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Here is what I see
1) 50073-R "Lazarre Waltzes" matrix 2049-9 with mirror image Label type I.A.1. frosted gray background with glossy black letters. Was released originally in the preliminary matching under # 80035-R
2) 50073-L "Angels Dream Waltz" matrix # 2048-26 with mirror image Black label with black lettering. Originally released as a preliminary matching #50037-L
3) both recorded 12/13/1912

As I've read, the Preliminary matching had the mirror image, though not all. They started combining preliminary records in the permanent matching category, but with no mirror image! This appears to be an original permanent matching #(50073) with a mirror image. Am I correct, or am I confused here? Thank for your input. Gary

That's a first for me, and I've been studying the preliminary matches for a couple of years now! 50073 is definitely outside the range of the prelims, so this is quite an oddity.

I would be tempted to say this is an extremely early stock copy, except that it would then have the "frosty" label on both sides.

Add this to the ever increasing list of Edison anomalies!

52089 wrote:That's a first for me, and I've been studying the preliminary matches for a coupe of years now! 50073 is definitely outside the range of the prelims, so this is quite an oddity.

I would be tempted to say this is an extremely early stock copy, except that it would then have the "frosty" label on both sides.

Add this to the ever increasing list of Edison anomalies!

The black on black label threw me also. I've only seen about a dozen prelims myself and they all fit to the books criteria. Then again I probably should go back and double check, it is easy to miss some of this stuff, if you're not careful. Thanks for your response.

While the vast majority of preliminary matchings do have the frosted gray label, I do have several with a black unfrosted label. Even the lettering is unfrosted, which makes them exceedingly difficult to read.
I think these were extremely early pressings (ca. mid to late 1912), although I think they form a tiny percentage of the other prelim matchings from around the same period.

Shown is a copy of 83001, an operatic piece (Dir che ci sono al mondo) by Carmen Melis recorded in New York at the end of January 1910. Note the mirror matrix No. 124-3.

As far as the mirror matrix on the copy of 50073 (matrix No. 2049), that shows a recording date of 13 Dec 1912. I believe it was released as a preliminary matching on No. 80035, and apparently later renumbered to the 50000 series. That would account for the mirrored matrix number.