The Allen Koenigsberg Phonograph Collection
Lot 3447:
Description
This rare 1898 softcover booklet is a spectacular survivor from the pioneer era of commercial acoustic recordings, serving as a retail catalog for Columbia Records for Graphophones and Phonographs. The front cover features gorgeous, intricate Victorian-era typography alongside an illustrative horn graphic, while the reverse side boasts a prominent regional distributor stamp for “The Eastern Talking Machine Co.,” operating out of the New England Headquarters at 177 Tremont Street in Boston, Massachusetts. Inside, the pages provide a fascinating cultural time capsule with a comprehensive historical index listing early audio recording pioneers, including Gilmore’s Band, Sousa’s Concert Band, and assorted early vocal and instrumental performances. Objectively assessing its condition from the photos, the fragile paper booklet shows standard age-related handling, including minor edge fraying, localized creasing, and expected surface toning and discoloration; however, it remains structurallysound and highly collectible with both the front and back covers securely attached. Good original, but fragile condition. H 6″, W 3.25″, D 0.1″ See photos. From the Allen Koenigsberg Collection
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