01
The first-press, by the numbers
Released 1959. The US first-press shipped on the Columbia six-eye label.
- US stereo catalog: CS 8171
- US mono catalog: CL 1370
02
How to confirm a first-press
Three things separate an original from a later reissue beyond the catalog number.
- 1959 Columbia six-eye label with the deep-red center and six concentric-circle logos around the rim
- Stereo first-press (CS 8171) is rarer than mono — early stereo was a smaller pressing in 1959
- Original sleeve has the front-cover graphic on heavy gloss stock; reissues use matte paper
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 |
|---|---|
| 1959 first-press (NM) | $120–400 |
| 1959 first-press (VG+) | $60–150 |
| Sealed authenticated original | $800–2,000 |
| Reissue (any later catalog), NM | $25–60 |
What pushes to the top: Stereo six-eye first-press with intact original 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 Columbia six-eye design. Confirm the catalog number on the label matches CS 8171 (or CL 1370 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 (Columbia six-eye), the catalog number (CS 8171 for stereo, CL 1370 for mono), and the matrix runout etched in the dead wax. All three need to line up for a confirmed first-press. 1959 Columbia six-eye label with the deep-red center and six concentric-circle logos around the rim.
Stereo six-eye first-press with intact original sleeve brings the top of the NM range, typically $120–400. Authenticated sealed first-press copies reach $800–2,000 when verified by Heritage Auctions or a specialist dealer.
Reissues use different label designs, different mastering, and were pressed in far larger quantities. Mingus Ah Um 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 Mingus Ah Um, Stereo first-press (CS 8171) is rarer than mono — early stereo was a smaller pressing in 1959.
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