The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I apologize if this topic has already been discussed: Lately I have been collecting the earliest disk records and it finally occurred to me that I have never seen a single sleeve for any of them, such as Berliner, Zonophone, Climax, Victor Monarch, Victor pre-dog, or the earliest Columbias. I have never seen early sleeves for 7", 8", 9", etc. Does anyone know when record sleeves were first used? Any pictures?

You know, I've been wondering about that myself. Does anyone know?
Harvey Kravitz

The earliest reference I have found is from the Talking Machine News of June 1903 which reports :

"For disc records strong manilla envelopes are sometimes used....Envelopes may be bought in assorted colours so that different classes of selections can readily be distinguished. Their cost is trifling."

The EMI archives are said to contain letters of 1897-98 from dealers complaining about the poor condition of records delivered to them, which suggests that at this early date no envelopes were supplied.

I do have three different 7" sleeves, which I was given with Berliners. However, the titles were not matching, so there is still some uncertainty. On the other hand, one has a stamp print in the very same font as some Berliners have. This could mean, that they were also around some years before 1903.