Analysis of Asian Recording Series
Compiled by Jonathan Ward
Draft completed 8/2010; Revised September 2012
With assistance and contributions from Du Jun Min, Wang Gang, Ying-fen Wang, JiHoon Suk, Tony Jung, David Murray, Robert Millis, Steve Roden, Michael Kieffer, Benno Haupl, Les Cook, and Pekka Gronow.
1000-2000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: Yes (ledgers)
Matrix source: Pre-Matrix series
Format: 10”, single sided
Label color/design: white Monarch Record label (first issues), yellow label, red or black text (later issues)
Issue dates: 1902-1903
1557-1576 (recoupled as 7160-7179)
1769-1789 (recoupled as 7180-7200)
1864-1995 (recoupled as 7201-7222)
1941 (A through P), 1942 (A through C) (recoupled as 7223-7241)
1956 (A through L), 1957 (A through I) (recoupled as 7242-7262)
2128-2145 (recoupled as 7263-7279)
2302-2324 (recoupled as 7280-7303)
2352-2371 (recoupled as 7304-7323)
Recorded in Philadelphia, PA, or San Francisco, CA.
1000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (history cards)
Matrix source: BKC series; repressed by Victor Talking Machine of Japan
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll label
Issue dates: late 1920s – 1930s
1231 (Yoshi Fujiwara)
1620 (Renee Chemet & Michio Miyagi)
Series contains recouplings of western classical music, etc.
1000 series (INDIA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (history cards)
Matrix source: BS series, Red Seal
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Red, Circular label
Issue dates: 1937
1834 – 1835
These are the only Indian issues in this numerical series, though they were paired with 14506-14508 in a box set.
3000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Circular with Nipper, dark red label
Issue dates: ca. late 1930s-1940s
3000 – at least 3061 (special issues by the Historical Record Society)
4000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: Unknown
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll label, red & gold
Issue dates: late 1920s-1930s
4000 – at least 4361
6000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; pre-matrix series
Format: 7”, single sided
Label color/design: Red & gold
Issue dates: ca. 1905
A6000 – A6350
6000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan; not to be confused with ca. 1905 series
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: unknown
Issue dates: unknown
Primarily Western classical.
6500 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: Gramophone Company E prefix recordings, “Far East Tour” 1902-1903
Format: 7”, single sided
Label color/design: Yellow “Victor Record” label
Issue dates: 1902-1903 (original GramCo issues)
6501-6569 (Cantonese and Mandarin)
6543 (Mandarin) (Gramophone 12572)
6558 (Cantonese) (Gramophone, E1772, 12662)
6800 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: Gramophone Company E prefix recordings, “Far East Tour” 1902-1903
Format: 7”, single sided
Label color/design: Yellow “Grand Prize” label
Issue dates: 1902-1903 (original GramCo issues)
6800 – 6801
6802 – 6803 (Mandarin)
6803 – 6806
6807 (Mandarin)
6808
6809 (Mandarin)
6810 – 6811
6812 (Cantonese)
6813
6814 (Mandarin)
6815 – 6820
6821 (Mandarin)
6822 (Cantonese)
6823 – 6829
6830 (Mandarin)
6831 – 6836
6837 (Cantonese)
6838 – 6842
6843 (Mandarin)
6844 – 6850
6851 (Mandarin)
6852 – 6862
7000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: 1902-1903 sessions; Victor 1905 Shanghai sessions;
Format: 10”, single sided
Label color/design: yellow “Velly Good Talkee” label (7101-7323); Orange Monarch “Velly Good Talkee” design; Victor Record lbl w/o Nipper; Grand Prize label; (orange, green, silver for Mandarin; blue for Cantonese; possibly white for Amoy)
Issue dates: 1902-1905
7002 (unknown, traced by collector)
7101 – 7159
7160 – 7323 (recouplings of pre-matrix Monarch Label, 1902-1903 Chinese recordings)
7324 – 7995 (Mandarin, Peking opera)
7995 – 7999
7000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Pre-Matrix series
Format: 7”, single sided
Label color/design: unknown
Issue dates: unknown
A7000 – A7023 (recoupled in 11000 series, from 11139-11434)
8000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: Pre-Matrix; Victor 1905 Shanghai recordings
Format: 10”, single sided
Label color/design: Victor Record lbl w/o Nipper; Orange, Green, Blue, Silver
Issue dates: 1908-1909
8000-8001
8002-8203 (Cantonese)
8231-8234 (Amoy)
8254-8257 (Amoy)
8288-8291 (Mandarin)
9100 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: Pre-Matrix; Victor Shanghai recordings, ca. 1905
Format: 12”, single sided
Label color/design: Victor Record lbl w/o Nipper; Yellow, Red, Blue, Green
