TOP 60 LIST OF THE RAREST AND MOST VALUABLE U2 COLLECTORS ITEMS

The August 2006 issue of Record Collector magazine, a UK publication, printed the following article detailing then top 60 U2 collectables:

U2 Top 60 Worldwide Rarities
How To Assemble An Atomic Collection
by Des McMahon 

Record Collector, August 2006

Since their very first release of the nand-numberes 1,000 copies of the now much sought-after U2 Three EP hit the shops in 1979, U2 become one of the mos collectable band in the world.
The epic scale of their popularity drives fans to pay a king's ransom to securethose elusive artefacts for their ever expanding collection, and I am no exception. What is represented below is the top of the tree, the scarcest and most desirable releases from the past 26 years - elaborate box sets from the UK, mega-scarse coloured vinyl records from Australia, standard issue singles in rare picture sleeves, obscure promo items from Japan, France, Columbia, Italy and beyond.
From a fan's perspective, great-looking picture sleeves, coloured vinyl picture discs are always going to be a winner and the rarer the record, the more its appeal. It's that great buzz you get when you know that you have added something really special to your collection. Something that is worth more than money can buy.
But, to strike a Bono-style philosophical note, let us also appreciate the fact that it is impossible to collect or even afford everything. It is important to appreciate what you have got and not worry about what you haven't got. Otherwise you will never enjoy your collection as you should.
The band's recent Vertigo Tour, which resumes in Australia later this year, saw them with their powers undiminished, and for those of us lucky to catch them live it was great reminder of what an incredible legacy of music they have created.
This artefacts on display here are based on rarity  and current values (Mint condition, remember!) but, of course, any such list can't help but be a bit subjective. It concentrates on CD and vinyl releases, and the wider area of general memorabilia, test pressings, acetates and CDRs will be left for another day, otherwise the list could go on ferever, given the prolific number of releases.
U2's popularity shows no signs of waning and their collectable empire will continue to grow in value for many years to come.
So here, from £100 to £5,000 - are our Top 60 ...

     All I Want Is You
 Australian 12'' light green vinyl, mispressing,
Island/Festival X14678, 3 copies; 1989
1
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £5000.00


     Pride (In The Name Of Love)
 Australian 12'' clear vinyl,
Island/Festival X14105, 5 copies; 1984
2
@u2 value: $3000.00

RC value: £4500.00


     Under A Blood Red Sky
 Australian LP blue vinyl,
Island/Festival L20033, 5 copies; 1984
3
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £3000.00


     Under A Blood Red Sky
 Australian LP green and black vinyl, mispressing,
Island/Festival L20033; 1984
4
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £2500.00


     Boy
 Swedish LP blue vinyl,
Island ILPS 9646; 1981
5
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £2500.00


     All I Want Is You
 Australian 7'' purple vinyl pressed for radio competition,
Island/Festival K 805, 101 copies; 1989
6
@u2 value: $1750.00

RC value: £2500.00


     Rattle And Hum
 UK promo metal flightcase, with CD, vinyl 2 LP, cassette and logo tag,
Island U27, 200 copies; 1989
7
@u2 value: $ 750.00

RC value: £2000.00


     The Joshua Tree Collection
 UK promo 5 x 7'' box set, with "Sampler Disc No. 1" mispressed,
Island U26-1/2/3/4/5; 1987
8
@u2 value: $ 750.00
without misspressing
RC value: £1800.00
with misspressing,
£700.00 without


      Three
 Irish 12'' hand numbered from 1 to 1000 by Jackie Hayden,
CBS 12-7951, 1000 copies; 1979
9

@u2 value: $2750.00
RC value: £1500.00


     Achtung Baby Users Kit
 UK promo green nylon kit bag, Island U28, 200 copies; 1991
10
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £1200.00


     Three
 Irish 7'', brown vinyl, mispressing,
CBS 7951, less than 50 copies; 1979
11
@u2 value: $3000.00
RC value: £1200.00


     I Will Follow
 Irish 7'', brown vinyl, mispressing,
CBS 9065, less than 50 copies; 1980
12
@u2 value: $3000.00
RC value: £1200.00


     The Joshua Tree
 Swedish LP, custom pressings on yellow, pink and red vinyl,
Island U26; 1987 
13
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £1000.00


     Special Collection 1980-1987
 Japanese promo-only CD numbered, Island/Polystar HI 4001, 10 copies; 1987 
14
@u2 value: $600.00

RC value: £900.00


     Boy
 Japanese withdrawn LP, EMI/Toshiba ILS 81395, 1980 
15
@u2 value: $350.00

RC value: £800.00


     In Concert No.295
 UK BBC transcription disc vinyl LP, BBC CN4134S; 1983
16
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £750.00


     Rattle And Hum
 New Zealand double LP, mispressed on black with brown swirls, TVL 93285/6; 1988 
17
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £750.00


     The Unforgettable Fire
 UK uncut shaped picture disc with clear 12'' surround,
Island ISP 220, less than 50 copies; 1985 
18
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £750.00


     With Or Without You
 UK withdrawn CD Video single,
Island IS 319, less than 50 copies; 1987
19
@u2 value: $300.00

RC value: £750.00


     A Day Without Me
 
French 7'', no PS, Island 6837 672; 1980
20
@u2 value: $650.00

RC value: £650.00


     New Year's Day (US Remix)
 French 12'' promo with unique PS, Island 6863 227; 1983 
21
@u2 value: $350.00

RC value: £600.00


     With Or Without You
 Japanese 7''
1-sided promo, Island/Polystar RI-2002; 1987
22
@u2 value: $375.00

