Outline of Label Varieties I. Labels
	A. Pre–Label			1890–1900
		1. in America, embossed, and beneath E. BERLINER'S, GRAMOPHONE, Patented Nov. 8. 1887. May 15. 1888. – May 6, 1890. Feb’y. 19. 1895. – Oct. 29. 1895 OTHER PATENTS APPLIED FOR.
			a. no trademark	1890–Dec 1898
			b. Angel trademark embossed	Jan 1899–Dec 1900
(All recordings with the above markings were made in either Philadelphia or Montreal before August 8, 1898. A few records are known bearing the engraved "Berliner Gramophone Company, Washington, D.C." with the date of 1896. The fonts and type sizes may vary.)
		2. In Europe and elsewhere, E. Berliner’s GRAMOPHONE embossed, and beneath "Covered by English and Continental Patents"
			a. no trademark	Nov 1898 – Dec 1898
			b. Angel trademark embossed	Jan 1899 – Dec 1900
	B. Paper Labels
		1. Label flush with the record surface, small font lettering		Jan 1901 – Nov 1902
			a. outer ring 95–100 mm diameter	Jan 1901 – Nov 1901
			b. outer ring 87–88 mm diameter	Dec 1901– 29 Jul 1905
			c. outer ring 80–83 mm diameter	29 Jul 1905 – Apr 1925
			d. outer ring 70 mm diameter	1924 – 1950
		2. Raised label area on a plateau		Jul-Aug 1902–
			a. Large font lettering, outer ring 87–88 mm diameter	1903
		3. Flush label surrounded by raised ring ?		Nov 1903–1905
		4. Sunk label area lower than the record surface, enclosed by raised ring
			a. Small font lettering. Outer ring 80 mm diameter	1906–1907
(The sole reference for these dates is Bauer. However, the author has seen several single– and double–sided Gramophone Company issues, as late as 1917, with flush labels, on which recording dates, artists’ names, and selections are visible.) (Some issues up to about September 1901 did not have the Recording Angel trademark embossed on the reverse, but did have REPRODUCED IN HANOVER.) II. Company Designations     A. The Gramophone Company Dec 1897–24 Aug 1899   B. The Gramophone Co., Ltd. 25 Aug 1899–9 Dec 1900   C. The Gramophone Typewriter Co., Ltd., and Sister Companies         1. The raised 1 Jul 1901-c. Apr1902       2. The normal c April 1902 - 18 Nov 1907   D. The Gramophone Company Limited, and Sister Companies (pre– DOG) 19 Nov 1907 - Feb 1909   E. The Gramophone Co., Limited Nov 1907– 1931   Note: The first two designations above never appeared on issued records.
III. Recording Angel Trademark
	Angel trademark in upper half, reverse outline			10 Dec 1900–Aug 1910
	A. Large angel, 30 mm, on various color labels with gold lettering in arc above and "Manufactured by The Gramophone and Typewriter Ltd., and Sister Companies" below trademark
	A1. Red or black label Jan 1901─Dec 1905
	A2. Pink or black label Jan 1906─Nov 1907
(Numerous variations in lettering and spacing of this phrase have been seen. The main text of the label was often printed in the language of the country where the recording had been made, e.g., France, Russia, Italy, and so forth.)
		1. GRAMOPHONE RECORD, 7–inch		Jan 1901– Jun 1909
		2. GRAMOPHONE CONCERT RECORD, 10–inch		Jan 1901–Feb 1909
			a. period	Jan 1901– 1 Feb 1903
			b. no period	2 Feb 1903– Feb 1909
		3. GRAMOPHONE MONARCH RECORD, 12–inch
			a. period	Jun 1903–29 Jul 1905
			b. no period	Jun 1903–2 Feb 1903, 30 Jul 1905– Feb 1909
		4. Trademark spacing
			a. "Trade" and "Mark" narrow spaced	Jan 1901–Nov 1909
			b. "Trade" and "Mark" wide spaced	Feb 1903–Aug 1910
		5. as above except Angel 27 mm
(The Angel label has been seen on issues recorded as late as 28 December 1910. The period is found on both 10– and 12–inch records marked with CO., and rarely on records issued after July 29, 1905.)
	B. Medium angel, 27 mm, on pink or green label with GRAMOPHONE CONCERT RECORD or GRAMOPHONE MONARCH RECORD in gold lettering in arc above
		1. "Manufactured by The Gramophone and Typewriter Ltd., and Sister Companies"
			below trademark	Jan 1901─Nov 1907
		2. "Manufactured by The Gramophone Company, Limited, and Sister Companies" below trademark
		The pre–DOG period		Nov 1909–Aug 1910
			a "Trade" and "Mark" wide spaced on 10–inch	Nov 1907–Dec 1907
			b "Trade" and "Mark" close spaced on 12–inch	Jan 1908–Feb 1908
(Gramophone Concert and Gramophone Monarch records pressed in St. Petersburg during 1909 through 1910 show two different record identifications and sizes of Angel trademarks. Around November 1909 the Angel was 30 mm wide, while after December 1910 it reverted to its former size of 27 mm. before being dropped altogether in favor of the Dog trademark.)