Issue dates: ca. 1905
9100-9195 (Mandarin)
9198-9210 (Cantonese)
9220-9234 (Mandarin)
10000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: Pre-Matrix; Victor Shanghai recordings, ca. 1905
Format: 12”, single sided
Label color/design: unknown; Yellow, Red, Blue, Green
Issue dates: ca. 1905
10000-10350
10000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; some reissues of Gramophone Company recordings
Format: 7”, single sided
Label color/design: “Patents” label, black
Issue dates: ca. 1907-ca. 1909
10000 – 10350 (includes Fred Gaisberg recordings (1903), and Will Gaisberg recordings (1906)
Documented:
10107 (3107d), 10109 (3109d), 10128 (3128d), 10129 (3129d) – Will Gaisberg sessions
10245 (E1447), 10246 (E1448), 10284 (E1480), 10320 (E1432), 10328 (E1417) – Fred Gaisberg sessions
11000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, single sided
Label color/design: early issues are “Patents label,” later issues are Bat Wing; black
Issue dates: unknown
11000 – at least 11495
12000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (history cards: 12007, no matrix listed)
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 12”, single sided
Label color/design: unknown
Issue dates: ca. 1907
12000 – 12016
13000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (history card: 13220)
Matrix source: Victor JVE series
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll, dark purple
Issue dates: late 1920s – 1930s
13000 – at least 13522
13000 series (KOREA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 7”, single sided
Label color/design: unknown
Recording Dates: before December 1906
Issue dates: ca. 1907-1908
13000 – 13035
13500 series (KOREA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, single sided
Label color/design: “Grand Prize” label, black; 13528 is yellow w/o Nipper
Recording Dates: before December 1906
Issue dates: ca. 1907-1908
13500 – 13564
14000 series (INDIA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (history card)
Matrix source: Victor CS series; Red Seal
Format: 12”, double sided
Label color/design: Circular, red
Issue dates: 1937
14506 – 14508
Released as a boxed set with 1834-1835.
22000 series (CHINA, PHILIPPINES)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, single sided
Label color/design: “Patents” label w/o “Victor Record” in center; pink, yellow, black colors used
Issue dates: ca. 1908-1909
22018 (Filipino)
22035 – 22275 (Mandarin)
22276 – 22282 (Cantonese)
24000 series (INDIA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (history card)
Matrix source: Victor BS series, “for education department”
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: black, issued both in Scroll and Circular design
Issue dates: 1936
24548 (Sarat Lahiri & Todi)
25000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, single sided
Label color/design: unknown
Issue dates: unknown
25500 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; many recouplings of 22000 series
Format: 10”, single sided
Label color/design: unknown design; mauve
Issue dates: ca. 1908-1909
25500 – 25537 (Mandarin)
27000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (two history cards, but no mx, title, or artist info)
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 12”, single sided
Label color/design: “Patents” label, red
Issue dates: ca. 1908-1909
27000 – 27001
27002 – 27003 (Mandarin)
27004 – 27008
27009 – approximately 27030 (Cantonese)
27000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; unrelated to earlier 27000 series
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll
Issue dates: late 1920s
27000 – approximately 27021 (Cantonese)
28000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 12”, single sided
Label color/design: unknown design, mauve
Issue dates: ca. 1908-1909
28000 – 28006 (Mandarin)
28007
28008 (Mandarin)
28009 – 28010
28011 – 28036 (Mandarin)
32000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: US Victor matrices; pressed by Victor of Shanghai
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Orthophonic Scroll, purple & gold
Issue dates: ca. 1930s
32217 (Lidya Mendoza)
40000 series (VIETNAM, LAOS)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (history cards)
Matrix source: Victor XVE series
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Orthophonic Scroll, black
Issue dates: 1927-1928 (through 40113)
40000-40022 (includes Annamite, Tonkinese, Cochin)
40023-40026 (Luang Prabang, Laos)
40027-40069
40070-40083 (Laotian)
40084-40113 (includes Tonkinese, Annamite)
40380 (Vietnamese, Shanghai pressing)
41000 series (PHILIPPINES)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (history cards)
