The Allen Koenigsberg Phonograph Collection
Lot 3193:
Description
This exceptional group features two early 20th-century advertising premiums produced by the Victor Talking Machine Co. of Camden, New Jersey, showcasing the brand’s brilliant era of marketing ingenuity and an original envelope. Included is a 10 by 13-inch die-cut cardboard puzzle featuring the iconic trademark artwork “His Master’s Voice,”. Adding immense historical appeal, the reverse side of this custom-cut puzzle features unique silhouette cutout monogram pieces that distinctly spell out the word “VICTOR” when fully assembled. It comes with the original cardboard box. The lot also features a complete, highly graphic 8 1/2-inch circular record-shaped puzzle titled “The Names That Everybody Knows Are In The Victor Catalogue,” which beautifully displays a gallery of portrait vignettes honoring premier recording artists of the day like Enrico Caruso, Dame Nellie Melba, and John McCormack. Completing the collection is the scarce original paper premium envelope measuring 4 by 7.25 inches, printed with “Try for a SPEED RECORD” and bearing a vintage dealer stamp for the Buckingham & Moak Co. Music and Art store in Utica, New York. Objectively assessing their condition, both puzzles remain remarkably intact, which is an exceptional rarity for paper ephemera of this vintage, showing only minor age-toning to the reverse cardboard, light edge wear, minor paper scuffs, and a few mild handling creases consistent with age; the circular puzzle shows localized vintage tape or protective cello wrap along parts of its outer edge. The accompanying original envelope is in delicate condition, exhibiting heavy wear, tattering, creasing, and significant tears along the edges and flap. Rectangular Puzzle: H 10″, W 13″, D 0.1″. Circular Puzzle: H 8.5″, W 8.5″, D 0.1″. Envelope: H 7.25″, W 4″, D 0.05″. Please see photos for condition. From the Allan Koenigsberg collection.
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