US
1953- Label and catalog number
- Columbia Masterworks ML 4666
- Format
- LP, Album
Dorothy KirstenFranz Lehar's The Merry Widow
Vinyl pressings
Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow
by Dorothy Kirsten · 1953
10 pressings3 countriesOperettaClassicalStage & Screen
Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow was first pressed on vinyl in 1953. 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 Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow
3 pressings came out in 1953, the album's first year, in 2 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.
US
1953- Label and catalog number
- Columbia Masterworks ML 4666
- Format
- LP
- Runout / matrix
XLP 9478-2E
Canada
1953- Label and catalog number
- Columbia Masterworks ML 4666
- Format
- LP
- Runout / matrix
XLP 9478-2BSide A, stamped
XLP 9479-2CSide B, stamped
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 10 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1950s8 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Canada | Columbia Masterworks ML 4666First yearLP | LP |
| 1953 | US | Columbia Masterworks ML 4666First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1953 | US | Columbia Masterworks ML 4666First yearLP | LP |
| 1956 | Australia | Coronet KLL 552LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1956 | Canada | Columbia CL 838LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1956 | US | Columbia ML 4666 / Columbia CL 838LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1956 | US | Columbia CL 838LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1956 | US | Columbia CL 838LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
Year unknown2 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Columbia CL 838LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Columbia CL 838LP, Album | LP, Album |
Tracklist
- A:1Act I
- B:1Act II, Act III
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow are there?
10 vinyl pressings of Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow are listed here, from 3 countries, released between 1953 and 1956.
When was Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1953, in US, Canada. One of them is Columbia Masterworks ML 4666.
How do I tell if my copy of Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ML 4666) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow 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.