01
The first-press, by the numbers
Released 1965. The US first-press shipped on the Impulse! orange-and-black label.
- US stereo catalog: AS-77
- US mono catalog: A-77
02
How to confirm a first-press
Three things separate an original from a later reissue beyond the catalog number.
- 1965 Impulse! orange-and-black label is the first-press signal — by 1968 the label shifted to red
- RVG matrix runout (Rudy Van Gelder etched in the dead wax) indicates original mastering
- Gatefold sleeve with the Coltrane prayer poem printed inside the gatefold — original prints are on heavier stock
The matrix runout etched in the dead wax is the definitive identifier when label and catalog number both look era-correct.
03
What it's worth
Recent sold-listing ranges. Pressing, condition, and current market all move the number.
| Pressing & condition | Recent sold |
|---|---|
| 1965 first-press (NM) | $150–$400 |
| 1965 first-press (VG+) | $60–$150 |
| Sealed authenticated original | $800–$2,500 |
| Reissue (any later catalog), NM | $25–$60 |
What pushes to the top: Mono RVG-cut first-press with intact gatefold.
Sources: Discogs sold listings (90-day window), Popsike.com auction archive, Goldmine Record Album Price Guide.
04
If you have one
Pull the record. Check the label first against the Impulse! orange-and-black design. Confirm the catalog number on the label matches AS-77 (or A-77 for mono). Then check the matrix runout in the dead wax. All three lining up is the first-press confirmation.
Or scan with Crown Vinyl. The app reads the label, catalog number, and matrix runout from a single photograph, returns the exact pressing, and pulls a current value from recent real sales. Free on the App Store.
Keep checking the shelf
More first pressings worth knowing.
Nearby years, matching labels, and more records by the same artist.
1965 · Volt fingerprint
Otis Redding — Otis Blue
1965 first press: $40–$100 in VG+ condition.
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1965 · Columbia two-eye
Bob Dylan — Highway 61 Revisited
1965 first press: $40–$100 in VG+ condition.
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1965 · Capitol black rainbow-rim
The Beatles — Rubber Soul
1965 first press: $15–$45 in VG+ condition.
Check this pressingA few questions
The ones that come up.
Check the label design (Impulse! orange-and-black), the catalog number (AS-77 for stereo, A-77 for mono), and the matrix runout etched in the dead wax. All three need to line up for a confirmed first-press. 1965 Impulse! orange-and-black label is the first-press signal — by 1968 the label shifted to red.
Mono RVG-cut first-press with intact gatefold brings the top of the NM range, typically $150–$400. Authenticated sealed first-press copies reach $800–$2,500 when verified by Heritage Auctions or a specialist dealer.
Reissues use different label designs, different mastering, and were pressed in far larger quantities. A Love Supreme reissues from later decades trade at $25–$60 per NM copy. The first-press premium reflects scarcity, era-authenticity, and collector demand — not the music itself.
It depends on the album. For A Love Supreme, mono and stereo first-presses trade at similar prices in NM condition, with subtle pressing-quality differences favoring one or the other depending on the cut.
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