	C. as above, but on black labels
		1. on single-sided records		Jan 1901–Aug 1910
		2. on double–sided records		Sep 1907–
	D. as above, but on pink labels, single side			Feb 1908–Aug 1910
		1. Gramophone Concert Record, no period		Jan 1902 – Feb 1903, Aug 1905–Feb 1909
		2. Gramophone Monarch Record		Jun 1903–Feb 1909
	E. Small angel 19 mm, "Trade" and "Mark" close spaced, and below trademark Made by The Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, U.S.A. For sale in The British Possessions (except Canada) and on the Continent of Europe by The Gramophone and Typewriter, Ltd. And Sister Companies used only on G&T pressings of Victor imports
		1. GRAMOPHONE CONCERT RECORD or GRAMOPHONE MONARCH RECORD		Feb 1904–Feb 1906
	F. Foreign Language Issues
		1. Angel trademark in outline
			a. GRAMOPHONE CONCERT RECORD or GRAMOPHONE MONARCH RECORD 1). Company designation overprinted in Russian 2). Title only in Russian
			b. CONCERT RECORD "GRAMOPHONE" or MONARCH RECORD "GRAMOPHONE" 1). Overprinted Изготовлено О вомъ ГРАМОФОНЉ, ељогр. отв. вљ РИГЉ 2). Company designation in Russian, as above	Nov 1906─ 1911
			c. DISQUE POUR GRAMOPHONE in French or Spanish d. GRAMOPHONE MONARCH RECORD—in Arabic	after Sep 1901 ─
		2. Angel trademark in color, designated as Cupid or Amour company designation and title in Russian
			a. CONCERT RECORD "GRAMOPHONE" or MONARCH RECORD "GRAMOPHONE"	Nov 1906─ 1911
			b. GRAMOPHONE CONCERT RECORD	Sep 1908 ─
			c. GRAMOPHONE MONARCH RECORD	Sep 1909 ─
			d. SCHALLPLATTE „GRAMMOPHONE" 1). in Hungarian 2). in Rumanian	1926 ─
	G. Celebrity Labels
		1. Angel trademark
			a. Battistini ─ orange with silver lettering	Dec 1902─
			b. Tamagno ─ serial number	Feb 1903─
			c. Melba ─ lilac	20 Nov 1904─
			d. Patti ─ pink	5 Dec 1905─
			e. Chaliapin ─ orange with silver lettering	Nov 1907─Aug 1910?
		2. His Master’s Voice trademark
			a. Butt ─ dark blue	August 1910─
			b. McCormack et al. ─ purple	August 1910─
		3. Special
			a. Papal arms with double Angel trademarks	April 1902
IV. "HIS MASTER’S VOICE" Trademark
	A. trademark in color, unframed			Feb 1909─Aug 1910
	1. "GRAMOPHONE CONCERT RECORD" or "GRAMOPHONE MONARCH RECORD" in arc above unframed trademark, single catalog number
			a. Manufactured by the Gramophone Co. Ltd. (And Sister Companies)" b. Manufactured by Deutsche Grammophon Aktien-Gesellschaft, Berlin c. Hergestellt von der Oesterr. Grammophon-Gesellschaft m. b. H., Aussig a E. d. Hergestellt von der Oesterr. Grammophon-Gesellschaft
	2. CONCERT RECORD "GRAMOPHONE" or MONARCH RECORD "GRAMOPHONE" in arc above unframed trademark, double catalog number
			a. Manufactured by the Gramophone Co. Ltd. (And Sister Companies)" b. Manufactured by Deutsche Grammophon Aktien-Gesellschaft, Berlin c. Fabriccado por la Compañía Francesa del Gramophone: Barcelona
	B. "HIS MASTER’S VOICE" in arc above trademark
		1. trademark in color, unframed
			a. "Record manufactured by THE GRAMOPHONE CO., LTD. (and Sister Co.’s) beneath	early 1909 –Jan 1917
		2. Made In Calcutta in ungrooved area outside label		after Jan 1910
		3. trademark in color, framed, with
			a. "Record manufactured by THE GRAMOPHONE CO., LTD., Hayes, Middlesex, England" in arc outside ring at bottom a. quadrants added Feb 1918–Sep 1926
		4. Trademark in color
			a. 71 mm diameter, without border	Feb 1909 –Sep 1916
			b. 65 mm diameter, with gold border	Sep 1916─Jul 1917
			c. 53 mm, outer ring 67 mm	after Dec 1911
			d. 50 mm, outer ring 70 mm	after Feb 1912 (1939?)
