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Stories of 110 Operas with 700 Illustrations and Descriptions of 1200 Victor Opera Records. The Victor Talking Machine Company (VTMC) was an American recording company and phonograph manufacturer that operated independently from 1901 until 1929, when it was acquired by the Radio Corporation of America and subsequently operated as a subsidiary called RCA Victor. Headquartered in Camden, New Jersey, it was the largest and most prestigious firm of its kind in the world, probably best known for its use of the iconic "His Master's Voice" trademark (with Nipper the dog) and the production, marketing, and design of the popular "Victrola" line of phonographs. After its merger with RCA in 1929, the company continued to make phonographs, records, radios and other products. Before the invention of the phonograph in 1896, access to professional theater and music was limited to live performances. In the late 19th century, it was a sign affluence and cultural awareness for a town to have an Opera House which could attract a performance group for at least part of a year. After the invention of the phonograph, a broader portion of the population could access the enjoyment of world class theater talent not even kings or queens could dream to access in the past. However, knowledge of what was available and how the music with its stories was structured was not common knowledge. VTMC filled this gap by publishing these Opera Books, while promoting their products and titles. The 1915 Revised Third Edition was the most commonly found standard for this information until the 1929 (10th Edition, 1st under RCA) edition was published reflecting change in ownership, advances in technology, and new recordings of musical compositions. Hardcover has red cloth boards with heavy gilt lettering and ornamentation on front, top page-edge, and spine, but no DJ. Carefully handled with square corners and sound gutters, the binding is loose with some pages held together with tape. The reason is sewn binding whose thread is deteriorating because of age. Glossy pages profusely illustrated with B&W photography of opera performances and idols. Contents appears complete with no markings in text nor ownership in end papers. Copyrights 1912, 1913, & 1915. Stated Third Revised Edition. No print run info found. No ISBN, LCCN nor MSR.
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