Abstract Vapor absorption spectra in the range 800–200 mμ are given for free base phthalocyanine (H2Pc), MgPc, TiOPc, VOPc, CrPc, FePc, CoPc, NiPc, CuPc, ZuPc, SnCl2Pc, and PbPc. Electronic bands Q, B, N, L, C characteristic of the ring are found in the regions 660 mμ (15 200 cm−1), 320 mμ (31 300 cm−1), 275 mμ (36 400 cm−1), 245 mμ (40 800 cm−1), 210 mμ (47 600 cm−1), respectively. Vacuum UV spectra of H2Pc and ZnPc are given in the region 200–145 mμ and show nearly constant diffuse absorption with two broad bands at 180 mμ (55 600 cm−1) and 160 mμ (62 500 cm−1) and no evidence of Rydberg spectra. The main bands are nicely accounted for by SCMO-PPP-CI calculations. In addition VOPc, CrPc, FePc, CoPc, NiPc, SnCl2Pc, and PbPc show extra bands. For NiPc these are interpreted in terms of d-π ∗ transitions predicted by extended Huckel theory. The vapor spectra are usually blue shifted several hundred cm−1 with respect to solution spectra in DMSO and 1-chloronaphthalene. Only the vapors VOPc, CoPc, NiPc, CuPc, ZnPc are completely stable; the others decompose more or less quickly. Data are given to provide estimates of vapor pressure which average ∼0.1 Torr at 500°C. Solution spectra of H2Pc and CuPc were studied up to 300°C. The bands generally broaden and shift a few mμ to the red but the Qy of H2Pc broadens abnormally and shows no wave-length shift.