			1). as above, except outer ring 80 mm notice above trademark,
"THIS RECORD IS LISTED IN CATALOGUE NO. 2 WHICH CONTAINS RECORDS OF UNIQUE AND HISTORICAL INTEREST NOT INCLUDED IN GENERAL RECORD CATALOGUE"				after Oct 1924
		5. Trademark in black and white		July 1917–Sep 1919, Feb 1925–Apr 1939
		6. Trademark in sepia		May 1939–Sep 1948
		7. Foreign Phrasing
			a. Angel trademark engraved on reverse 1). LA VOCE DEL PADRONE (Italy) 2). DISQUE POUR GRAMOPHONE (France) a). Fabriqué par La Cie The Gramophone and Typewriter Ltd., et Sociétés Filiales 3). LA VOIX DE SON MAÎTRE (France) 4). DISQUE "GRAMOPHONE" a). Disque Fabriqué par la Cie Française de Gramophone 5). DISCO "GRAMOPHONE" (Spain) a). Fabriccado por la Compañía Francesa del Gramophone: Barcelona
			6). DISCO GRAMOFONO (Spain) a). Fabriccado por la Compañia del Gramofono Sdad Ano Española : Barcelona	after Dec 1911
			7). DISCO MONARCA "GRAMMOFONO" (Italy) a. Fabricato in Italia della SOCIETA NAZIONALE DEL "GRAMMOFONO" Milano	1912-1925
			8). GRAMOLA (Czechoslovakia)	after 1926
			9). LA VOZ DE SU AMO (Spain)	after 1931
(Many variations occur, particularly in the lower half of the label. These include gold–lined quadrants (Feb 1918–Sep 1926) containing selection description, vocal range(s) or instrument(s), with single-side catalog numbers at the left and double-side catalog "B" numbers at the right. Numerous logos, including the Recording Angel, appear at the lower central position on the label.)
			b. No Angel trademark on reverse 1). "SCHALLPLATTE GRAMMOPHON" 2). "DIE STIMME SEINES HERRN" 3). "KÜNSTLER SCHALLPLATTE GRAMMOPHONE" 4). "DE STEM VAN ZIJN MEESTER"
	C. "Record manufactured by THE GRAMOPHONE CO., LTD., Hayes, Middlesex, England"
		1. beneath unframed HMV trademark		after Aug 1910
		2. in arc below label ring, –Feb 1925
(Note: Section V below is drawn largely from descriptions provided in the publication of Frank Andrews and Ernie Bayly.)
V. Double–Sided Issues A. "B" and "C" Series, Plum Labels
	1. Trademark unlined
		a. catalog number on a lime–coloured gold–lined panel. Trademark background lime and plum		Sep1912–May 1913
		b. catalog number on a cream coloured gold–lined panel. coloured Trademark on dark background		May 1913–Sep 1916
	2. Trademark in gold–lined, semi–circular cartouche, catalog number as above, but different Trademark background			Sep 1916– Jan 1917
	3. as above, but background all plum			Jan 1917– Jul 1917
	4. as above, but catalog number on white coloured gold–lined panel, Trademark in Black and White			Jul 1917–Feb 1918
A1. Quadrants added at lower left and right.
	5. as above, except catalog number in white lower left quadrant			Feb 1918–Sep 1919
	6. as above, except Trademark in colours			Sep 1919–Feb 1925
	7. as above, except quadrants simply gold–lined			Feb 1925–Apr 1926
	8. as above, with speed 78r.p.m. underlined in lower right quadrant			May 1926–Sep 1926
A2. Quadrants removed
	9. as above, but no quadrants			Sep 1926–Oct 1932
	10. as above, copyright legend on upper perimeter of label, reading "This Copyright Record must not be Sold below Price fixed by the Patentee nor Publicly Performed"			Oct 1932–May 1933
	11. as above, but legend reads "This Patented Copyright Record must not be Sold below Price fixed by the Patentee nor Publicly Performed"			May 1933–Jun 1933
	12. as above, but speed at left, Catalog Number at right below Trademark			Jun 1933–Dec 1934
	13. as above, except copyright legend reads "Copyrighted Patented Record. Not to be Publicly Performed without Licence or Sold below Price fixed by Patentees"			Jan 1935–Apr 1939
	14. as above except Trademark in sepia			May 1939–May 1946
	15. as above, and "Made in England" in italics above catalog number at right			Jun 1946–Sep 1948
	16. as above, except "MADE IN ENGLAND" in block letters. new copyright legend "Copyright Patented Record Not to be Sold below Price fixed by the Patentees. All rights of the Manufacturer and of the Owner of the recorded work reserved. Unauthorized Public Performance, Broadcasting and Copying of this Record Prohibited."
B. "D" and "E" Series, as above, from A1
	1. Black Labels			Feb 1918–Oct 1932
	2. Red Labels			Oct 1932–Oct 1942
C. "DA" and "DB" Series, Red Label				Aug 1, 1924–Sep 1948
	1. Price Category labels a. DJ series                        e. DO series b. DK series                       f. DQ series c. DL series                        g. DR series (Tamagno 10 inch) d. DM series                       h. DS series (Tamagno 12 inch)
	(The variations above are found on the double–sided "B" series, and one can assume that the label changes apply equally to the single–sided discs of the same era.)

NOTE: Most of the dates in the previous section are estimates, based on observations of available recordings. They should not be construed as exact dates.

 

 

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