Vinyl pressings
by Frédéric Chopin · 1948
Preludes, Opus 28 was first pressed on vinyl in 1948. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
2 pressings came out in 1948, 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.
12-0564A 12-0568A O ✰Stamped Runout A
12-0564B 12-0569A O ✰Stamped Runout B
12-0565A 12-0570A ✰ OStamped Runout C
12-0565B 12-0571A ✰ OStamped Runout D
12-0568-ASide 1 Label
(12-0564-A)Side 1 Label
12-0569-ASide 2 Label
(12-0564-B)Side 2 Label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Canada | RCA Victor Red Seal DM 1260First yearShellac, 12", 78 RPM, Album | Shellac, 12", 78 RPM, Album |
| 1948 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal DM 1260First yearShellac, 12", 78 RPM, Album | Shellac, 12", 78 RPM, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal WDM 12607", 45 RPM, Mono, Box Set, Album · Mono, Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Mono, Box Set, Album · Mono, Colored vinyl |
| 1953 | Germany | RCA LM 1163LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1953 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal LM-1163LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Japan | RCA SRA-2225LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | France | RCA Victor 630.431 / RCA Victor LM-1163LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal LM-1163LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1976 | Spain | RCA LSC 1163LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Italy | RCA Red Seal LM 1163LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Japan | RCA Gold Seal RVC 1600LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | RCA Red Seal 105.4023LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| ? | France | La Voix De Son Maître FALP 249LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Italy | RCA Victor Red Seal LM 1163LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Italy | RCA Victor Red Seal LM-1163LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Italy | RCA Victor Red Seal LM 1163LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Italy | RCA Red Seal LM-1163LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Italy | RCA Victor Red Seal LM 1163LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | RCA Red Seal RB-16110LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | UK | His Master's Voice ALP 1192 / His Master's Voice ALP.1192LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | UK | RCA Red Seal RB-16110LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | RCA Victor Red Seal LM-1163LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | RCA Victor Red Seal LM-1163LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | RCA Victor Red Seal LM-1163LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | RCA Victor Red Seal LM-1163 / RCA Victor Red Seal LM 1163LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | RCA Victor LM-1163 / RCA Victor LM 1163LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
26 vinyl pressings of Preludes, Opus 28 are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1948 and 1982.
The earliest pressings are from 1948, in Canada, US. One of them is RCA Victor Red Seal DM 1260, released December 1948.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use DM 1260) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 12-0564A 12-0568A O ✰ and 12-0564B 12-0569A O ✰. 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.
