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.
A 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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