Vinyl pressings
by Allan Jones · 1938
The Donkey Serenade / Giannina Mia was first pressed on vinyl in 1938. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
5 pressings came out in 1938, the album's first year, in 5 countries. Compare the label and catalog number on your copy, then the codes etched or stamped in the runout groove (the dead wax around the label): they are the surest sign of an early pressing.
4380A 2Side A runout, variant 1
M 4380B 2Side B runout, variant 1
s4380A <V.E.> 2Side A runout, variant 2
c 4380B <V.E.> 2Side B runout, variant 2
4380 A 3 4 VE 2Runout Groove Stamped A
4380 B 2 VERunout Groove Stamped B
4380BRunout Groove Etched B
OA09935♢ RSide A - runout
0A09936 ♢ RSide B - runout
OR 09935Side A - label
OR 09936Side B - label
OA 09935 ◇Runout side A
OA 09935 ◇Runout side B
OA.09935Label side A
OA.09936Label side B
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Germany | Electrola E. G. 6323First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1938 | Italy | La Voce Del Padrone HN 1399First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1938 | UK | His Master's Voice B.8714First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1938 | Canada | Victor 4380First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1938 | US | Victor Red Seal 4380First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1939 | UK | His Master's Voice B.8714Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | US | Victor Red Seal 4380Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| 1943 | UK | His Master's Voice B.8714Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| 1943 | US | Victor Red Seal 4380Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| 1946 | UK | His Master's Voice B.8714Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| 1946 | UK | His Master's Voice B.8714Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| 1947 | Spain | La Voz De Su Amo DA 4892Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1947 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal 4380Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| 1947 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal 4380Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| 1947 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal 4380Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1948 | UK | His Master's Voice B.8714Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| 1948 | UK | His Master's Voice B.8714Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| 1949 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal 49-02017", 45 RPM, Reissue · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 1949 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal 49-02017", 45 RPM, Reissue · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal 49-02017", 45 RPM, Reissue, Repress · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue, Repress · Colored vinyl |
| 1952 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal 49-02017", 45 RPM, Reissue, Repress | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | His Master's Voice B. 8714Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Australia | His Master's Voice B. 8714Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Canada | RCA Victor Red Seal 4380Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| ? | Czechoslovakia | His Master's Voice JW 25Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Denmark | His Master's Voice B 8714Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | US | RCA Victor Red Seal 4380Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
27 vinyl pressings of The Donkey Serenade / Giannina Mia are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1938 and 1952.
The earliest pressings are from 1938, in US, UK, Canada, Germany and more. One of them is Victor Red Seal 4380, released March 1938.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 4380, B.8714, E. G. 6323, HN 1399) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 4380A 2 and M 4380B 2. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
It depends on which pressing you have and on the condition of the record and its sleeve. Early pressings from the album's home country in near mint condition are usually worth the most; common later reissues are worth far less. Scan your copy with VinylLens to see its value for every grade.
