Arkofthewild

Thanks everyone for your input!

I can fully appreciate the argument that for older records (~80's), first pressing may be more sought after.
Same goes for the plates used, although with this particular music group, I can't speculate about sound quality among the different pressings, nor do I have any information regarding the plates used so I can't really put this in the equation.

With that said, I was already leaning with most comments that the limited variants are more appealing and you guys pretty much validated that, so I've gone with option C> the 10th Anniversary variant (Dine Alone exclusive, teal colored, limited to 100).

Thank you again, this meant a great deal to me.

I've created this account for the sole purpose of this request. I wasn't sure I was going to get any replies but you guys seem to have an active and respectful community. It almost makes me want to start a vinyl collection...

1 hour ago, Buffbloom said:

I thought about this some more and I think I would go for the teal. The teal will likely be the most difficult to find, it's the special Dine Alone exclusive with the obistrip, and will likely be the most limited variant.  The Christmas would be my last choice because it was kind of part of a series where DA released all of the C&C records on the holiday colors. 

Agreed for the teal, it does sound appealing. My only reservation about it was that, as the 10th Anniversary name implies, it was obviously produced at a later time than the original pressings (heck, that 5th pressing isn't even on the City and Colour's pressing history for Sometimes. I'm assuming it just was never updated with this pressing, years later). I wasn't sure if this would affect its desirability upwards or downwards.

Thanks for the extra info on the Holiday colors, I didn't know that. The fact that every record was re-released under that theme makes it a bit less unique I suppose.

22 minutes ago, Alan P said:

Great question, and I wish I had a friend like you that put that much thought into buying me a gift! I'd also go with B or C, leaning towards C just because of the smaller quantity.

lol Thanks! I happen to be a collector as well, just not vinyl. I greatly value the details of what I collect, such as condition, editions, rarity, or even history/context. I guess that's why I want to do the research, to find the best option available 

15 minutes ago, Buffbloom said:

I'd go with the Teal, but that's because that's the one that I don't have.  Now I want it.

If you didn't happen to already have the Blue/Yellow or the Red/Green, would you still go with Teal for your own collection?

Great guess, that's the one

A buddy of mine has been helping me a great deal with the purchase of my new house. He's collecting colored vinyl and I wish to get him something for his collection but I don't know much about vinyl.

As the title says, this is where I'm stuck. What matters the most to a collector: A first pressing, or a special edition with limited quantity? Or is there no good answer, as it'll vary from one collector to the next?

Concretely, this is the choice I need to make for the specific record I'd like to get him:
A> 1st pressing - QTY: 2110
B> 3rd pressing - Holiday Exclusive (different colors) - QTY: 336
C> 5th pressing - 10th Anniversary (different color) - QTY: 100

I appreciate your expertise on this.