Matrix source: Victor, PBS- matrix series
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: unknown
Issue dates: 1940 - 1941
41000 – 41015
41020 – 41021
41030 – 41031 (Visayan)
41032 – 41049 (Tagalog)
41050 (Bicolano)
41051 (Hongo)
41052 – 41053 (Tagalog)
41054 – 41055 (Ilocano)
41056 (Tagalog)
41057 – 41059
42000 series (CHINA, PHILIPPINES, JAPAN, KOREA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (42900); Ledgers: unknown
Matrix source: Victor X series; Pre-Matrix recouplings; unknown
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Early issues are “Patents” label, then Bat Wing; blue (Cantonese), red (Mandarin), purple (Mandarin), white (Swatow, Amoy, Foochow), black (Korean)
Issue dates: from ca. 1910
42001 – 42002 (Mandarin, 10”)
42003 – 42111 (Cantonese, 10”)
42112 – 42115 (Amoy, 10”, white lbl)
42116 (Cantonese, 10”)
42119 – 42122 (Cantonese, 10”)
42124 – 42187 (Cantonese, 10”)
42188 – 42306 (Mandarin, 10”, red lbl)
42307 – 42314 (Amoy, 10”, white lbl)
42315 - 42384 (Mandarin, 10”, red lbl)
42385 – 42391 (Cantonese, 10”)
42394 – 42397 (Cantonese, 10”)
42398 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
42399 – 42410 (Cantonese, 10”)
42412 – 42431 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
42432 – 42434 (Cantonese, 10”)
42435 – 42461 (Swatow, 10”, white lbl)
42462 – 42479 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
42480 (Cantonese, 10”)
42481 – 42486 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
42487 (Cantonese, 10”)
42488 – 42489 (Mandarin, 10”)
42490 – 42499 (Cantonese, 10”)
42500 – 42659 (Amoy, 10”, white lbl)
42660 – 42726 (Foochow, 10”, white lbl)
42727 (Cantonese, 10”)
42728 – 42752 (Chinese Educational recordings)
42753 – 42764 (Tagalog/Filipino, 10”)
42765 – 42789 (Cantonese, 10”) [collector reports 42774 as Mandarin]
42790 – 42791 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl) [listed as “Shanghai” in different catalog]
42792 (Shanghai, 10”)
42793 – 42809 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl) [listed as “Shanghai” in different catalog]
42810 (Shanghai, 10”)
42811 – 42814 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl) [listed as “Shanghai” in different catalog]
42815 (Shanghai, 10”)
42816 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl) [listed as “Shanghai” in different catalog]
42817 (Shanghai, 10”)
42818 – 42820 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl) [listed as “Shanghai” in different catalog]
42821 – 42822 (Shanghai, 10”)
42823 – 42825 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl) [listed as “Shanghai” in different catalog]
42826 – 42827 (Shanghai, 10”)
42828 – 42834 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl) [listed as “Shanghai” in different catalog]
42835 – 42836 (Shanghai, 10”)
42837 – 42839 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl) [listed as “Shanghai” in different catalog]
42840 (Shanghai, 10”) [collector reports this disc as being Amoy]
42841 – 42844 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl) [listed as “Shanghai” in different catalog]
42845 – 42846 (Shanghai, 10”)
42847 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl) [listed as “Shanghai” in different catalog]
42848 (Shanghai, 10”)
42849 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
42850 (Shanghai, 10”)
42851 – 42894 (Amoy, 10”, white lbl)
42895 - 42897 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
42900 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
42903 – 42904 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
42907 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
42909 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
42911 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
42913 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
42914 – 42936 (Cantonese, 10”)
42937 (Amoy, 10”, white lbl)
42938 – 42941 (dealer catalog states Cantonese, but may be Amoy)
42942 – 42967 (Swatow, 10”, white lbl)
42968 – 42970 (possibly Japanese recordings)
42971 – approximately 42988 (Korean, 10”) [possible reissues of 13500 series; listed as “Japanese records” in dealer catalog]
42988 – 42991 (Japanese or perhaps Korean)
42992 – 42999 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
42000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown, Victor Shanghai series unrelated to US Victor 42000 series; some issues taken from Pathé matrices (probably Shanghai Pathé)
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll, black
Issue dates: ca. early to mid-1930s
42000 – 42404 (Mandarin)
43000 series (CHINA, VIETNAM, CAMBODIA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (history cards)
