Identifying the exact pressing
and version of a record.

If you search Discogs for "Fleetwood Mac - Rumours" you will get over 500 results, each one for a different pressing / version. To ensure you log the correct version - or to check the real value of a record in your hand - you need to make sure you're looking at the correct entry.

Artist name & Album Title - the least helpful, this usually stays the same across all versions.

Catalogue Numbers - the short numbers usually found somewhere near the record company logo.

Barcode (modern only) - Most albums from the late 80s onwards have a barcode, although not all are unique for each version.

Circular Record Label - contains a lot of additional identifiers. Slight variants in colours, designs, typos, and layouts can also be useful.

Year of (re)pressing - usually appears on the back of jacket in the small print. Not to be mixed up with the original copyright / trademarked release year.

Country of pressing - huge releases and re-releases are often pressed in multiple countries.

Label matrix - runout numbers  - between the label and the end of the groove. Usually the catalogue number with extra digits after to differentiate specific pressing runs.

Visual cues - going from the pictures on Discogs - you can sometimes pick out things like a specific sticker on the jacket. The record labels often have different colours.

Colour - modern re-releases are usually pressed in unique and specific colours, splatters, designs. Each edition is usually listed separately in discogs.

Most Discogs entries have images of the covers & labels - check against those.