US
June 1946- Label and catalog number
- Decca 18880
- Format
- Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
- Runout / matrix
W73333T5ASide A stamped variant 1
W73334T4ASide B stamped variant 1
W73333T6ASide A stamped variant 2
W73334T7ASide B stamped variant 2
Lionel Hampton And His OrchestraAir Mail Special
Vinyl pressings
Air Mail Special
by Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra · 1946
12 pressings8 countriesBig BandJazz
Air Mail Special was first pressed on vinyl in 1946. 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 Air Mail Special
1 pressing came out in 1946, the album's first year. 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.
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 12 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1940s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | US | Decca 18880First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
1950s3 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Germany | Brunswick 82466Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1951 | Germany | Brunswick 82466Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1956 | Germany | Brunswick 82466Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
Year unknown8 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Belgium | Decca BM 03763Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Canada | Decca 18880Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Czechoslovakia | Decca BM 03763Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | France | Decca AU 3763Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Switzerland | Decca BM 03763 SShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Switzerland | Decca BM 03763 RShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | UK | Brunswick 03763Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | UK | Decca BM 03763Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
Tracklist
- AAir Mail Special–Part 1
- BAir Mail Special (Concluded)
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of Air Mail Special are there?
12 vinyl pressings of Air Mail Special are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1946 and 1956.
When was Air Mail Special first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1946, in US. One of them is Decca 18880, released June 1946.
How do I tell if my copy of Air Mail Special is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 18880) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, W73333T5A and W73334T4A. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is Air Mail Special 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.
