While researching the purchase of a true first USA pressing of Nirvana’s Nevermind released in 1991, there really didn’t seem to be a definitive guide on this subject. The majority of the information has been confirmed repeatedly through eBay auctions. The following is an example of a true first USA pressing of Nirvana’s Nevermind album. This guide uses close-up pictures to demonstrate the defining points that separate this first pressing from the rest.
Cover Front: Features Nirvana Nevermind lower left corner. Baby swimming towards money hooked to a fish hook.
Cover Back: UPC code on the bottom. Next to the UPC code reads “DGC 9130 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90069-6197. Manufactured and Distributed in the United States by Emi Distribution Corp. ©© 1991 David Geffen Company Made in U.S.A. All Rights Reserved. unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws. Produced by special arrangement with Sub Pop Records.” Note: No CRC in white letters present above UPC code.
Disc: Black label. First press labels will read DGC-24425 above side numbers.
Matrix numbers
Side 1: DGC-24425-A-GLI MASTERDISK / Side 2: DGC-24425-B-GLI (hand etched)
Inner Sleeve
One side has a picture of a monkey followed by a paragraph shaped like waves. This side is upside down. The other side features members of Nirvana. First pressing sleeves will have DGC-24425 bottom right corner, depicting the first catalog number.
Reported Sales History
These copies are opened and matching this exact description.
| Source | Item | Date | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ebay | 181793516847 | July 12, 2015 | $250 |
| ebay | 202744739506 | Aug 3, 2019 | $500 |
| ebay | 113192296050 | Aug 9, 2018 | $518 |
| ebay | 153585482892 | Aug 8, 2019 | $595 |
| ebay | 325297646224 | Aug 14, 2022 | $1225 |
| ebay | 195045502535 | Aug 7, 2022 | $1220 |
Looking through the eBay history, sealed copies in 2016 could be had for about $500. That price has grown to between $750 and $1000+ in 2018 and 2019.
Notes
Promotional copies may have a gold stamp on the back cover that reads FOR PROMOTION ONLY Ownership Reserved Sale Is Unlawful. Copies with the CRC designation above the barcode and preceding the catalog number as CRC DGC 24425 are a later Columbia house pressing.1