Collector's Guide to Victor Records - Hard Cover

$

69

The Collector's Guide to Victor Records (2nd Edition)
by Michael Sherman w/Kurt Nauck

7" x 10", 288 pp with 850 full color illustrations
Signed & numbered Hard Cover Limited Edition (of 500)
Note that our eBay price is higher than the list price. You may buy it on the web from Nauck's Vintage Records for less!

With roots extending all the way back to the birth of the disc recording industry, Victor reigned supreme throughout the 78rpm era. Herein lies the story of Victor’s standard-catalog 78 rpm record label, traced from Berliner (its predecessor) to the demise of the 78 rpm format. All four of Victor’s standard label colors (Black, Red, Blue & Purple) are documented and described in detail along with all changes made to the Victor label throughout its 60 year run.

The second section of the book highlights many of the notable singers, personalities and world leaders who recorded for Victor, leaving a priceless legacy for future generations. Sandwiched between the great Caruso and legendary conductor Leopold Stokowski, one will find such luminaries as Will Rogers, Nellie Melba, King George V, Charles Lindbergh, Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Lauder, Adelina Patti, Amos ‘n’ Andy, Robert Peary and dozens of others.

The Victor Talking Machine Company (later RCA Victor) produced countless recordings outside their normal domestic catalog issues. The third section features ethnic recordings, imports, picture discs, puzzle records, subsidiary labels such as Bluebird and Zonophone, pattern labels, long-playing Program Transcriptions, vanity issues, children's records, test pressings, radio transcriptions, demo records, soundtrack discs, client labels, in-house recordings, samples - there’s even a page devoted to errors and imitation records!

The fourth section includes pictures of record sleeves, company catalogs, supplements and other Victor publications in addition to record release charts, rarity guides and a comprehensive bibliography and index. One would expect a compendium such as this to be dull and lifeless, but Sherman and Nauck’s engaging style, attention to detail and brilliant label images make the story pop.

The CGVR is available in softcover, or as a deluxe hard cover edition limited to 500 copies (individually numbered and signed by both authors). This book will be equally at home on the coffee table or the reference shelf. No sound archive or serious record collector should be without a copy.

The book is simply beautiful.  Along with the authoritative text, the graphics jump right off the page and the labels are breathtaking. The book is a landmark, pure & simple. Sherman and Nauck should be proud of their work - it's simply irreplaceable.  - George Paul, Author, The Talking Machine, an Illustrated Compendium

I've been immersed in enjoying the book; it's just fabulous...a really substantive contribution to the field. It's so great that every nearly page of the book includes color reproductions, and such good ones.
- Sam Brylawski, Project Manager, The Encyclopedic Discography of Victor Records

Absolutely spectacular, in every way. This has to be one of the most important works ever published in the field, and the production is outstanding. - Allan Sutton, Publisher & Author, Recording the 20s

Victor Record Label Chronology ~ Celebrity & Political Recordings ~ Subsidiary & Client Labels ~ Special Series & Pressings ~ Foreign & Ethnic Recordings ~ Contract Pressings ~ Radio Transcriptions ~ Movie Soundtracks ~ Victor Catalogs, Supplements & Books ~ Record Sleeves ~ Victor Label Outline & Rarity Guide ~ Catalog Number Release Graphs ~ Matrix Number De-Coder ~ Annotated Bibliography