01
The first-press, by the numbers
Released 1968. The US first-press shipped on the Capitol black rainbow-rim label.
- US stereo catalog: SKAO 2955
- US mono catalog: T 2955
02
How to confirm a first-press
Three things separate an original from a later reissue beyond the catalog number.
- 1968 Capitol black rainbow-rim label is the first-press signal
- Original gatefold sleeve includes the band-and-extended-family photograph on the inside panels
- Mono catalog (T 2955) is rarer than stereo (SKAO 2955) and trades higher
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) | $50–200 |
| 1968 first-press (VG+) | $25–80 |
| Sealed authenticated original | $400–1,200 |
| Reissue (any later catalog), NM | $15–30 |
What pushes to the top: Mono Capitol rainbow-rim with NM 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 Capitol black rainbow-rim design. Confirm the catalog number on the label matches SKAO 2955 (or T 2955 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 (Capitol black rainbow-rim), the catalog number (SKAO 2955 for stereo, T 2955 for mono), and the matrix runout etched in the dead wax. All three need to line up for a confirmed first-press. 1968 Capitol black rainbow-rim label is the first-press signal.
Mono Capitol rainbow-rim with NM gatefold brings the top of the NM range, typically $50–200. Authenticated sealed first-press copies reach $400–1,200 when verified by Heritage Auctions or a specialist dealer.
Reissues use different label designs, different mastering, and were pressed in far larger quantities. Music from Big Pink 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 Music from Big Pink, Mono catalog (T 2955) is rarer than stereo (SKAO 2955) and trades higher.
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