The Island logo has had at least 5 different looks over the years. Below are some examples of the logo used during Bob's time on Island Records as well as the logo currently used.

With The Wailers first Island release Catch a Fire (1972/1973), this is the logo Island used for the promotional posters, adverts and music releases. It is a solid "I" and was used for The Wailers between 1972/73 and  1976. What is strange is that the majority of releases through 1976 used this logo except a few. All of Bunny Wailers promotional items for his 1976 Blackheart Man and other Island items used the new logo shown below. Also the advert (as seen far below) for Marley's 1975 'Live' album somehow used the newer logo as well as the 1976 Rastaman Vibration Scrapbook. The logo changed on ALL items in 1977 with the release of Exodus. Adverts for Rastaman Vibration (June 26, 1976) used the solid "I" logo and adverts for Bunny Wailer's Blackheart Man (Oct, 16, 1976) used the "I" logo with the palm tree. So, barring the "Live" advert and the Rastaman Vibration Scrapbook we can assume Island started to fade out the solid "I" in the late summer/early fall of 1976.

A new book about Island Records was published in early 2009 to celebrate 50 years of music. Maybe this book explains the logo as well as the numbering system for the reggae promo posters!  (Update on book info...NOPE sadly no info about logo or numbering system.)   There was even an earlier book released by Island called The Island Book of Posters.  Sadly this book too is very limited on quality information.  In fact, if I'm correct, they have a major inaccuracy of the one Bob Marley poster they feature.  They show the the "spliff poster" as shown below, but they say it was issued in 1973 for Catch a Fire.  If I'm not mistaken, this poster was issued for the re-release of Catch a Fire in 1975.  It is my understanding that the original Catch a Fire was only issued in the Zippo cover and it was not until 1975 that the new cover with Bob smoking a spliff was issued, making this a 1975 poster and not 1973.  Am I wrong? Please correct me if I am.

This is the second version of the "I" Island logo since Bob had come on board. First issued in late 1976 and on all items starting in 1977 with Exodus, the "I" now has a sun and palm tree in it. This logo was used from late 1976/1977 through 1991. Starting in 1991 with Talkin' Blues a new logo was used. The Legend promo posters in 1984 were the last official posters to use this logo.

1975 Island #1 poster for Bob. Not tied to one particular LP. Photo was taken at 56 Hope Road by the wonderful photographer Kim Gottlieb-Walker.

This poster was also included in the Island press kit for the 'Exodus' LP in 1977.

Visit Kim's website at www.lenswoman..com and keep your fingers crossed that she releases her photos of Bob in a new photo book.

1975 Island Records 20" x 30"

Although this poster is very similar to the one posted above it has significant differences.

The main difference is that it does not contain a number (#). The image of Bob is also reversed and the

shade of yellow used for Bob Marley and the Island logo is a different yellow.

This poster was also issued folded, I assume in a press kit.

Poster for the 1978 Kaya/Babylon By Bus Tour. This poster is always regarded as official but I'm not sure of the origins and the story behind it.

It has no Island markings.

25" x 38"

1979 Survival. This is the Island version of this poster. There is an identical Tuff Gong poster.  24" x 39"

24" x 37" Tuff Gong. Identical to the Island poster except the TG markings and it is 1" smaller.

Issued in Jamaica

1980 Uprising "square" Island Records  23" x 23"

Although this site currently is not dealing with concert posters for the most part this poster is included because it is a special blank tour poster in which the promoter/manufacturer printed the Island logo.

Promoters could fill in the bottom with their venue info and date.  This was used for the German tour dates. 24 x 36

22" x 17 7/8" Not sure of the exact date of printing, this is a Tuff Gong poster made in Jamaica.

It is similar in style to other Tuff Gong posters.

1983 Confrontation Although Island Records does not appear on this poster it is clearly an official promo poster. There is a very large Swedish poster that is identical.  13.25" x 20"