diff --git a/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-doc/pkg/scribblings/lib.scrbl b/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-doc/pkg/scribblings/lib.scrbl
index b155f3ae53..503bc6dbe5 100644
--- a/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-doc/pkg/scribblings/lib.scrbl
+++ b/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-doc/pkg/scribblings/lib.scrbl
@@ -269,7 +269,10 @@ The package lock must be held; see @racket[with-pkg-lock].}
          void?]{
 
 Implements @racket[pkg-catalog-show-command]. If @racket[all?] is true,
-then @racket[names] should be empty.}
+then @racket[names] should be empty.
+
+The @racket[current-pkg-scope-version] parameter determines the version
+included in the catalog query.}
 
 
 @defproc[(pkg-catalog-copy [sources (listof path-string?)]
@@ -280,7 +283,10 @@ then @racket[names] should be empty.}
                            [#:override? override? boolean? #f])
          void?]{
 
-Implements @racket[pkg-catalog-copy-command].}
+Implements @racket[pkg-catalog-copy-command].
+
+The @racket[current-pkg-scope-version] parameter determines the version
+for extracting existing catalog information.}
 
 
 @defproc[(pkg-catalog-update-local [#:catalog-file catalog-file path-string? (current-pkg-catalog-file)]
diff --git a/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-doc/pkg/scribblings/pkg.scrbl b/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-doc/pkg/scribblings/pkg.scrbl
index e1a2f60c62..6bdf2e345f 100644
--- a/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-doc/pkg/scribblings/pkg.scrbl
+++ b/pkgs/racket-pkgs/racket-doc/pkg/scribblings/pkg.scrbl
@@ -530,6 +530,8 @@ View and modify configuration of the package manager itself, with the following
  @item{@DFlag{modules} --- Show the modules that are implemented by a package.}
  @item{@DFlag{catalog} @nonterm{catalog} --- Query @nonterm{catalog} instead of the currently configured 
        @tech{package catalogs}.}
+ @item{@DFlag{version} @nonterm{version} --- Query catalogs for a result specific to @nonterm{version},
+       instead of the installation's Racket version.}
  ]
 }
 
@@ -557,6 +559,8 @@ View and modify configuration of the package manager itself, with the following
                          over new information.}
  @item{@DFlag{override} --- Changes merging so that new information takes precedence
                          over information already in @nonterm{dest-catalog}.}
+ @item{@DFlag{version} @nonterm{version} --- Copy catalog results specific to @nonterm{version}
+       (for catalogs that make a distinction), instead of the installation's Racket version.}
  ]
 }
 @; ----------------------------------------
diff --git a/racket/collects/pkg/lib.rkt b/racket/collects/pkg/lib.rkt
index b33012b258..79a35119f3 100644
--- a/racket/collects/pkg/lib.rkt
+++ b/racket/collects/pkg/lib.rkt
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@
                [query (append
                        (url-query addr/no-query)
                        (list
-                        (cons 'version (version))))]))
+                        (cons 'version (current-pkg-scope-version))))]))
 
 (define (package-catalog-lookup pkg details? download-printf)
   (or
diff --git a/racket/collects/pkg/main.rkt b/racket/collects/pkg/main.rkt
index c433d72f9d..f35bdba884 100644
--- a/racket/collects/pkg/main.rkt
+++ b/racket/collects/pkg/main.rkt
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@
                        #:strip (or (and source 'source) (and binary 'binary))))))
      (setup no-setup setup-collects jobs)))]
  [create
-  "Bundle a package from a directory or installed package"
+  "Bundle package from a directory or installed package"
   #:once-any
   [#:bool from-dir () "Treat <directory-or-package> as a directory (the default)"]
   [#:bool from-install () "Treat <directory-or-package> as a package name"]
@@ -374,19 +374,22 @@
          (with-pkg-lock/read-only
           (pkg-config #f key/val)))))]
  [catalog-show
-  "Show information about packages as reported by catalog"
+  "Show package information as reported by a catalog"
   #:once-any 
   [(#:str catalog #f) catalog () "Use <catalog> instead of configured catalogs"]
   #:once-each
   [#:bool all () "Show all packages"]
   [#:bool only-names () "Show only package names"]
   [#:bool modules () "Show implemented modules"]
+  [(#:str vers #f) version ("-v") "Show result for Racket <vers>"]
   #:args pkg-name
   (when (and all (pair? pkg-name))
     ((pkg-error 'catalog-show) "both `--all' and package names provided"))
   (parameterize ([current-pkg-catalogs (and catalog
                                             (list (catalog->url catalog)))]
-                 [current-pkg-error (pkg-error 'catalog-show)])
+                 [current-pkg-error (pkg-error 'catalog-show)]
+                 [current-pkg-scope-version (or version
+                                                (current-pkg-scope-version))])
     (pkg-catalog-show pkg-name 
                       #:all? all
                       #:only-names? only-names
@@ -400,13 +403,16 @@
   [#:bool merge () "Merge to existing database"]
   #:once-each
   [#:bool override () "While merging, override existing with new"]
+  [(#:str vers #f) version ("-v") "Copy information suitable for Racket <vers>"]
   #:args catalog
   (parameterize ([current-pkg-error (pkg-error 'catalog-copy)])
     (when (null? catalog)
       ((current-pkg-error) "need a destination catalog"))
-    (pkg-catalog-copy (drop-right catalog 1)
-                      (last catalog)
-                      #:from-config? from-config
-                      #:force? force
-                      #:merge? merge
-                      #:override? override))])
+    (parameterize ([current-pkg-scope-version (or version
+                                                  (current-pkg-scope-version))])
+      (pkg-catalog-copy (drop-right catalog 1)
+                        (last catalog)
+                        #:from-config? from-config
+                        #:force? force
+                        #:merge? merge
+                        #:override? override)))])