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Data as of Jul 19, 2026
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – 1812 Overture / Serenade For Strings
1971 · US · Columbia Masterworks · Vinyl LP Album Stereo
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Price guide
Estimated market value via Discogs · as of May 31, 2026
- MMint
- $19.06
- NMNear Mint
- $17.05
- VG+Very Good Plus
- $13.04
- VGVery Good
- $9.03
- G+Good Plus
- $5.01
- GGood
- $3.01
- FFair
- $2.01
- PPoor
- $1
38 copies listed on Discogs from $0.82.
These are reference estimates from Discogs sold/asking data for this exact pressing, not offers and not a guaranteed price. Actual value depends on condition, completeness and current demand. Any active seller offers on this page are listed separately above.
Offers
New to condition grades like NM or VG? Read our vinyl grading guide →
Pressing identification
Match these against your copy to confirm the exact pressing.
- Runout — side A
- MAL30447-1DMAL30447-1KMAL-30447-1EMAL-30447-1L
- Runout — side B
- XXSM-51938-1BJXXSM-51938-1CEXXSM-51938-10AXXSM-51938-1CL
- Matrix / runout
- AL 30447XSM 51938
- Other
- 75-751824(Library of Congress catalog card number)
- Manufactured By
- Columbia Records
Specifications
- Artist
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- Genre
- Classical, Brass & Military
- Style
- Romantic, Choral
- Year
- 1971
- Label
- Columbia Masterworks
- Catalog number
- M 30447
- Country
- US
Tracklist
- A1812 Overture, Op. 4916:54
- Serenade In C Major For Strings And Orchestra, Op. 48
- Producer
- Howard H. Scott
- Producer
- Thomas Frost
- Engineer
- Ed Michalski
- Engineer
- Ray Moore
- Composed By
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- Conductor
- Eugene Ormandy
About this record
Columbia Masterworks pressed this 1971 stereo LP with catalogue M 30447 as part of The Fabulous Philadelphia Sound Series, pairing Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture with the Serenade for Strings under Eugene Ormandy. The dead-wax matrix AL 30447 and XSM 51938 confirm a Columbia Records pressing plant origin.
Notably, the 1812 Overture here uses an English translation of the original Russian text rather than the instrumental version familiar from other releases.
What drives its value
This pressing sits in a crowded market: 38 copies are currently for sale, with the lowest asking 0.82 USD, yet the price guide values a Mint copy at 19.06 USD and a VG at 9.03 USD. The spread from NM (17.05 USD) down to VG+ (13.04 USD) reflects typical early-1970s Columbia Masterworks demand.
Community ownership is substantial—1381 collectors have it against only 59 who want it—indicating this is a common pressing rather than a hunt. The choral arrangement and Ormandy's Philadelphia Orchestra pedigree sustain modest collector interest, but supply far outpaces demand.
Condition drives the entire valuation: a Good+ copy drops to 5.01 USD, while Fair and Poor copies trade below 2.01 USD.
How to appraise this pressing
Verify this pressing by the catalogue number M 30447 on the front cover and spine. Inside the dead wax, look for the matrix runout AL 30447 or XSM 51938 paired with the pressing plant code MAL30447-1D or XXSM-51938-1BJ—all confirm a Columbia Records plant pressing from 1971.
The label should read Columbia Masterworks with the Fabrics Philadelphia Sound Series branding and the note that the 1812 Overture is sung in English translation. Grade by examining the vinyl surface under light: Mint means unplayed with no marks; NM allows only light dust; VG+ shows light surface noise on quiet passages but no audible groove wear; VG exhibits noticeable surface noise and light scratches.
The stereo pressing is standard; no mono variant is documented in this release.
Further reading: grading a record, what makes a pressing valuable.
Listen
Hear the album before you buy.
Official videos via YouTube.
Release notes
The Fabulous Philadelphia Sound Series ® Columbia Masterworks, Marcas Reg. Printed in U.S.A
1812 Overture sung in English translation of original Russian text.
Notes sourced from the Discogs database.
Frequently asked
What is this pressing worth in VG+ condition?
According to the price guide, a VG+ copy is valued at 13.04 USD. This estimate reflects the condition where light surface noise is audible but the record plays without significant distortion. Actual sales may vary depending on buyer demand and the specific copy's visual appeal.
How do I confirm I have the 1971 Columbia pressing and not a later reissue?
Check the dead-wax runout: the matrix AL 30447 or XSM 51938 paired with MAL30447-1D or XXSM-51938-1BJ confirms the original 1971 Columbia Records plant pressing. The catalogue number M 30447 and The Fabulous Philadelphia Sound Series branding on the label are also definitive markers of this release.
Why is there such a big price gap between Mint and VG?
A Mint copy reaches 19.06 USD while a VG copy is valued at 9.03 USD. The difference reflects that unplayed copies are scarce—most 1971 pressings show at least light wear—and collectors of classical recordings often prefer pristine sound. Even light surface noise becomes audible on quiet orchestral passages.
Is this a rare record?
No. Community data shows 1381 collectors own it against only 59 who want it, and 38 copies are currently for sale. This 1971 Columbia Masterworks pressing was a commercial release in The Fabulous Philadelphia Sound Series and remains common in the used market. The lowest asking price of 0.82 USD reflects abundant supply.
What makes the English-language 1812 Overture on this pressing unusual?
The release notes specify that the 1812 Overture is sung in English translation of the original Russian text, rather than performed as the familiar instrumental version. This choral arrangement with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Valley Forge Military Academy Band distinguishes it from standard orchestral recordings and was part of Ormandy's Philadelphia Sound concept for the series.