MINSTRELS

[ Jim Crow; unpublished typescript; biography ] Royalty, Jim Crow & Others. A study of T.D. Rice and his Times.

Author: 
Ernest J. Tyrrell
Publication details: 
Apparently unpublished. Dated in holograph, 17 Nov. 1962,
£750.00

Typescript with MS. additions, Pp. [1]-88, 4to, crudely bound with wire into a brown folder, chipped, with the ownership label on front as follows: "from the collection of Ernest J. Tyrrell London". Tyrrell starts with a connection between the Twist (danced by the Queen and Prince Philip) and Jim Crow's "vigorous and exhilarating dance", and its impact in England. He explains his modus operandi, organising disparate material about the life of T. D.

Detailed manuscript itinerary for lessons to various individuals over two weeks, with ink sketch of black and white minstrel playing the banjo.

Author: 
S. M.' [banjo tutor in Acton, West London; black and white minstrels]
Publication details: 
Dated 'S.M. Septr. 26:08.' On letterhead of 'Holme-Lacey, 7, Hereford Road, Acton, W.'
£38.00

12mo, 2pp. On bifolium. Aged and grubby. Testimony to the popularity of the black and white minstrel genre, at an early date. The drawing, beside the letterhead, is approximately 3.5 x 5 cm, in black and red. On the soles of the banjo-player's shoes is 'S M | 1908', and beneath it the caption 'Lessons'. Gives dates and times of lessons to 'Rackham', 'Miss Tipper', 'Matthias', 'Clayson', 'Mauchel' and others.

Autograph Letter Signed by George Lumbard ('Geo Lumbard') to unnamed correspondent.

Author: 
Christy's Minstrels [The Christy Minstrels; Edwin Pearce Christy; George Christy [Harrington]; George Lumbard]
Publication details: 
Town Hall, Buckingham; 12 March 1866.
£125.00

One page, 12mo. Good on piece of lightly-creased and aged paper, neatly mounted on slightly-larger piece of paper. Enclosing funds 'for the Use of St Andrews Hall April 2nd. 3rd. & 4th./66 for Christys Minstrels Concerts'. Postscript requests that receipt be sent to Reading in Berkshire: 'Shall be there on Thursday next'. A significant document. 1866 marked the introduction of the minstrel show into England by Christy's Minstrels, and the first of several extremely successful tours by the company.

Collection of thirteen Autograph Letters Signed, addressed to Robinson by various individuals, mostly relating to the publication of Robinson's song 'Gently Down the Stream'.

Author: 
Walter W. Robinson, English composer; Theodore Distin (1823-93), English singer; F. C. Wood, 'Lithographical Music Copyist'; the Original Lilian Minstrels; Grafton Hall
Publication details: 
London; 1871-1878.
£280.00

The collection is in good condition, with each letter entirely legible. Two items particularly aged, and one with a couple of closed tears unobtrusively repaired with archival tape. Each item bears evidence of the fact that the collection was previously held together with a pin. An interesting sidelight into the musical culture of Victorian London. COPAC only locates one copy (at Cambridge) of Robinson's piece, published by W. Sprague of Westminster in [1874], copied by F. C. Wood, 'words by permission of Messrs. Hopwood & Crew'. All items 12mo.

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