Ornette Coleman--The Shape of Jazz to Come, Mono Atlantic 1317. Ornette Coleman (as), Don Cherry (cor), Charlie Haden (b), Billy Higgins (d). Recorded May 22, 1959.
Bullseye? ... When this album first came out in 1959 Atlantic was still using their black label & their short-lived "bullseye" label. A few months later, in 1960,  they switched to the red & purple label with a white-fan logo for mono releases. Which label is on this record? It is impossible to tell from the cover. But bear in mind that whichever label was used, this is quite certainly a 1st Press edition. Remember, we aren't talking about the Beatles here. This record was pressed in small numbers and copies hung around for years. If, on the other hand, you are specifically collecting label designs, well, I don't really know what to say... (8/9/12--oh, I thought of a lot more to say... see below)

Vinyl & Covers: New... Still in original factory-sealed shrink-wrap. There is a tiny drill-hole in the lower-right corner. Looks to be in perfect condition. 
Combined shipping is always available with no mark-up--you just pay for what it costs to ship (and of course the more disks the less per record). Packaging includes cardboard padding, bubble-wrap and a thick cardboard record box.

The True and Partly Hypothetical History of Atlantic Record Labels 1955-1985
“Officially,” from 1955-1959, Atlantic Records used a black label for mono pressings of records numbering 1200-1332 (and 8001-8040). From 1960-1962, the first pressings of mono 1333-1378 (and 8041-8059) had the red and purple label with a white fan logo. Beginning with 1379 in 1962 the mono label was red and purple with a black fan logo.

Now, we have a bit of mystery. The numbers above are consecutive, none left out, so where does the bullseye fit in? According to my sources, that label was used for 2nd pressings of 8026-8036, pressed or released in 1959.  

But, of course, that is not the whole truth--some copies of The Shape of Jazz to Come (1317) also have a bullseye label. But please note this. Officially, Atlantic 1317 "should" have a black label, as is the case with some copies of Atlantic 1327, Ornette's Change of the Century, which was recorded in October 1959, five months after The Shape of Jazz to Come. But I am virtually certain that there are NO copies of Atlantic 1317 with a black label. And, without doubt the bullseye label was never intended to be more than an interim label.

The Hypothetical Part... So what does this show? Here is what I think: In1959 Atlantic knew that a new label was coming. They were excited about it. Why? Because the purpose of the label design is to provide an instantly recognizable, distinctive and memorable image for the record company. Blue Note certainly had one. But Atlantic didn't. And the bullseye label, while more distinctive than the black label, is still quite nondescript. But they thought they had something with the new design (garish and ugly as it is) and they were right. Everybody instantly recognizes an Atlantic label and they stuck with it (with only slight variations) throughout the rest of the vinyl era. Atlantic didn't want the new jazz of Ornette to have the old labels. So they used whatever was handy for the immediate distribution needs (which were tiny) and they waited for the new label to arrive before affixing it to the already-pressed vinyl.

Therefore, we cannot really be sure that a bullseye label is actually attached to an earlier copy than one with a red/purple/white fan label. But we can be almost certain that this copy is a 1st pressing, for the simple reason that, whichever label it has, this is an early copy of a record pressed in low numbers and sold in even lower numbers and not re-pressed for quite a while.

But finally, which label is on this copy? The answer is: we can't tell. We just know that the cover design has no indications that it is anything but an early copy, and quite certainly a 1st pressing. No doubt the black label Change of the Century and the bullseye Shape of Jazz to Come are rare and collectors of record labels are hereby warned to proceed with extreme caution. But for record collectors, in this case, the label has very little significance.

Yeah, but which label is on this copy? Perhaps this will be helpful: The highest price ever paid on E-Bay for this record was for a sealed mono copy which sold for $154.00 (eleven bids) on April 4, 2007. Here is the description offered by the seller:
“We believe this is an Atlantic 'Bullseye' press. We can tell through the shrink wrap that the cover is laminated on BOTH sides and of very heavy stock, a clear indication that this is an Original First Pressing. All seams firm and intact...YOU WILL NEVER FIND A BETTER ORIGINAL SEALED COPY--not a reseal..."

As for this copy, all seams are very firm and intact, and the jacket is clearly of heavy stock. I am not sure how the seller determined it was laminated on both sides. I can only tell you that I can see no indication that the two sides differ.

