Ready Reference Guide catalog for Columbia, His Master’s Voice, M.G.M., Parlophone, and Regal-Zonophone 78, 45, and 331/3 R.P.M. records, July-December 1955

This catalog was published in 1955 as a comprehensive reference guide for record collectors and retailers, listing available recordings from major labels including Columbia, His Master’s Voice (HMV), M.G.M., Parlophone, and Regal-Zonophone. These guides were essential tools in the pre-digital era, helping consumers and dealers navigate the vast catalogs of available recordings across different formats including 78 RPM, 45 RPM, and the then-relatively-new 33⅓ RPM long-playing records. Such catalogs represent an important transitional period in recorded music history, documenting the shift from 78s to modern vinyl formats.

These vintage record catalogs appeal to music historians, vinyl collectors, discographers, and enthusiasts of mid-century ephemera. They provide invaluable documentation of what recordings were available during specific periods, including pricing and catalog numbers that help collectors identify and date vintage records. The guides are particularly valued by researchers studying the history of recorded music and the evolution of the recording industry during the 1950s, a pivotal decade that saw the decline of 78 RPM records and the rise of the LP format.