy Tate (though some sources attribute the session to a different studio). The song was urgent and raw, driven by Marr's chiming guitar and Morrissey's dramatic vocal delivery. The lyrics were a declaration of outsider solidarity: "Hand in glove, the sun shines out of our behinds."

Rough Trade pressed the initial run with a standard picture sleeve showing a photograph of a male torso, taken from a 1950s physique magazine. The image was cropped to show a muscular back, and it set the tone for every Smiths sleeve that followed: artful, provocative, and drawn from a visual vocabulary that was distinctly Morrissey's.

The single didn't chart initially. It took several weeks and growing music press attention before it crept into the UK Independent Chart. But within the Smiths' small but passionate fanbase, it was already a sacred object. This was the debut. Everything started here.

As the band grew in popularity and the initial pressing sold out, Rough Trade ordered additional pressings. At least four distinct pressing variants have been documented, identifiable by differences in the matrix numbers, label text, and sleeve printing. The earliest copies, sometimes called the "Manchester" pressing, have specific matrix etchings and are the most sought after among completist collectors.

The Negative Sleeve

The real prize for collectors is the "negative sleeve" variant. During one of the early pressing runs, a batch of sleeves was printed with the cover photograph appearing as a photographic negative rather than a positive image. The bodies appear light against a dark background, creating an eerie, ghostly effect.

Only about 25 copies of the negative sleeve are believed to have survived. The rest were reportedly destroyed after the printing error was discovered. These misprints surface at auction every few years, and when they do, prices consistently reach several thousand dollars. A copy sold at Omega Auctions in September 2024 for approximately $6,500 including buyer's premium.

How to Identify It

Key visual markers (standard first pressing):

• Rough Trade catalog number RT 131 on the label and sleeve

• Blue label with silver text

• 7-inch 45 RPM single

• Picture sleeve showing a male torso photograph

• B-side: "Handsome Devil" (London version)

Pressing variants (in approximate chronological order): 1. "Manchester" first pressing: Matrix etchings include "PORKY" (George Peckham's signature). Blue label with silver text. Earliest and most desirable standard pressing. 2. Second pressing: Slightly different matrix numbers. Same label and sleeve design. 3. Third/fourth pressings: Minor label text differences. Still on Rough Trade RT 131. 4. Reissues: Later reissues on Rough Trade or WEA are clearly identifiable by different label designs and catalog numbers.

Negative sleeve identification:

• The cover photograph appears as a photographic negative (reversed tonality)

• Otherwise identical to the standard pressing in terms of catalog number and label

Common confusions:

• Later reissues of "Hand in Glove" exist on multiple labels. Only RT 131 originals have significant collector value.

• The song also appears on the compilation "Hatful of Hollow" (1984), which is a different release entirely.

Value by Condition

Standard First Pressing:

Good to Very Good (noticeable wear, surface noise): $20 - $40 The sleeve has ring wear, corner bumps, or creasing. The vinyl plays through but has audible surface noise. At this price point, you're buying it to listen to, not to display.

Very Good+ (light wear, plays well): $40 - $80 Minor sleeve wear, light scuffing on the vinyl. The sleeve retains its visual impact. This is the condition most surviving copies are in.

Near Mint (minimal play evidence): $80 - $200 Sleeve is clean with sharp corners. Vinyl shows minimal signs of play. This grade is tough to find for a 40-year-old 7-inch that most owners played regularly.

Mint (essentially unplayed): $150 - $350 Sleeve is pristine. Vinyl is flawless. These are copies that went into a collection and stayed there. A sealed copy would command even more, but sealed copies of this pressing are essentially unheard of.

Negative Sleeve Misprint:

Any condition with intact sleeve: $2,000 - $6,500 The sleeve is the value driver. Even a negative sleeve with significant wear commands thousands because only about 25 exist. The September 2024 Omega Auctions sale at approximately $6,500 represents the current high-water mark.

Price trend: Standard first pressings have appreciated steadily as the Smiths' influence on indie rock continues to be recognized by new generations of listeners. The negative sleeve remains a trophy piece with prices driven almost entirely by scarcity and the passion of Smiths completists.

Authentication & Fakes

Counterfeit Smiths singles exist, though they're less common than fake pressings of more valuable records. The main risks are:

• Reissues misrepresented as originals: Check the matrix etchings in the run-out groove. Original pressings have specific etchings (look for "PORKY" on early copies) that reissues lack.

• Fake negative sleeves: Given the high value, there's an incentive to create fake negative sleeves by reprinting the image. Authentic negative sleeves have specific paper stock and printing characteristics from the original print run. Expert examination is recommended for any negative sleeve purchase.

For standard first pressings, the risk of fakes is low relative to the value. Most sellers on platforms like Discogs accurately describe pressing variants. But for any purchase over $100, examining photos of the matrix etchings is smart practice.

Where to Sell

Best venues:

• Discogs: The primary marketplace for vinyl records. Active Smiths collector community. Seller fees are approximately 8%.

• eBay: Wider audience but more competition. Fees around 13%.

• Omega Auctions (UK): Specialist music memorabilia auction house. Ideal for the negative sleeve or high-grade first pressings.

• Local record shops: May buy clean first pressings but typically pay 40-60% of market value.

Expected selling costs:

• Discogs seller fee: ~8% of sale price

• eBay final value fee: ~13%

• Auction house buyer's premium: 20-25% (paid by buyer)

• Shipping (insured): $10 - $25 domestic, $20 - $50 international

Curious what your copy is worth? Upload a photo of the label and sleeve to Curio Comp for a quick assessment.

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