UK
October 24, 1988- Label and catalog number
- 4AD CAD 808
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
MPO CAD 808 A3 JARunout side A
MPO CAD 808 A̶2 B2Runout side B
Vinyl pressings
The Serpent's Egg
by Dead Can Dance · 1988
20 pressings8 countriesModern ClassicalEtherealElectronicRock
The Serpent's Egg was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
How to spot a first pressing of The Serpent's Egg
11 pressings came out in 1988, the album's first year, in 6 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.
Europe
October 21, 1988- Label and catalog number
- 4AD CAD 808Rough Trade RTD 92
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo
- Runout / matrix
HA RTD 92 ARunout side A
HA RTD 92 BRunout side B
Greece
October 24, 1988- Label and catalog number
- 4AD VG 50396
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
CAD 808 Astamped
CAD 808 Bstamped
CAD808-ASide A Label
CAD808-BSide B Label
Greece
October 24, 1988- Label and catalog number
- 4AD VG 50396
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
CAD 808 ARunouts A side, stamped
CAD 808 BRunouts B side, stamped
CAD808-ASide A Label
CAD808-BSide B Label
Canada
1988- Label and catalog number
- 4AD CAD 808
- Format
- LP, Album
Canada
1988- Label and catalog number
- 4AD CAD 808Vertigo CAD 808
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
SNB 230 EL Ⓢ CAD· 808AA-side, hand-etched
SNB 230 EL Ⓢ CAD· 808BB-side, hand-etched
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 20 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1980s12 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Canada | 4AD CAD 808First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Canada | 4AD CAD 808 / Vertigo CAD 808First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Europe | 4AD CAD 808 / Megadisc CAD 808First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1988 | Europe | 4AD CAD 808 / Megadisc CAD 808First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Europe | 4AD CAD 808 / Megadisc CAD 808First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | France | 4AD 70659First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Italy | Contempo Records CONTE 124First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | UK | 4AD CAD 808LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1988 | Europe | 4AD CAD 808 / Rough Trade RTD 92First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Greece | 4AD VG 50396First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Greece | 4AD VG 50396First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | UK | 4AD CAD 808First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
2000s3 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | UK | Vinyl 180 VIN180LP016 / 4AD VIN180LP016LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2009 | UK | Vinyl 180 VIN180LP016 / 4AD VIN180LP016LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2009 | UK | Vinyl 180 VIN180LP016 / 4AD VIN180LP016LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, White Label | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, White Label |
2010s4 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | 4AD CAD 3638LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2016 | UK | 4AD CAD 3638LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2016 | US | 4AD CAD 3638LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2017 | UK & US | 4AD CAD 3638LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
2020s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Europe | 4AD CAD 3638LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
Tracklist
- A1The Host Of Seraphim6:17
- A2Orbis De Ignis1:35
- A3Severance3:22
- A4The Writing On My Father's Hand3:50
- A5In The Kingdom Of The Blind The One-Eyed Are Kings4:11
- B6Chant Of The Paladin3:48
- B7Song Of Sophia1:24
- B8Echolalia1:17
- B9Mother Tongue5:16
- B10Ullyses5:09
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of The Serpent's Egg are there?
20 vinyl pressings of The Serpent's Egg are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1988 and 2023.
When was The Serpent's Egg first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in UK, Europe, Greece, Canada and more. One of them is 4AD CAD 808, released October 24, 1988.
How do I tell if my copy of The Serpent's Egg is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CAD 808, VG 50396, 70659, CONTE 124) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MPO CAD 808 A3 JA and MPO CAD 808 A̶2 B2. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is The Serpent's Egg on vinyl worth?
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.
