EP cover guide for German Elvis pressings

EP cover guide for German Elvis pressings

Common descriptions among collectors to determine German EP covers has so far never been published. I made this system back in the 90's when I was helping Peter Baumann with his EP discography. This was ment to be implemented in "Elvis On Vinyl - Teil 2" that was never released. Like the labels there are some main categories that can be helpful when trying to find out which year the cover is from. Firstly we have the term top-open. The very first covers had the record opening at the top of the cover. Later releases had side opening. The earliest side opening covers had lamination on the cover.

For most collectors this qucik list is good enough for describing the EP covers:

Top-open with 45 EP (1956)
Top-open with 45 Extended Play (1957)
Side-open with lamination (1958-1959)
Side-open without lamination (1960-1963)
Side-open without lamination with RCA Victor (1963-1965)
Side-open without lamination with RCA Victor and R (registered trademark) (1965-1968)

For the more avid collectors, here is the complete cover list. Hopefully my abbrevitions will be the common language among collectors. The covers are listed as

1956 type 1 = 45 EP with sewn edges (1956) (Used for a very short time on the first EP's)
1956 type 2 = As type 1 but glued (1956)
1956 type 3 = As type 2 but with protective platic bag inside (1957)
1957 type 1 = As 1956 type 3 but 45 EP replaced by 45 Extended Play (1957-1958)
1957 type 2 = As 1957 type 1 with lamination (1958)

Side Open
1958 cover = Side open with lamination on front and back (1958)
1959 cover = Side open with lamination on front (1959)

Without lamination
1960 cover = side open without lamination (1960-1962)
1962 cover = side open without lamination, smaller type (1962-1963)
1963 cover = As 1962 cover + RCA Victor (1963-1964)
1964 cover = As 1963 cover + R (Registered trademark) (1964-1968)
1969 cover = As 1964 cover but no spine (1969-1970)