255 is not an order number. These numbers are a serial number. This is the 255th copy of this side. Or so I have always understood.

Thank you! I mistakenly assumed that this is order number because in this case it is the same for both sides. But it is rather exception than the rule - in most cases they are not the same. If it is a serial number, it has a very little value and probably even does not worth to be included in "other numbers".

While I typed it, I was getting doubts. I must have been told it, and it's true they are often close rather than the same on both sides. I'd like to find two copies of the same record to be absolutely sure.

I've found two copies of the same Fonotipia and they have different numbers. They must be serial copy numbers. I just wanted to be absolutely sure, I didn't want to create a new urban myth!

Gramophone did this also, but only as far as I know for Tamagno's original issues.

255 is indeed the serial number. Since quite a while I am looking for any Fonotipia with serial number 1.

Stamped signatures are usually found on Fonotipia labels. Did you know that some French Fonotipias are actually hand signed by the artists?

Thanks Stephan

I've seen Fonotipias that the artist has signed in the wax, but I can't remember if they were French. In my search for a copy of the same record with different serial numbers I came a cross a number 11 online.

Some French artists actually signed Fonotipia labels in black ink in place of the blue rubber stamp. Hand signed discs usually bear one- or two-digit serial numbers.

The recently auctioned Amelia Pinto, L'Ebrea disc on Italian Fonotipia bears serial number 2, but the signature is stamped.