Matrix source: Victor X series
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: early issues are Bat Wing, later issues are scroll; purple (Mandarin), blue (Cantonese), white (Amoy)
Issue dates: ca. 1923 – ca. 1929
43000 – 43002 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
43005 – 43007 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
43009 – 43010 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
43013 – 43017 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
43019 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
43021 – 43024 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
43026 – 43028 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
43030 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
43032 – 43037 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
43039 – 43040 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl) [43040 – 43050 listed as Cantonese in other catalogs]
43041 (Cantonese, 10”, blue lbl)
43042 – 43046 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl) [43040 – 43050 listed as Cantonese in other catalogs]
43037 (Cantonese, 10”, blue lbl)
43048 – 43051 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl) [43040 – 43050 listed as Cantonese in other catalogs]
43054 – 43046 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
43040 – 43050 (Cantonese, 10”, blue lbl)
43058 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
43060 – 43062 (Mandarin, 10”, purple lbl)
43063 – 43083 (Cantonese, 10”, blue lbl)
43000 – 43115 (Amoy, 10”, white lbl)
43116 (Shanghai, 10”) [catalog states this as Amoy]
43117 – 43160 (Amoy, 10”, white lbl)
43161 – 43186 (Cantonese, 10”, blue lbl)
43205 – 43232 (Korean, 10”)
43233 – 43247 (Cantonese, 10”, blue lbl)
43248 (Amoy, 10”) [catalog lists this as Cantonese]
43249 – 43274 (Cantonese, 10”, blue lbl)
43278 – 43311 (Cantonese, 10”, blue lbl)
43312 – 43315 (Christian hymns in Mandarin, US recordings, 6/1924)
43316 – 43349 (Cantonese, 10”, blue lbl)
43350 – 43390 (Mandarin, 10”)
43391 – 43393 (Vietnamese - “Franco-Annamite” (Tonkinese), 10”)
43394 - 43411 (Chinese OR Cambodian. Artist is labeled "Royal Singers and Orchestra." Labeled "Chinese" on card, which may be erroneous.)
43412 - 43438 (Vietnamese - also labeled "Chinese" on cards, even when the cards also say "Annamite, etc)
43439 (Cambodian - labeled "Royal Singers and Orchestra" on card AND "Cambodgien", 10")
43440 - 43499 (Vietnamese - some labeled "Tonkinese," 10")
43500 – 43528 (Cantonese, 10”)
43529 – 43590 (Vietnamese – “Annamite,” 10”)
43591 - 43626 (Vietnamese - mostly "Tonkinese, 10")
43627 - 43637 (Cambodian - labeled "Cambodgien" on cards, again the "Royal Singers and Orchestra," 10")
43638 – 43679 (Cantonese, 10”)
43683 – 43699 (Mandarin, 10”)
43700 – 43714 (Shanghai, 10” – some recouplings)
43715 – 43734 (Amoy, 10”)
43735 – 43746 (some Cantonese, some unidentified)
43747 – 43799 (matrices traced, but dialect not identified)
43813 (Mandarin, 10”)
43857 – 43868 (US-based recordings (?) Mar/Oct 1929)
43900 (recoupling)
43000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, double sided, Victor Shanghai series not to be confused with 43000 series beginning in 1920s
Label color/design: Scroll
Issue dates: ca. mid-1930s
Unknown issue numbers.
45000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (history cards)
Matrix source: JA series; recouplings of 25000 series
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: unknown
Issue dates: 1909; ca. 1927
45396 – 45406 (recouplings of 25000 series)
45534 – 45538
46400 series (PHILIPPINES)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (history cards)
Matrix source: Victor BUE series
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Orthophonic Scroll, black
Issue dates: 1929
46424 – 46427
46489 – 46492
Series contains a variety of releases of “ethnic” music.
48000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (history cards: 48100-48113)
Matrix source: Victor X series
Format: 12”, double sided
Label color/design: Bat Wing, blue and red
Issue dates: ca. 1908-1909
48001 (Mandarin, 12”, red lbl)
48002 – 48016 (Cantonese, 12”, blue lbl)
48017 – 48097 (Mandarin, 12”, red lbl)
48100 – 48102 (Mandarin, 12”, red lbl)
48102 – 48113 (traced, but dialect not identified)
48000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (history cards)
Matrix source: Victor PBS series
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: unknown
Issue dates: recorded and/or pressed ca. 1940-1942;
48000 – 48102 (Cantonese)
49000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: Unknown
Format: 12”
Label color/design: unknown
Issue dates: unknown
49008 - ?
