Vinyl pressings
by Judy Garland · 1959
The Letter was first pressed on vinyl in 1959. 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 1959, the album's first year, in 3 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.
ST-1-1188-D2#2 S1 [anvil] 8[rotated 90*]Runout Side A Stamped
ST-2-1188-D2#2 [anvil] 8[rotated 90*]Runout Side B Stamped
(ST1-1188)Label Side A
(ST2-1188)Label Side B
-T1-1188-D2 [Anvil symbol]Runout side A, var. 1
-T2-1188-D1" [Anvil symbol]Runout side B, var. 1
-T1-1188-D2#2 [Anvil symbol]Runout side A, var. 2
-T2-1188-D1#2 S1 [Anvil symbol]Runout side B, var. 2
T-1-1188-D2#2 S1 [anvil] 8[rotated 90*]Runout Side A Stamped
T-2-1188-D2#2 [anvil] 8[rotated 90*]Runout Side B Stamped
(T1-1188)Label Side A
(T2-1188)Label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | US | Capitol Records TAO 1188LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | Canada | Capitol Records TAO 1188First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | US | Capitol Records STAO 1188First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1959 | US | Capitol Records TAO 1188First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | US | Capitol Records TAO 1188First yearLP, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1959 | UK | Capitol Records T 1188First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | US | Capitol Records ST 1941 / Capitol Records TAO-1188LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1963 | US | Capitol Records T-1941LP, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | France | Capitol Records 1565501LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Capitol Records ST 1188LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
10 vinyl pressings of The Letter are listed here, from 4 countries, released between 1959 and 1985.
The earliest pressings are from 1959, in US, UK, Canada. One of them is Capitol Records STAO 1188, released May 4, 1959.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use STAO 1188, TAO 1188, T 1188) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-1-1188-D2#2 S1 [anvil] 8[rotated 90*] and ST-2-1188-D2#2 [anvil] 8[rotated 90*]. 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.
