Mercury Label Variations

Black/Silver Mercury A Variations

This type of label was used for earlier 12-inch LP series except Classical “Living Presence” series. The label's background colour is black, and all printing is in silver colour.

Earliest Black/Silver label has “Margin Control” printed to the right side of the spindle hole, but gradually in non-Classical series it was replaced with “A High Fidelity Recording” or “Custom High Fidelity Recording”.

Black/Silver Mercury A1	Black/Silver Mercury A2
This type of black (with silver print) label is used for early MG-20000 series. This design was used only for monaural issues. (MG-20063)	“A Custom High Fidelity Recording” instead of “A HIGH FIDELITY RECORDING” at the right side. And a catalogue number is printed at the left side, not at the bottom. (MG-20447)

Black/Silver Mercury A3	Black/Silver Mercury A4
Looks similar to the above pattern A2, but look at three parallel lines like “III” printed on the label (this parallel line also appears on the back sleeve). This “III” maybe indicates that it is re-issue in the late 1950s or early 1960s. (MG-20316)	Looks similar to the above pattern A1, but the font used in print is different. This is maybe the last variation of Black/Silver type A design. Note that the quality (and colour) of paper is slightly different. (MG-20448)