COLUMBIA DE Labels and Company Sleeves 1955-1978
SCMW 27 5502 - 1955
to
SCMW 27 5549 - 1956
SCMW 27 5550 - 1955
to
SCMW 27 5555 - 1956
45 DW 5568 - 1957
to
45 DW 5581 - 1957
45 DW 1 - 1957
to
.
The Columbia Phonograph Company was originally the local company run by Edward Easton, distributing and selling Edison phonographs and phonograph cylinders in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Delaware. The company derives its name from the District of Columbia, which was its headquarters. 
In late 1923, Columbia was bought by their English subsidiary, the Columbia Graphophone Company. 
In 1931, the British Columbia Graphophone Company merged with the Gramophone Company to form Electric & Musical Industries Ltd. (EMI). In 1938, the Columbia label in the USA, was bought by William S. Paley of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) for $750,000. 
 EMI retained the rights to the Columbia name in most other territories including the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. It continued to operate the label with moderate success until 1972, when it was retired and replaced by the EMI Records imprint. 
In Germany, the cabel continued to the late 1980s.
45 DW 5601 - 1957
to
45 DW 5631 - 1958
C 20 308 - 1958
to
 C 23 253 - 1966
C 923 080 - 1965
Club Edition 
Made for the Swiss book club EX-LIBRIS 
C 23 254 - 1966
to
C 24 009 - 1969
1969
to
1970
1970
to
1978
1954
to
1955
1955
to
1955
1956
to
1957
1958
to
1962
Range
Front
Back
Details
No 1
1955
to 
1958
 Cut straight/notch  Glued left/right  
No 2
1958
to 
1959
..
For sleeve details
(different colours/types)
See Electrola Records
..
   Cut straight/notch  Inside glued  
No 3
1959
to 
.
..
For sleeve details
(different colours/types)
See Electrola Records
..
   Cut straight/notch  Inside glued  
No 4
1960
to 
.
..
For sleeve details
(different types)
See Electrola Records
..
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
No 4 x
.
C 21 454 - 1960
.
As above
When they got a hit selling faster than the picture sleeves could be delivered, the company sleeve was used with a special print.
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
No 5
C 22 608 - 1963
to 
.
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
No 6
C 23 791 - 1968
to 
1969
Electrola GmbH
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
No 7
1969
to 
.
Hole on the back only
EMI Electrola GMBH
 Cut straight  Inside glued
No 8
.
to 
.
EMI Electrola GMBH
 Cut straight  Inside glued
Artist sleeves
A 1
C 21 725 - 1960
to 
.
Edith Piaf
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
A 2
.
to 
C 21 847 - 1961
Edith Piaf
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
A 3
C 21 879 - 1961
to 
C 22 346 - 1963
The Shadows
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
A 4
C 22 151 - 1962
to 
C 22 821 - 1964
Cliff Richard
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
A 5
C 22 289 - 1963
to 
.
Chris Howland
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
A 6
C 22 378 - 1963
to 
.
Helen Shapiro
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
A 7
C 22 403 - 1963
to 
C 22 864 - 1965
The Shadows
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
A 8
C 22 558 - 1963
to 
.
Cliff Richard
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
A 9
C 22 607 - 1963
to 
.
Vittorio
Odeon logo overprinted
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
A 10
C 22 639 - 1963
to 
C 23 108 - 1965
The Dave Clark Five
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
EP sleeves
EP 1
1954
to 
.
   Cut straight  Stitched left/right