Description:

19th Century Music
various, ca. 1833-1877
African American Minstrel Songs & Other Marches, 13 pcs. incl. Stephen C. Foster!
Archive
A collection of 13 pieces of sheet music produced between the mid-Antebellum and late Reconstruction periods, spanning from 1833 to 1877. Highlighted within are a group of four compositions by notable composer Stephen C. Foster (1826-1864), including several "Plantation Melodies", in addition to at least two other arrangements performed by minstrel groups. Also included are marches dedicated to members of the White League, a white supremacist paramilitary group active in the 1870s, and Confederate Brigadier General Francis T. Nicholls of Louisiana. Exhibits varying degrees of scattered foxing, darkened soiling, and trimmed margins throughout, with areas of paper loss near edges. Please note, many sheets are unbound and may be incomplete. For additional information on contents, please see below.

The lot includes, in order of publication:

- "The Ship is Ready: A Favorite Song written by Miss H. F. Gould…" by O. Shaw. Providence, published and sold by the author, 1833. 9.75" x 13.25".

- "Smith's March" Composed and dedicated to Gen. Persiforf. Smith the Hero of the Contreras by J. T. Martin. Baltimore, published by Miller & Beacham, 1848. 9.5" x 12.5".

- "Gently Sighs the Breeze. The popular duet written for Madlle. Jenny Lind & Madlle. Marietta Alboni" by Stephen Glover. New York, published by William Hall & Son, undated [ca. 1850s]. 10.25" x 13".

- "4 Polkas for the Piano Forte" by A. Wallerstein. Baltimore, published by Geo. Willig Jr., 1850. 10" x 12.75".

- "Oh Boys, Carry Me Long: A Plantation Melody" by Stephen C. Foster. Twentieth edition. New York, published by Firth, Pond & Co., 1851. 10.25" x 13.25".

- "Farwell my Lilly Dear: A Plantation Melody as sung by Christy's Minstrels" by Stephen C. Foster. New York, published by Firth, Pond & Co., 1851. 10.5" x 14".

- Foster's Melodies No. 21 "Ellen Bayne" sung by Edwin P. Christy and written by Stephen C. Foster. New York, published by Firth, Pond & Co., 1854. 10" x 13.25".

- Foster's Melodies No. 29 "Some Folks" by S. C. Foster. New York, published by Firth, Pond & Co., 1855. 9.5" x 12.5".

- "March of the Amazons in the Black Crook" as performed at Niblos. New York, published by Dodworth & Son, 1866. 10.75" x 14".

- "This Old Home ain't What it Used to be", companion song to the "Old Folks at Home" as sung by the original Georgia Minstrels by C.A. White. Boston, White, Smith & Perry, 1872. 10" x 12.5".

- "White League March" by Annie O. Bowles, dedicated to Col. W.T. Vaudry and the members of the White League. Copyright 1877. Stamped at lower right "From L. Grunewald's Music House". 10.25" x 13".

- "The Flash, Galop de Concert" by Carl Mora. Boston, published by Oliver Ditson & Co., 1877. Featuring the handstamp of Louis Grunewald at lower right. 10.25" x 13.25".

- "Nicholls' Grand Triumphal March" by N. Martinez. Copyright 1877 by Henri Wehrmann. With handstamp at lower right from M. Hlie. Music Store. 10.5" x 13.75".

- "Bath Springs Polka" composed for and respectfully dedicated to the visitors of the Bath Springs Bristol PA. by L. O. Tombler. Philadelphia, published by Lee & Walker. Cover only.

We are proud to include items consigned by the Manuscript Society in this auction. These items come from the estate of well-known manuscript dealers Forest G. & Forest H. Sweet and Julia Sweet Newman. Forest G. Sweet was an early leader of the Manuscript Society as well as a rare book scholar. The proceeds from your purchase of these items will benefit the work of the Manuscript Society. You can learn more about them, and become a member of the Manuscript Society, at www.manuscript.org.

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This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 10.5" x 14" (largest)
  • Medium: Archive

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