The heading was now simply “Columbia Record” in large, curved lettering, but directly underneath appeared the boast “Grand Prize-Highest Possible Award, Paris 1900, St. The next major redesign came in 1906 with the introduction of the “Grand Prize” label ( figure 4), mirroring a similar redesign by Victor. In late 1904 the label was modified to add several lines headed “conditions of sale” (forbidding duplication), and shortly thereafter “Columbia Disc Record” was replaced by “Columbia Phonograph Co.” This design was used until 1904, with several modifications including the addition of “Grand Prize Paris 1900” and the deletion of the silver ring around the circumference. The word “Climax” was simply replaced by the rather obvious “Columbia Disc Record.” The color scheme became silver-on-black, which it remained for the rest of the single-face era. When Climax was replaced by Columbia in mid-1902, the label remained largely unchanged ( figure 3).
![the black mages discography the black mages discography](http://www.progarchives.com/progressive_rock_discography_covers/2406/cover_329101422006.jpg)
The color scheme was gold-on-black, although a variant version, used in early 1902, is silver-on-black with a broken ring around the edge. This “Globe Climax” label was quickly succeeded by the first Climax paper label ( figure 2), which proudly acknowledged “mf'd solely for Columbia Phonograph Co.” On some early discs the paper label was applied over the original embossed lettering, which is clearly visible underneath. The lettering credited the Globe Record Company, and made no mention of Columbia ( figure 1).
![the black mages discography the black mages discography](https://www.crowsclaw.info/img/20200429-01-1216x684.jpg)
These primitive discs appear to have been on sale for only a month or so, beginning about October 1901.
![the black mages discography the black mages discography](https://f4.bcbits.com/img/0009264314_10.jpg)
The first Climax records did not have paper labels, instead information appeared in embossed (raised) lettering on the shellac itself. My thanks to them for sharing their preliminary findings. A complete history of Columbia labels could fill a book, as indeed it has with the recent work by collectors Michael Sherman and Kurt Nauck (see Bibliography). Columbia Master Book, Volume I, Tim Brooks, ed.įollowing is a brief overview of the principal label styles used by Columbia between 19.