Vinyl pressings
by Giacomo Puccini · 1958
Madama Butterfly was first pressed on vinyl in 1958. 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 1958, the album's first year, in 4 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.
H2RP 7534 1S I B2Side A runout
H2RP 7535 1S I A3Side B runout
H2 RP7536-1 S I A1Side C runout
H2 RP7537-1 S I A1Side D runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Australia | RCA Red Seal SLC16178First yearLP, Box Set | LP, Box Set |
| 1958 | Canada | RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-6135First yearLP, Box Set | LP, Box Set |
| 1958 | Germany | RCA Victor Red Seal LSC 6135First yearBox Set, LP | Box Set, LP |
| 1958 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-6135First yearLP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1958 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal LM-6135First yearLP, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | US | RCA Victrola VICS-6100LP, Stereo, Box Set, Reissue | LP, Stereo, Box Set, Reissue |
| 1964 | US | RCA Victrola VIC 6100LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| 1965 | Germany | RCA Victrola VICS-6100LP, Stereo, Box Set, Reissue | LP, Stereo, Box Set, Reissue |
| 1965 | Germany | RCA Victrola VICS-6100LP, Stereo, Box Set, Reissue | LP, Stereo, Box Set, Reissue |
| 1966 | UK | RCA Victrola VICS.6100ALP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1966 | UK | RCA Victrola VICS.6100BLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1966 | UK | RCA Victrola VICS.6100CLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1968 | Canada | Victrola Camden Classics VCCS-6100LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Germany | RCA Victrola VICS 6100/1-3LP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1977 | Italy | RCA Victrola VL 43542 (3)LP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1977 | Italy | RCA Victrola VL 43542 (3)LP | LP |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | RCA Victrola VICS-6100LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victrola VICS-6100LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victrola VICS-6100/1-3LP, Stereo, Box Set, Reissue | LP, Stereo, Box Set, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | RCA Victor Red Seal LM 6135 (3)LP, Box Set | LP, Box Set |
| ? | Italy | RCA Italiana LSC-6135(3)LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | RCA Italiana Red Seal LM 6135 (3) / RCA LM 6135 (3)LP, Box Set | LP, Box Set |
| ? | Italy | RCA Victrola MCV 542(3)LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | Italy | RCA Victrola VICS-6100/1-3LP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | Japan | Victor SA-3002LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Victor Red Seal LM-6135LP, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| ? | US | RCA Gold Seal AGL3-4145LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | US | RCA Victrola VICS-6100LP, Stereo, Box Set, Reissue | LP, Stereo, Box Set, Reissue |
| ? | US | RCA Victrola VICS-6100LP, Repress, Stereo, Box Set, Reissue | LP, Repress, Stereo, Box Set, Reissue |
29 vinyl pressings of Madama Butterfly are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1958 and 1977.
The earliest pressings are from 1958, in US, Australia, Canada, Germany. One of them is RCA Victor Red Seal LM-6135, released September 25, 1958.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LM-6135, LSC-6135, SLC16178, LSC 6135) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, H2RP 7534 1S I B2 and H2RP 7535 1S I A3. 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.
