Record Catalogs

Record Catalogs Since the earliest years of the phonograph, catalogs have been used to promote recordings. The first printed catalog of a record company was that of the North American Phonograph Co. in 1890; Columbia’s first catalog came out later in the same year. Victor became famous for its elaborate catalogs beginning in about 1905, along with regular monthly supplements. By the 1920s, the offerings of the major labels became so extensive that specialty catalogs were necessary directed to…