You may also want to look at some of the following (shipping is $4.00): (Revised 8/8/12)

Albert Ayler--New York Eye and Ear Control, New & Factory Sealed ESP-Disk...starting at $17.00. (auction begins 8/11 )

Jaki Byard--Experience, with Roland Kirk Original Prestige Stereo...$18.00.

Eric Dolphy--Out to Lunch, Exc+ Original Mono Blue Note 4163...starting at $12.00. (auction begins 8/13)

Coltrane/Dolphy--Impressions, NM Stereo Impulse A-42 Later Pressing...$14.00.

Ornette/ Dolphy--Free Jazz, 2LPs Original Atlantic stereo & mono versions...starting at $14.00. (auction)

Oliver Nelson/Dolphy--Blues & Abstract Truth, Exc Reprint Edition...$17.00.

George Russell/ Dolphy--Ezz-thetics, Original Stereo Riverside 9375...starting at $6.95. (auction)

Jaki Byard

Charles Mingus--Pithecanthropus Erectus, Original Black Label Atlantic...starting at $22.00. (auction)

Mirage--Third-Stream Jazz, Kenton, Mingus, Russell, Evans, New World Records...$9.00.

Thelonious Monk

Monk--at the Five Spot, 2LP Reissue of Riverside 262 and 279...$19.00.

Monk--Monk, S/T Self-Titled, 1964 Columbia Stereo CS 9091...$12.00.

Monk--With Rollins & Foster, Warhol Cover 1st Press Mono Prestige 7053...starting at $24.00. (auction begins 8/12)

Coltrane (& Garland, Chambers) on Prestige 

Coltrane & Dameron--Mating Call, NM+ Mono Prestige 7070 Reprint...$22.00.

Coltrane--Rain or Shine New/SS, includes the complete Settin' the Pace, 2 LPs...$11.00.

Coltrane--Lush Life, NM+ Mono Prestige 7188 Reprint...$15.00.

Coltrane--NM+ Black Pearls & The Believer Double LP Prestige Reissue...$13.00.

Coltrane--The Last Trane, NM- Prestige 7378 Re-Issue...$8.00.

Coltrane--Plays For Lovers, NM- Prestige PR 7426...$11.00.

Red Garland & John Coltrane--Jazz Junction, NM+ Prestige PR 24023 Double-LP...$15.00.

Miles Davis--Complete Birth of the Cool, New & Factory-Sealed Capitol Mono...$17.00.

Miles Davis--Self-Titled, Vol. 2 Exc Blue Note Reprint...$14.00.

Miles Davis--Circle in the Round, Exc 2LPs 1st Press Stereo CBS 88471...$16.00.

Bill Evans 

..........Early Evans (& George Russell)

Evans--Peace Piece & Other Pieces (incl Everybody Digs BE), 2LPs, Stereo Milestone...$12.00.

Mirage--Third-Stream Jazz, Kenton, Mingus, Russell, Evans, New World Records...$14.00.

Tony Scott & Bill Evans--Golden Moments NM- 1st Press Muse Mono...$16.00.

..........1961-1963

Evans Trio--More From the Vanguard, NM Milestone...$14.00.

Evans--Interplay Sessions, NM- Double-LP, Milestone 47066...$15.00.

Evans--Solo Sessions Vol. 1, Rare & New/SS Milestone LP...$22.00.

Evans--Trio '65, Excellent 1st Press Verve Stereo...$21.00.

Evans--Simple Matter of Conviction, NM+ 1st Japanese Press Verve Stereo...$14.50.

More Great Arranger/Composers--Dameron, Gil Evans & Oliver Nelson

Tadd Dameron--The Magic Touch, NM Riverside 9419 Reprint w/Bill Evans J.Griffin...$19.00.

Dameron & Coltrane--Mating Call, NM+ Mono Prestige 7070 Reprint...$24.00.

Gil Evans--Out of the Cool, New & Factory-Sealed! Rare Original Stereo A-4...$49.00

Oliver Nelson--Blues & Abstract Truth, Exc Reprint Edition w/ Dolphy, Bill Evans...$17.00.

Frank Wess & Oliver Nelson--Southern Comfort, Exc 1st Press Mono Prestige...$32.00.

And the (Apparently) Immortal Ken Nordine