RC value: £600.00


     October 1991
 UK promo CD
with unique PS, Island U23; 1991 
23
@u2 value: $325.00

RC value: £600.00


    Gloria
 New Zealand 7'', Island/Festival K 8510; 1981
24
@u2 value: $375.00

RC value: £550.00


    Another Day
 Irish 7'' first release with promo postcard, CBS 8306; 1980 
25
@u2 value: $450.00

RC value: £550.00


     Trip Through Your Wires
 Australian 12'' radio promo, Island/Festival SMX-6954, 100 copies; 1987
26
@u2 value: $325.00

RC value: £550.00


    All That You Can't Leave Behind
 UK promo carrier bag set with contents varying, including signed print; 2000
27
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £500.00
with signed print
£200.00 without


    The Best Of Collection 1980-1990
 UK promo box set, Island BXU211; 1998
28
@u2 value: $295.00

RC value: £450.00


     Three
 Irish 7'' white vinyl,
CBS 7951, less than 300 copies; 1979
29
@u2 value: $725.00

RC value: £400.00


    The Best Of Collection 1990-2000
 UK promo box set, Island BXU213; 2002
30
@u2 value: $175.00

RC value: £350.00


     En Vivo
 Columbian 5 track promo CD in unique PS, Universal/Island 3828907100-18; 2000
31
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £350.00


    POP
 UK promo box with CD, pen and memo writing block, Island U210; 1997
32
@u2 value: $125.00

RC value: £325.00


    I Will Follow
 New Zealand 7'' wiyh 'Boy' PS, Island /Festival K 8150; 1980
33
@u2 value: $375.00

RC value: £325.00


    A Very Special Christmas
 Australian 4 track radio promo on green and red 12" vinyl, A&M MX-71302; 1987
34
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £300.00


    A Celebration
 French 7'', unique PS, Island 6010-510; 1982
35
@u2 value: $325.00

RC value: £300.00


    The Joshua Tree
 UK promo "pizza box" with CD, LP and cassette, Island U26, 250 copies; 1987
36
@u2 value: $195.00

RC value: £285.00


    2 Sides Live
 US 12" radio show with cue sheets, Warner Bros WBMS #117; 1981
37
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £275.00


    The First Six
 Italian six LP box set, Island UTW 06; 1987
38
@u2 value: $325.00

RC value: £250.00


    Angel Of Harlem
 Italian 12" promo in unique PS, Island 12ISX 402, 200 copies; 1988
39
@u2 value: $225.00

RC value: £250.00


    A Day Without Me
 Holland 7" in unique 'Boy' PS, Island 102.657; 1980
40
@u2 value: $350.00

RC value: £250.00


    Another Day
 Irish 7" white vinyl, CBS 8306; 1980
41
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £225.00


    I Will Follow
 Irish 7" white vinyl, CBS 9065; 1980
42
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £225.00


    Mofo (Matthew Roberts Limited Edition Explicit Remix)
 UK 12" promo, Island 12 MOFO 3, less than 100 copies; 1997
43
@u2 value: $85.00
one-sided copies
RC value: £200.00
two-sided copies
£180.00 one-sided copies


    Where The Streets Have No Name
 US 1 track promo CD in unique stickered PS, Island PR 2104-2; 1987
44
@u2 value: $175.00

RC value: £160.00


    Pop Mart Tour
 UK promo press pack in unique folder, Island U210; 1997
45
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £150.00


    Angel Of Harlem
 Australian 12" red vinyl, Island X 14672,
250 copies; 1988
46
@u2 value: $110.00

RC value: £150.00


    Mofo
 UK promo CD in unique card sleeve for Mexican export, less than 200 copies, Island MOFOCD 1; 1997
47
@u2 value: $120.00

RC value: £150.00


    Mofo (Phunk Phorce Edit)
 UK promo 1 track picture CD in jewel case with unique PS, Island MOFOCD 2; 1997
48
@u2 value: $65.00

RC value: £150.00


    Vertigo
 UK 7" promo, Universal U2PRO 2,
200 copies; 2004
49
@u2 value: $75.00

RC value: £150.00


    Zooropa
 Australian first issue framed CD, Island 518047-2,
100 copies; 1993
50
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £140.00


    ZOO TV Tour
 Spanish 6 tack promo CD in unique PS, Island 74321 14504 2; 1993
51
@u2 value: $250.00

RC value: £140.00


    Gloria
 Holland 7", unique PS, Island 103.772; 1981
52
@u2 value: $225.00

RC value: £130.00


    I Will Follow
 US 7" with poster PS, Island IS 49716; 1981
53
@u2 value: $90.00

RC value: £125.00


    The Fly
 French promo pack containing 7" and CD singles with window sticker; 1991
54
@u2 value: $145.00

RC value: £125.00


    Mysterious Ways
 
French promo pack containing 7" and CD singles with jigsaw puzzle, numbered, 1200 copies; 1991
55
@u2 value: $160.00

RC value: £125.00


    With Or Without You
 
US 7" promo, mispressing on translucent brown vinyl, Island 7-99469; 1987
56
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £100.00


    Zooropa
 Australian CD album and 'Stay' single box set
, Island 518047-2; 1993
57
@u2 value: $85.00

RC value: £100.00


    How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb Interview Disc
 UK promo interview CD with custom PS
, Universal U2PRO3; 2004
58
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £100.00


    Versiones Acusticas
 Columbian 2 track promo CD in unique card PS
, Universal SP032; 2005
59
@u2 value: ?

RC value: £100.00


    Numb
 UK 1 track promo CD in unique PS
, Island NUMCD 1; 1993
60
@u2 value: $60.00

RC value: £100.00

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