UK Verve Company Sleeves

1966-1968

There are two main types of UK Verve company sleeves: Sleeves with 6/- to 50/- tokens and sleeves with 7/3- to 50/- tokens.

 

UK Verve sleeves with 6/- to 50/- tokens were used from 1962 to 1966 according to 45-sleeves. But to make things difficult, there are at least four different versions with 6/- to 50/- tokens, and we have scans of three of them.

 

The first 6/- to 50/- token Verve sleeve had a misprint. It said “Musical Instruments Ltd” instead of “Musical Industries Ltd.” You can see this misprint over at 45-sleeves. The second one fixed the mistake, but there is a gap between “Musical” and “industries”, as you can see on the first Verve sleeve presented here. They fixed this on the third version and the gap is now smaller. The fourth 6/- to 50/- token sleeve has a new design and says “Use The New Emitex” instead of “Use Emitex”. It is also assembled differently; the flaps are glued on the outside instead of the inside.

 

The fifth UK Verve sleeve has changed from 6/- to 50/- tokens to 7/3- to 50/- tokens. It also has “Use The New Emitex” and the flaps are glued on the outside, left and right.

 

So what sleeve is the correct sleeve for the two UK Mothers Of Invention singles? Right now I feel it is impossible to be sure about it, but I have got my theories.

 

Let’s start with the UK It Can’t Happen Here/How Could I Be Such A Fool. 45-sleeves says that the 6/- to 50/- tokens were used from 62-66, and if this is correct, we can start to break it down. The first sleeve (not pictured here, check 45-sleeves) has a misprint and the second one has signs from the misprint because of the gap between “Musical” and “industries.” I would think these were the earliest ones and not sleeves used in 1966. The third sleeve has the “gap” fixed and uses the same layout and assembly as the first two. The fourth 6/- to 50/- token sleeve has a new design and is assembled differently than the previous ones. My guess would be the fourth if they stopped using these in 1966 or the 7/3- to 50/- token sleeve that was used between 1966 and 68.

 

Let’s have a look at the Big Leg Emma/Why Don’t You Do Me Right and what sleeve this one should have. This is quite easy if the information on 45-sleeves is correct. It’s the 7/3- to 50/- token sleeves, since they were used between 1966 and 68.

This is the second of the UK Verve sleeves. The first one, found on 45-sleeve, has a misprint. This one here still has some signs of the misprint since there is a gap between “Musical” and “industries.”

Company Sleeve: ZappaFrenzy (Bjørn)

This sleeve is the third and almost identical to the one above. The only difference is that the gap between “Musical” and “Industries” has been fixed.

Company Sleeve: ZappaFrenzy (Bjørn)

This is the fourth of the 6/- to 50/- token sleeves and has a new design, layout and assembly. Now it says “Use The New Emitex” and the flaps on the sleeve are glued on the outside, left and right.

Company Sleeve: ZappaFrenzy (Bjørn)

This is the fifth and the last of the UK Verve sleeves. It has 7/3- to 50/- tokens and there are other text changes.

Company Sleeve: ZappaFrenzy (Bjørn)