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“PICTURE SLEEVES ARE EVERYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO PUNK 45s”
Certain genres suit certain formats. Prog has the album, preferably a double, dance lays claim to the 12" single, while punk will always have the 7", with a picture sleeve a necessity. Dickie Spurgin, of Harbour Records in Emsworth, explains: “Our punk 45s are popular with ‘a certain demographic’ and if word gets out that a collection has come, in we have a large group of regulars who will come into the shop that week. The limited supply is accompanied by a select group of old punks, who create a specialised demand. Therefore, market forces keep the prices healthy. The entry point is around £5 for a popular picture sleeve version of a TOTP pop-punk anthem, and around £10-£20 for rarer issues, but you have to know your product, and collectable singles are individually valued. Picture sleeves are everything when it comes to punk 45s.