UK CD5 #1 [WEA YZ0002CD1 / 90627-2]
The front of the first of two UK cd-singles shows the same artwork as the second, but the image was given a beige and reddish-brown tint and the name of the band appears in mint green in the top right corner. The single was limited and numbered so a white box at the bottom has a 5-digit run number stamped into it (view left). The back inlay is beige with the track listing of both cds printed in black and green, and the credits in black only (view left). The jewel case is a double one: one of the two spaces houses the cd while the other one is free because cd#2 was sold separately. Non-collectors could therefore move cd#2 into the case with cd#1 and get rid of its packaging. Meanwhile, in the free space is found a pale blue round card placeholder stating that cd#2 contains "three more classic tracks not featured on The Smiths Best". The insert unfolds twice to show lyrics for all songs from both compact discs. The cd surface is silver with black text. If it wasn't removed, the case has a round white sticker on the front giving the band name, the title track and catalogue number plus "This double cd box contains part 1 of a 2 cd set featuring classic tracks not included on 'Best…' / Limited edition".

UK CD5 #2 [WEA YZ0002CD2 /90628-2]
The front of cd#2 features the same artwork as cd#1, but the image was given a bluish tint and there is no band name nor number box on the front (view left). The back is light blue and the track listing and credits are printed on it in black (view left). The jewel case is a standard one. The booklet contains the lyrics to the four songs featured on cd#2. On its back is found the personnel credits, other minor credits, and a reproduction of the artwork for "Best…I". The cd surface is silver but the text on it is blue-green instead of black. If it wasn't removed, the case has a round white sticker on the front giving the band name, the title track and catalogue number, and stating "Contains three classic tracks not featured on 'Best…'".

UK 7" [WEA YZ0002 / 90626-7]
There are two different UK 7" editions. Both are found in the same thick and glossy sleeve. Its front shows the beige variation of the artwork just like that of cd#1, but without the number box (view left). The back is beige with track listing and credits in black, and a small reproduction of the artwork for "Best…I" (view left).

• paper label edition
  This is the more common edition. Its labels are the classic paper ones. They are beige and the text on them is orange. There is a barcode at the top on each side.
• silver injection-moulded label edition
  This alternate edition has silver injection-moulded labels. Some collectors believe this edition to be a cheaper, later repressing, while others think it may have been made in the UK for some other European market not covered by the European edition described below.

UK cassette-single [WEA YZ0002C / 90626-4]
There are two different versions of the UK cassette-single although it appears that only one was originally sold in the UK. The other one seems to have been sold in places like France or other smaller European markets. The insert is the same for both editions, and neither is marked as anything other than a UK edition. The beige variation of the artwork which also used for the 7" and cd#1 was adapted for the format (view front artwork from left menu). The spine and back are the same beige with black text. The back features a barcode, the track listing and Warner Music UK credits. The insert has one extra panel inside on which is given the track listing and credits. The cassette in both cases is made of black plastic with text printed onto it in light grey. The two editions differ in the text layout on the cassette:

• true UK edition
  The cassette sold in British record shops back in 1992 has a WEA logo in the top left corner, with "YZ0002C" printed in very small underneath it. The line "See inlay card for details" appears under the track listing in the middle at the top. Warner Music UK credits are found at the left. The sides are numbered.
• UK for Europe edition
  There are no Warner Music UK credits on this edition (well not on the cassette). The WEA logo appears at the right instead of the top left corner. The YZ0002C catalogue number appears on the left. The track listing is printed in a big font at the top. There is no "See inlay card for details" line beneath it, and the sides are not numbered.

UK 7" jukebox [WEA YZ0002 / 90626-7]
This item is assumed to have been produced for jukebox play but for the time being this is only speculation. It is a variation on the silver injection-moulded 7" edition described above, but the labels are plain black plastic without any silver finish which means that the record needs to be seen in bright light for the moulded text to be readable. Also, instead of a solid centre, the record has a large hole at its middle. Some copies have been reported to be circulated inside a plain white record jacket, others inside a black die-cut one.

UK 7" promo [WEA YZ0002DJ]
The main promotional tool for this single is a specially pressed 7" featuring an edit of the title track on side A and the full version on side B (which means that side B of this item is an exact replica of side A of the stock edition, but stating 'side B' instead of 'side A' and 'YZ0002DJ' instead of 'YZ0002'). The record is usually circulated inside a black paper die-but record bag. Its labels look just like those of the stock 7" (including barcode at the top), but the titles and catalogue number were corrected on the respective sides. The number YZ0002DJ is also etched between the run-out grooves on both sides.

UK (Europe) CD5 promo with plugger sticker [WEA 90813-2]
Promotion was also done via stock copies of the European cd-single (described below) with a plugger sticker on the front of the case. The plugger sticker is white, it is stamped with the date '01 SEP 1992' and has the names and telephone numbers of three WEA Records pluggers on it.

