Manuscript Music Book, 1813 or Earlier

18th century

Sold by Wigs on the Green

Description

The handwritten music and lyrics in this book evoke entertaining evenings at home or at the local hostelry singing to the accompaniment of a fiddle or piano. The selection of popular 18th and 19th century songs includes ballads and operatic pieces. Ninety songs are listed on the inside front board though the first page and last three pages of the book are missing. There is plenty of choice nonetheless including ‘Jockey & Jenny’, ‘The Jolly Toper’, ‘The Female Phaeton’ and ‘The Fair Thief’.

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Two previous Welsh owners have inscribed the book: ‘William William’s Book / Sept the 21st 1813 / William Williams Cabinetmaker’ ; ‘Thomas Llewelyn his [sic] my name and new bridge is [my] nation’.

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The latter inscription is undated but Thomas warns that if he catches anyone stealing his book they should ‘prepare for Cardiff Jail’!

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The book is in remarkably good condition and is bound in calf with later tape repairs to the spine and corners. The laid paper inside is watermarked LVG for Lubertus van Gerrevink, an eighteenth century Dutch papermaker. A few pages have been repaired with archival tape and the last page is partly missing.

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Size: when closed, 185 x 250mm

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International Shipping: £30

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Physical Dimensions

Height

18.5cm (7.28")

Width

25cm (9.84")

Declaration

Wigs on the Green has dated this piece to the Georgian era.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA816481

Dealers Internal Reference

7003

Dealers Notes

All prices include UK postage. International shipping will be at cost.

Description

“

Ninety songs are listed on the inside front board though the first page and last three pages of the book are missing.

Wigs on the Green

There is plenty of choice nonetheless including ‘Jockey & Jenny’, ‘The Jolly Toper’, ‘The Female Phaeton’ and ‘The Fair Thief’.

fig 1. Manuscript Music Book, 1813 or earlier — fig 1. Manuscript Music Book, 1813 or Earlier

Two previous Welsh owners have inscribed the book: ‘William William’s Book / Sept the 21st 1813 / William Williams Cabinetmaker’ ; ‘Thomas Llewelyn his [sic] my name and new bridge is [my] nation’.

The latter inscription is undated but Thomas warns that if he catches anyone stealing his book they should ‘prepare for Cardiff Jail’!

fig 2. Manuscript Music Book, 1813 or earlier — fig 2. Manuscript Music Book, 1813 or Earlier

The book is in remarkably good condition and is bound in calf with later tape repairs to the spine and corners. The laid paper inside is watermarked LVG for Lubertus van Gerrevink, an eighteenth century Dutch papermaker. A few pages have been repaired with archival tape and the last page is partly missing.

Size: when closed, 185 x 250mm

International Shipping: £30