01
The first-press, by the numbers
Released 1967. The US first-press shipped on the Atco yellow-and-purple label.
- US stereo catalog: SD 33-232
- US mono catalog: 33-232
- UK first-press: Reaction (UK) 594 003 stereo
02
How to confirm a first-press
Three things separate an original from a later reissue beyond the catalog number.
- UK Reaction first-press uses the original Disraeli Gears artwork with the fully unaltered Martin Sharp photo-collage
- Atco yellow-and-purple label is the US 1967 first-press; later Atco labels shifted to a brown design by 1969
- Mono and stereo are distinct mixes — stereo trades higher for the early UK pressings, mono for the US
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 |
|---|---|
| 1967 first-press (NM) | $80–250 |
| 1967 first-press (VG+) | $40–90 |
| Reissue (any later catalog), NM | $15–25 |
What pushes to the top: UK Reaction stereo first-press in NM with original psychedelic 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 Atco yellow-and-purple design. Confirm the catalog number on the label matches SD 33-232 (or 33-232 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 (Atco yellow-and-purple), the catalog number (SD 33-232 for stereo, 33-232 for mono), and the matrix runout etched in the dead wax. All three need to line up for a confirmed first-press. UK Reaction first-press uses the original Disraeli Gears artwork with the fully unaltered Martin Sharp photo-collage.
UK Reaction stereo first-press in NM with original psychedelic gatefold brings the top of the NM range, typically $80–250.
Reissues use different label designs, different mastering, and were pressed in far larger quantities. Disraeli Gears reissues from later decades trade at $15–25 per NM copy. The first-press premium reflects scarcity, era-authenticity, and collector demand — not the music itself.
It depends on the album. For Disraeli Gears, Mono and stereo are distinct mixes — stereo trades higher for the early UK pressings, mono for the US.
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