If I remember correctly, the first four digits were month / year of production, the last four digits were the unit count. So I would say unit #1240 manufactured January 2001.

Edit: Oh, looking at the photos in that auction, it is likely a Mark2A. The manual and box are the earlier empeg style, with the label branding it as Rio. But the cover plate of the player is Rio (no label) - that would be a Mark2A unless the cover plate was switched.