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

Thanks!
Mark

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

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

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

mrbechet wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2024 7:47 pm 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.

Damfino59 wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2024 11:45 pm 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!!

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.

JeffR1 wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2024 10:58 pm 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.

JerryVan wrote: Wed Jun 05, 2024 11:35 am

JeffR1 wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2024 10:58 pm 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.

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.