  We have compiled a sample of $\sim 9600$ bright, $i\le 18.95$, red,
$b_j-r>2$, candidate galaxies in an area of 220 deg$^2$. These are luminous, $L
> L^*$, field early-type galaxies with redshifts $0.3 \la z \la 0.6$. We
present a redshift catalogue of a sub-sample of 581 targets. The galaxies were
selected according to their broadband $b_jri$ colours from United Kingdom
Schmidt Telescope plates, and have a surface density on the sky of only $\sim
50 $deg$^{-2}$. Such luminous field galaxies are virtually absent from
published redshift surveys and the catalogue provides a large sample of the
most luminous normal galaxies, at cosmological distances. The statistical
properties of the galaxy spectra, including absorption line and emission line
measures, are presented and a composite spectrum constructed. The nature of the
sample, combined with the relatively bright apparent magnitudes make the
galaxies suitable targets for several key investigations in galaxy evolution
and cosmology.