UK CD5 #2 promo [WEA YZ0002CD2 /90628-2]
Copies of UK cd#2 with a round white promo sticker on the back have been reported. The promo warning is "Promotional copy only not for resale". This may not be an official promo but something put together by someone wanting to get a few extra dollars or pounds out of collectors (see also Europe cd promo below).

UK promo video [WEA]
The "How Soon Is Now?" video was sent to relevent media on a one-track promo VHS video cassette. This video cassette has a white label sticker with blue WEA Records logo on its side with "The Smiths" and "How Soon Is Now?" printed onto it. It is circulated in a plain white video slipcase.

UK various artists instore cd [Warner PROMOCD35]
The single was promoted with the inclusion of "How Soon Is Now?" and "I Know It's Over" (the first track on cd#2) on this WEA-East West instore cd. The cd comes in a slimline jewel case and its insert features on the front the generic blue and white artwork with track listing. Other artists featured on this instore cd are Tori Amos, 10000 Maniacs, Jah Wobble, Skid Row, the B-52's, Carmel, etc.

UK promo flat 30cm x 30cm (12" x 12")
Promo flats were usually sent to retail for instore promotion at the time of release of an album. They are made of thick card and are the size of a LP. It is unclear whether the UK "How Soon Is Now?" flat is 1-sided or 2-sided. One side is orange and only features release information in black.

UK ad 30cm x 40cm (12" x 16")
Black and white ad. View here.

Australia cassette-single [WEA 450990626-4]
The Australian cassingle comes in a card slipcase instead of a regular plastic case with insert. The front shows the usual UK cassette artwork. The back looks just like the inside panel of the UK cassette insert, with track listing, personnel and credits printed in black and a photo of the front artwork for "Best…I", but with an extra barcode. The cassette is made of transparent plastic and has blue reels. The programme repeats on both sides.

Germany/Europe CD5 [WEA 90813-2]
The European compact disc single is packaged in a slimline jewel case. The front shows a slight variation on the artwork of UK cd#1, with slightly different typeset and no number box. The back shows credits, a barcode and a WEA logo. The reverse of the J-card insert is beige with black track listing, credits and personnel. The cd surface is silver and the text on it is orange. It is more or less the same as the text on UK cd#1, but the two catalogue numbers were reversed, credits were added around the cd's edge, and the line "Made in Germany" was added to the left.

Germany/Europe 7" [WEA YZ0002 / 90626-7]
The European 7" looks very much like its UK counterpart and casual collectors may even mistake it for a UK edition. The artwork on the front is exactly the same but the sleeve is a bit 'shorter', which means that there is less space between the top edge and the band name. It must also be meantioned that it is made of paper instead of card and that there is no cut-out portion at the top to facilitate access to the record. The back differs from the back of the UK 7" sleeve by a few details. The two catalogue numbers under the barcode appear one above the other, with the additional number "France WE 171". A label code is found at the very bottom and the line "Made in Germany by Warner Music Manufacturing Europe" appears below the credits. The labels are made of beige paper just like in the UK, but the text on them is brown instead of orange, a GEMA/BIEM box was added to the right and an upside down triangle with the number 45 inside is found at the very bottom, beneath the label code.

Germany/Europe 7" jukebox [WEA YZ0002 / 90626-7]
The European jukebox 7" is just like the stock European 7" described above but a large hole was punched out of its center. Because the labels were not designed with this in mind, this means that some of the band name, titles and credits were taken out. These jukebox 7"s are circulated in a white die-cut paper record bag.

Germany/Europe 7" promo [WEA YZ0002 / 90626-7]
Stock copies of the 7" format with square white "Promo copy not for resale" on the front are found on the market. The legitimacy of this type of promo is debatable.

Germany/Europe CD5 promo [WEA 90813-2]
Copies of the stock European compact disc with a round white promo sticker on the front have been reported. The promo warning is "Promotional copy only not for resale". This may or may not be an official promo but something put together by someone wanting to get a bit more money out of collectors (see also UK cd#2 promo above).

Germany (Europe) CD5 with press sheet [WEA 90813-2]
In Germany, copies of the Germany/Europe cd-single (sometimes with, sometimes without a brown and white "PR-Copy" promo sticker on the back of the case) were paired with a German "Produkt Information" press sheet and dispatched to media and/or retail. The sheet is about 5" by 5", which means that it can fit inside the cd case. It is a generic WEA/Warner press sheet with blue logos and printed release information, under the date '04.09.1992'.

Switzerland various artists promo video [(Warner Music Switzerland SA)]
The video for "How Soon Is Now? [revised edition]" was distributed in Switzerland on a various artists promo videocassette dated '03/09/92'. A white sticker with track listing and promo warning appears on the videocassette as well as on the black Sony card slipcase in which it was distributed. The compilation also features videos by Heavy Bones, Dr John, 808 State, Helen Hoffner, Travis Tritt, Barenaked Ladies, Prince, Dramarama, etc.