A first pressing is a copy from the record's first production run. For collectible titles, a first pressing can be worth many times more than a reissue of the same album. These clues help you tell them apart.
1. The label design
Record labels changed their label designs over the years: colors, logos, borders and fonts. A copy with the label design used when the album first came out is a good sign. A newer design on an older album usually means a later pressing.
2. The catalog number
The catalog number is printed on the spine, back cover and label. Reissues often have a different number or a different prefix. Mono and stereo versions of the same album frequently had different numbers too.
3. Addresses and company names
Labels moved offices and changed owners. The address or parent company printed on the label and back cover can date a pressing, and collectors' references list which address belongs to which era.
4. Barcodes and modern details
Barcodes weren't common on records until the late 1970s and 1980s. A barcode on a 1960s album almost always means a reissue. Other modern giveaways include website addresses and "remastered" stickers.
5. The runout etchings
The matrix numbers and stamps etched in the smooth band near the label are the most reliable clue. They identify the lacquer and plant and sometimes the engineer. Read our guide to reading runout etchings.
Not sure what you have?
Photograph the label, back cover and runout of the record and send it to us. We'll tell you which pressing it is as part of your free appraisal.