Seventy Years of Issues: Historical Vocal 78rpm Pressings from Original Masters, 1931-2001

Desmond Maley is the music librarian at the J.W. Tate Library,
Huntington College, Laurentian University, and editor of the CAML
Review.

This handsome catalogue is the definitive guide for collectors of 78s
who specialize in historic vocal recordings. Over the past 70 years,
record companies such as EMI and Victor have either released—or
negotiated with various organizations and individuals to issue—limited
editions from their archives using the original metal plates. This
discography delineates the different series that have been made.

The preface explains the history of collecting in the field. The
catalogue then follows a chronological arrangement according to the
issuing agency. Each entry includes the record number (or numbers if it
was also issued by another body), performer, recording date, song title,
and composer. A cross-index also references the performers with the
record numbers. Among the gallery of celebrated artists are Enrico
Caruso, Mattia Battistini, Nellie Melba, Fernando de Lucia, and Lilli
Lehmann. A 16-page insert includes excellent color reproductions of
record labels, such as the prized gold label series of William H.
Seltsam’s International Record Collectors Club that dates from the
late 1930s.

It would have been helpful if the authors had included a list of page
numbers for the agencies as well as a legend for the abbreviations used.
This caveat aside, they are to be commended for their impressive
research.