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Revised 28/8/10

DECCA
UK Labels and Company Sleeves 1954-1980

Labels

Straight Logo
Thick Tri-centre
Straight Logo
Thin Tri-centre
Curved Logo I
Tri-centre
 Curved Logo II
Tri-centre
F 10168 -  1954
to
.
F 10456 -  1955
to
.
F 10512 - 1955
to
F 10819 - 1956
F 10825 - 1956
to
F 11149 - 1959
The name "Decca" dates back to a portable gramophone called the "Decca Dulcephone" patented in 1914 by musical instrument makers Barnett Samuel and Sons. That company was eventually renamed The Decca Gramophone Co. Ltd. and then sold to former stockbroker Edward Lewis in 1929. Within years Decca Records Ltd. was the second largest record label in the world, calling itself "The Supreme Record Company".
Decca bought out the bankrupt UK branch of Brunswick Records in 1932, which added such stars as Bing Crosby and Al Jolson to its roster. Decca also bought out the Melotone and Edison Bell record companies. By 1939, Decca and EMI were the only record companies in the UK.
In late 1934, a United States branch of Decca was launched. In establishing the American unit, the founders bought the former Brunswick Records pressing plants from Warner Bros. in exchange for a financial interest in the new label. Decca became a major player in the depressed American record market thanks to its roster of popular artists, particularly Bing Crosby. Dissatisfied with American Decca's promotion of British Decca recordings and because American Decca held the rights to the name Decca in the US and Canada, British Decca sold its records in the United States and Canada under the label London Records beginning in 1947.
PolyGram acquired the remains of Decca UK within days of Sir Edward Lewis's death in January 1980. British Decca's pop catalogue was taken over by Polydor Records.
 Curved Logo III
Round centre
Boxed Logo
Injection moulded
Retro label
F 11159 - 1959
to
F 12496 - sep 1966
F 12497 - sep 1966
to
F 13899 - 1980
FR 13591 - 1974
Export issue made by Phonogram
Reissues
...
Sleeves
Range
Front
Back
Details
No 1
nov 1955
to 
apr 1958
..................................................
   Curved top  Inside glued  Small centre
No 2
apr 1958
to 
F 11135 - jun 1959
   Curved top  Inside glued  Large centre
No 3
F 11136 - jun 1959
to
F 11200 - jan 1960
Front
.
. Ref 19C  Curved top  Inside glued  Brown paper
No 4
F 11205 - jan 1960
to
F 11270 - oct 1960
Front
.
   Curved top  Inside glued  Ligther than No 2
No 5
F 11275 - oct 1960
to
.
Front
.
   Curved top  Inside glued  Brownish orange
No 6
.
to
F 11441 - mar 1962
Front
.
   Curved top  Inside glued  Brownish orange
No 7
F 11442 - mar 1962
to
.
Front
.
   Cut straight  Inside glued  Bright orange
No 8
.
to
.
Front
.
. Ref 19B  Curved top  Inside glued  Bright orange
No 9
.
to
F 12536 - nov 1966
Front
.
   Curved top  Inside glued  Bright orange - Higher cut
No 10
Export sleeve ?
   Curved top  Inside glued ............................................
No 11
F 12537 - nov 1966
to
F 13035 - 1970
Front of sleeve:

Vertical both sides:
. Ref 19  Curved top - high top  Inside glued  Curved - high top
 No 12
 1968
to
.
Front of sleeve:

Vertical both sides
. Ref 19a  Wavy top  Glued left/right  The two waves at the back
 No 13
F 13251 - 1971
Advertising
Marmalade LP
"Songs" (SKL 5111)
   Wavy top  Glued left/right  
No 14
 F 13327 - 1972
to
F 13453 - 1973
Front of sleeve:

Vertical on the front,
Horizontal on the back
   Wavy top  Glued bottom/right  The two waves at the front
No 15
 F 13454 - 1973
to
F 13591 - 1975
Front of sleeve:

Vertical both sides
   Cut straight - high top  Glued left/right  High top
No 16
 F 13592 - 1975
to
F 13716 - 1977
Front of sleeve:

Missing both sides
   Cut straight  Glued left/right  Thicker paper
No 17
F 13717 - 1977
to
.
Front of sleeve:

Missing on the front,
Vertical on the back
   Curved top  Glued left/right  Highest point at the back
No 18
.
to
.
Front of sleeve:

Vertical both sides
   Curved top  Glued left/right  Highest point at the back
No 19
.
to
F 13899 - 1980
Front of sleeve:

Vertical both sides
   Curved top  Glued left/right  Highest point at the front
Reissues 1970s
R 1
F 10084
to
.
   Cut straight - high top  Glued left/right  
R 2
.
to
.
   Curved top  Glued left/right  
...
Contact for corrections : erlmehl@online.no
...
Thanks to Tony Dowsett, England for scans in this section
....
Thanks to Alan White, Doncaster, England for scans in this section
....
Thanks to Ade Macrow, England for scans in this section
.......
Thanks to Karl-Heinz Decker, Germany for scans in this section
........
  Repro sleeves available from Big Boppa Records
....