49000 series (KOREA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Victor Talking Machine of Japan
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: unknown
Issue dates: 1928-1943
49000 – 49491 or 49507
49500 series (KOREA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: unknown
Label color/design: unknown
Issue dates: unknown
49500 - 49514
49800 series (KOREA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Victor Talking Machine of Japan
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Victor “Specialty Series”
Issue dates: from ca. 1928 – ca. late 1942
49801 – 49814 (a-ak; Korean Royal Court music)
49815 – 49820 (recouplings; also a-ak - Korean Royal Court music)
49821 – 49825 (western opera with Korean singers)
50000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (history cards to 50357, and from 50840-50848)
Matrix source: Victor JA series; B series; XVE series; early issues possible recouplings
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll, black
Issue dates: 1909 to 1929
50000 – at least 50942
51000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll, black and some white
Issue dates: late 1920s – 1930s
51000 – at least 51821
52000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll, black
Issue dates: ca. late 1920s - 1930s
52000 – at least 52935
53000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll, black
Issue dates: ca. late 1920s - 1930s
53000 – at least 53889
54000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; “Victor Talking Machine Co., China Division”
Format: 10”, double-sided
Label color/design: Scroll, purple & gold
Issue dates: ca. early to mid-1930s
54000 – 54027
54028 (Hangchow)
54028 - 54134
54135 (Mandarin)
54136 – 54159
54160 (Tibetan)
54161 – 54999
Many more Mandarin recordings are also found in this series.
56000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (history cards: incomplete)
Matrix source: JCE series; XVE series; unknown
Format: 10”, double-sided
Label color/design: Scroll, black
Issue dates: varies; some late-20s, some recouplings from 1920s, some 1940s
56000 – 56039 (traced, JCE matrix series, but dialect not identified)
56039 – 56100 (Cantonese, JCE matrix series)
56101 – 56127 (recouplings of 27000 12” series, XVE matrix series; Mandarin releases labeled as Cantonese on BHCs)
56128 – 56131 (Cantonese, RUE matrix series)
56135 – 56139 (Cantonese, JCE matrix series)
56140 – 56384 (Cantonese)
56385 – 56413 (Cantonese)
56700 – 56703 (traced by collector)
56907 – 56908 (traced by collector)
Series continues at least to 56908.
57000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES
Matrix source: Gramophone Company, released in P-series
Format: 10”, double-sided
Label color/design: Scroll, purple
Issue dates: 57000-57031 recouplings of 1928-1929 GramCo recordings; 57076 recorded ca. 1935
57000 – 57031 (Amoy)
57032 – 57075 (Amoy, though many are not traditional nanguan, and with more SE Asian influence)
57076 – 57111 (Amoy)
Swatow recordings may also be found on this series.
67000 series (PHILIPPINES)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: YES (history cards)
Matrix source: Victor B series
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: unknown
Issue dates: 1914
67040 – 67042
Many other types of “ethnic” recordings appear in this series.
A5000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Circular, dark blue
Issue dates: ca. late 1930s-1940s
A-5000 – at least A-5019
B-100 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Yellow, two children’s faces
Issue dates: pre-1940
B-100 (?) – at least B-114
Children’s records.
CS 3000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; made by Manchuria Talking Machine Company, Ltd., and some labeled Victor Talking Machine Company of China
Format: 10”, double-sided
Label color/design: Scroll, purple and gold
Issue dates: unknown
CS-3000 – at least CS-3146
D-series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; reissues of Western classical music
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll, white
Issue dates: ca. late 1920s – 1930s
To at least D803.
F-1000 series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan
Format: 10”, double-sided
Label color/design: black
Issue dates: 1934 – 1940
F-1000 – F-1057 (traditional and popular music)
F-1058 – F-1093 (popular music)
Recordings made for the Taiwan market.
FA series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: blue
Issue dates: after 1940
FA-2001 – FA-2005 (traditional music)
Recordings made for the Taiwan market.
FJ series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: black or blue
Issue dates: 1935 – 1940
FJ-1001 – FJ-1207 (traditional music)
Recordings made for the Taiwan market.
FL series (CHINA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: black
Issue dates: after 1940
FL-1001 – FL-1002 (only issues that have been traced)
Recordings made for the Taiwan market.
