Esquire

British jazz record label, founded on December 13, 1947 by Carlo Krahmer and Peter Newbrook; its issues were initially only available by mail-order. The label was the earliest to record modern jazz in England. About a hundred 78s were issued in the period 1947-1954, including many items of traditional jazz.
The company leased the rights to Charlie Parker's Dial Records recordings and (in 1952) the Prestige catalogue for release in the UK. About 150 Prestige LPs were issued by Esquire from 1956 to 1964 when the licensing rights passed to Transatlantic Records Ltd. Esquire pressings of Prestige albums are often believed superior to the originals as the American company sent over metal stampers (rather than tape copies) which were pressed in higher quality vinyl than the American issues. Also leased recordings from the Chicago Delmark Records and Swedish Metronome labels.