01
The first-press, by the numbers
Released 1959. The US first-press shipped on the Columbia six-eye label.
- US stereo catalog: CS 8192
- US mono catalog: CL 1397
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 is the first-press signal
- Stereo CS 8192 is the audiophile reference — clean copies are uncommon because the album was widely played
- Original sleeve has the abstract S. Neil Fujita painting 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) | $80–250 |
| 1959 first-press (VG+) | $40–100 |
| Sealed authenticated original | $500–1,500 |
| Reissue (any later catalog), NM | $20–40 |
What pushes to the top: NM stereo six-eye with intact sleeve and no ringwear.
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 8192 (or CL 1397 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 8192 for stereo, CL 1397 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 is the first-press signal.
NM stereo six-eye with intact sleeve and no ringwear brings the top of the NM range, typically $80–250. Authenticated sealed first-press copies reach $500–1,500 when verified by Heritage Auctions or a specialist dealer.
Reissues use different label designs, different mastering, and were pressed in far larger quantities. Time Out reissues from later decades trade at $20–40 per NM copy. The first-press premium reflects scarcity, era-authenticity, and collector demand — not the music itself.
It depends on the album. For Time Out, Stereo CS 8192 is the audiophile reference — clean copies are uncommon because the album was widely played.
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