Records with stickers of the artist’s face on them

[mrbechet]

Can anybody explain this to me? Is it an early marketing ploy? I’ve seen them on both Victor and Columbia records.

Thanks!
Mark

[Curt A]

Probably a marketing gimmick to compete with other records that had picture labels...?

[mrbechet]

Yes, like the Columbia Ted Lewis or Paul Whiteman “potato head” labels, but these are clearly stickers placed on finished product.

[JeffR1]

That photo looks like someone simply cut it out of a magazine and just glued it there.

[Damfino59]

Can anybody explain this to me? Is it an early marketing ploy? I’ve seen them on both Victor and Columbia records.

Thanks!
Mark

Rabid Vaughan Monroe fan.

[FredSugarHall_fan]

Rabid Vaughan Monroe fan.

That was me a few years ago! If I'd been into collecting 78s back then and had any Vaughn Monroe records, maybe I would've done something like this!!

[vintagetenor]

In my over 50 years of collecting 78s, I have seen this types of thing before, but extremely infrequently. It is no doubt the work of the record owner.

I would not be surprised if these "stickers" were somehow made available to the record buying public in the 1940s. They appear to be pre-cut and gum-backed, as postage stamps were. If gum-backed, they should be easily removable by dabbing them with water.

[JerryVan]

That photo looks like someone simply cut it out of a magazine and just glued it there.

Exactly. I've seen similar things done on record sleeves.

[Orchorsol]

That photo looks like someone simply cut it out of a magazine and just glued it there.

Exactly. I've seen similar things done on record sleeves.

And even carrying cases.

[CarlosV]

Pathé used to issue discs with little photos of their most popular artists, like Mistinguett, see below. Aristide Bruant records also had his photo - I have some, but cannot find them at the moment.