01
The first-press, by the numbers
Released 1968. The US first-press shipped on the Atlantic red-and-plum label.
- US stereo catalog: SD 8176
- US mono catalog: 8176
02
How to confirm a first-press
Three things separate an original from a later reissue beyond the catalog number.
- 1968 Atlantic red-and-plum label with 'Atlantic Recording Corp.' bottom-center credit is the first-press signal
- Mono catalog 8176 is rarer than stereo SD 8176 and trades higher
- Original sleeve has the William Claxton portrait on heavier paper than reissues
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 |
|---|---|
| 1968 first-press (NM) | $40–150 |
| 1968 first-press (VG+) | $20–60 |
| Sealed authenticated original | $300–800 |
| Reissue (any later catalog), NM | $15–30 |
What pushes to the top: Mono red-and-plum first-press with NM sleeve.
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 Atlantic red-and-plum design. Confirm the catalog number on the label matches SD 8176 (or 8176 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 (Atlantic red-and-plum), the catalog number (SD 8176 for stereo, 8176 for mono), and the matrix runout etched in the dead wax. All three need to line up for a confirmed first-press. 1968 Atlantic red-and-plum label with 'Atlantic Recording Corp.' bottom-center credit is the first-press signal.
Mono red-and-plum first-press with NM sleeve brings the top of the NM range, typically $40–150. Authenticated sealed first-press copies reach $300–800 when verified by Heritage Auctions or a specialist dealer.
Reissues use different label designs, different mastering, and were pressed in far larger quantities. Lady Soul reissues from later decades trade at $15–30 per NM copy. The first-press premium reflects scarcity, era-authenticity, and collector demand — not the music itself.
It depends on the album. For Lady Soul, Mono catalog 8176 is rarer than stereo SD 8176 and trades higher.
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