J-1000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll
Issue dates: late 1920s – 1930s
J-1000
J-20000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: unknown
Issue dates: late 1920s – 1930s
J-20000 – at least J-20231
J54000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: unknown
Issue dates: ca. late 1920s – 1930s
JA series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan; Gramophone Company
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll
Issue dates: from ca. 1929 – 1939, and from post WWII. Some masters from interim from German Electrola as well as Disque Gramophone.
Primarily Western classical recouplings – also Hawaiian.
JB-100 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan; western music reissues
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: unknown
Issue dates: ca. late 1930s
JB-100 – at least JB-223
JD-1400 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan; western music reissues
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll
Issue dates: ca. late 1930s
JD-100 – at least JD-1484
Western classical re-issues.
JE-100 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll
Issue dates: unknown
JE-100 – at least JE-174
JL series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: Transcription discs, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll, white
Issue dates: ca. late 1920s-1930s
JL-11603 documented
JR series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll, dark blue
Issue dates: unknown
JR-?? – at least JR-32
KA-3000 series (KOREA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Victor Talking Machine of Japan
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: unknown
Issue dates: ca. 1930s – early 1940s
3001 - approximately 3030
KJ-1000 series (KOREA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Victor Talking Machine of Japan
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll, blue, labeled “Victor Junior” (except for KJ-1111 – KJ-1129)
Issue dates: post-1935
KJ-1000 – KJ-1386
KJ-3000 series (aka “Victor Children’s Records of Korea”) (KOREA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Victor Talking Machine of Japan
Format: 8”, double sided
Label color/design: Victor Children’s Records of Korea
Issue dates: ca. 1930s – early 1940s
3001 - approximately 3018
KS-2000 series (aka “Star Records”) (KOREA)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Victor Talking Machine of Japan
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: “Star Records” subsidiary of Victor in Japan, blue
Issue dates: ca. early 1940s
2001-2034
NF series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: unknown
Issue dates: from ca. 1947
NK-3000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Circular, red
Issue dates: ca. late 1930s-1940s
NK-3000 - at least NK-3002
OR series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Circular, dark blue
Issue dates: ca. late 1930s-1940s
OR-1 – at least OR-49
PR series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll, white
Issue dates: ca. late 1920s-1930s
PR-100 (?) – at least PR-124
S- series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Circular, red, white, and blue
Issue dates: ca. 1940s
S-1 (documented)
Reissues of American jazz.
SD series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan; western classical reissues
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Circular
Issue dates:
SD-1 – at least SD-9
V-40000 series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; reissues of western jazz, etc.
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll, Circular
Issue dates: ca. 1930s
V-40000 – at least V-40118
VH series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown; Western classical music reissues
Label color/design: Circular
Issue dates: ca. early 1940s
VH-4000 – at least VH-4061
VK series (MONGOLIA, ETC)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown “ED” matrix series; Victor of Japan
Label color/design: Dragon label similar to Circular label, red, Nipper below title/artist
Issue dates: ca. late 1930s – early 1940s
VK-3503
VL series (JAPAN)
Blue History Cards / Ledgers: NO
Matrix source: unknown
Format: 10”, double sided
Label color/design: Scroll, gold
Issue dates: ca. 1930s
VL-1 – at least VL-6
Partial Bibliography
Du Jun Min. 2008. The Development of Chinese Records to 1911. Antique Phonograph News, January-February 2008. http://www.capsnews.org/apn2008-1.htm
Du Jun Min. 2009. The Development of Chinese Records from the Qing Dynasty to 1918. Antique Phonograph News, January-February 2009. http://www.capsnews.org/apn2009-1.htm
Ethnic Recordings in America: A Neglected Heritage. Washington: American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, 1982.
Gronow, Pekka. “The Record Industry Comes to the Orient.” Ethnomusicology 25, no. 2 (1981): 251-284.
Kinnear, Michael S. The 78 r.p.m. Labels of India. Victoria, Australia: M. Kinnear, 2003.
Shiho, Tetsuo. Esupī rekōdo : sono kagirinai miwaku no sekai. Tokyo: Shopan, 2008.
Spottswood, Richard K. Ethnic Music on Records: A Discography of Ethnic Recordings Produced in the United States, 1893-1942. 7 vols. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1990.
Steen, Andreas. Zwischen Unterhaltung und Revolution: Grammophone, Schallplatten und die Anfänge der Musikindustrie in Shanghai, 1878-1937. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2006.
Vernon, Paul. Ethnic and Vernacular Music, 1898-1960: A Resource Guide for Recordings. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1995.