01
The first-press, by the numbers
Released 1969. The US first-press shipped on the Capitol black rainbow-rim label.
- US stereo catalog: STAO 132
The center label is only the first clue. See the full Capitol black rainbow identification guide.
The dead wax carries a second set of clues. Decode the capitol pressing-plant symbols.
Compare this copy with the artist's other collectible originals. See the The Band vinyl value profile.
02
How to confirm a first-press
Three things separate an original from a later reissue beyond the catalog number.
- 1969 Capitol black rainbow-rim label is the first-press signal
- Original gatefold sleeve has the Elliot Landy band portrait on the inside panels
- Catalog number STAO 132 with no reissue suffix is the first-press
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 |
|---|---|
| 1969 first-press (NM) | $40–$150 |
| 1969 first-press (VG+) | $20–$60 |
| Sealed authenticated original | $250–$700 |
| Reissue (any later catalog), NM | $15–$30 |
What pushes to the top: NM gatefold with intact Landy portrait.
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 STAO 132. 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.
Keep checking the shelf
More first pressings worth knowing.
Nearby years, matching labels, and more records by the same artist.
1968 · Capitol black rainbow-rim
The Band — Music from Big Pink
1968 first press: $25–$80 in VG+ condition.
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1966 · Capitol black rainbow-rim
The Beach Boys — Pet Sounds
1966 first press: $40–$100 in VG+ condition.
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1964 · Capitol black rainbow-rim
The Beatles — Meet the Beatles!
1964 first press: $15–$50 in VG+ condition.
Check this pressingA few questions
The ones that come up.
Check the label design (Capitol black rainbow-rim), the catalog number (STAO 132), and the matrix runout etched in the dead wax. All three need to line up for a confirmed first-press. 1969 Capitol black rainbow-rim label is the first-press signal.
NM gatefold with intact Landy portrait brings the top of the NM range, typically $40–$150. Authenticated sealed first-press copies reach $250–$700 when verified by Heritage Auctions or a specialist dealer.
Reissues use different label designs, different mastering, and were pressed in far larger quantities. The Band (Brown Album) 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.
The Band (Brown Album) was issued in stereo only as a first-press. The STAO 132 pressing is the reference.
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