Test pressings, experimental pressings and other oddities.

Beatles' Canadian test pressings pressed for Capitol Canada by Compo or RCA are extremely rare and from before 1970 almost non existent.

A test pressing by it's very nature is a rare and often a one-of-a-kind artifact. Usually it is created as a technical check of the vinyl quality and sound. Occasionally, test pressings are presented to the artist for feedback and at other times sent out to radio stations and reviewers as an "advance" copy. After checking test pressings for quality they were frequently discarded, recycled or destroyed.

Experimental pressings are also usually one-of-a-kind and unique.

In the late 1970's and 1980's a number of Beatles Canadian test pressings in coloured vinyl appeared on the collector's market. Most of them came from pressing plant employees, engineers or executives who had saved them.

  
Labels on test pressings can be printed, typed or handwritten. They can also be stock company labels, special company labels specific to test pressings, labels without any text or have no label at all.
   

Below is a 1974 Rubber Soul test pressing by Keel Records. Capitol Canada used Keel to press records in the early mid 1970's.

  
Below is a test pressing or experimental pressing of the Canadian issued White Album that was pressed in white vinyl for commercial release in 1978.

Canadian experimental pressing for The Beatles 1967-1970 double L.P.

A legitimate test pressing for the Canadian 2017 Public Domain re-release of Sie Libt Dich on the Toronto based Four Giants label.

Below is a 1986 Canadian CBS test pressing in a plain white jacket for one of the discs from the 1962-1966 compilation double L.P. Some test pressings are kept by the label as "library" or "reference" copies.

The Beatles 1967 to 1970 blue/white marble vinyl

The Beatles 1967 through 1970 deep purple marble vinyl

Other coloured vinyl test pressings or experimental pressings that have surfaced include a 1978 re-issue Sgt. Pepper and a mid 1980's Hollywood Bowl.

The high value of demo's, test pressings and experimental pressings often attract the attention of counterfeiters. Many "illegitimate" U.S, U.K. European and South American copies of these discs have been sold into the collector market. While I know of no counterfeit Canadian discs at this time potential buyers should always proceed with caution. 

Fake test pressing that regularly is sold on eBay as a legitimate  

The value of test pressings and experimental pressings is difficult to gauge as they are all one-of-a-kind. Most test pressing L.P.'s sell in the $800 to $1200 range while 45 RPM test pressings sell in the $400 to $1000 range.