The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I visited a family friend for Christmas eve dinner and naturally as soon as I saw their phonograph I had to go look. Inside was a great collection of Italian opera on (a lesser seen?) columbia label. I am not sure what to call the label? The magic notes label? He was kind enough to let me take them home and record them (they weren't for sale sadly). anyways I was just wondering.... does anyone out there look for this label?

thanks

David

I believe that style is sometimes called the "flags" label. Columbia operatic recordings can be quite desirable if made by noted singers like, say, Riccardo Stracciari or Maria Barrientos. A selection by "military band" is not likely to be of a lot of interest, and the other label is not opera. Not sure what a "talk song" would be. Hard to say about that one.

[edit] I should hasten to add, just because they aren't necessarily "hot collector's items" doesn't mean they won't be fun to play!

[further edit] I'll add that when starting out, one of my favorite records in my early collection was a medley of tunes from Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor played by Prince's Band on an earlier Columbia label. Italian opera was popular entertainment in its day, and "popular entertainment" means "has lots of good tunes."

I didn't take a picture of the pile i took home haha! there are a few military bands here and there, but most of it is lively Italian opera!

Its quite exciting to listen to really

here is a few more of them

Very nice! This "Flag" or "Banner" label was used from about 1923(?) through 1925, for the "New Process" acoustic recordings. The domestic/popular series used a copper-colored background; the green background was mostly for the "Foreign" series.

- Bill

What about the blue label?

oops, wrong post.

James.

These are the last acoustic Columbia records before they came out with the new electrically recorded Columbias in 1925. I've never seen these foreign labels before.

In any case they are a pretty bunch of old Columbia records that at least would be interesting to listen to. Columbia recordings are nice to listen and well recorded...

I have a few of those.I have a couple by a violinist named Nullo Romani.edisonplayer

Too bad the "Guarneri" records didn't come with a Guarneri violin... maybe the singer is a descendant of Giuseppe Guarneri...
July, 2010:
A rare violin is up for sale, with an unprecedented price tag of $18 million. If it goes for its asking price, the violin will be the most expensive instrument on Earth. One might assume it's a Stradivarius, the closest thing to a household name when it comes to valuable violins, but it's not. Though Stradivari's reputation is more widespread, many violinists prefer the sound of violin maker Giuseppe Guarneri, known as "del Gesu."