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Group of Four Minstrel and Blues Books

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia / Music Memorabilia Start Price:75.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 400.00 USD
Group of Four Minstrel and Blues Books
<B>Group of Four Minstrel and Blues Books.</B></I> The minstrel show was the first distinctly American form of theatre. It consisted of comedy skits, jokes, dancing, variety acts, and singing- usually performed by white performers in blackface. It reached the peak of its popularity in the middle of the nineteenth century but continued in various forms up until the 1950s. This lot contains four interesting publications: <BR><B><I>The Paramount Book of Blues</B></I></B></I> (Port Washington, WI: New York Recording Laboratories, nd [1927?]). This is a must-bid item for the blues fan. It has photo biographies of some of the legends of blues: Blind Lemon Jefferson, "Ma" Rainey, Blind Blake, Ida Cox, Charlie Jackson, and Elzadie Robinson. It also prints the music for these artists' popular songs including: "Long Lonesome Blues", "Moon Shine Blues", "Early Morning Blues", "Chicago Monkey Man Blues", "Salty Dog", and "Pig Meat Blues". 40 pages, stiff paper cover with color image, 8vo (6.25" x 9.5"), fine condition. <BR><B><I>Black Diamond Minstrel Book</B></I></B></I> <I>A Treasure Chest for Blackface Comedians</B></I> by Gordon Griffith (Chicago: The Dramatic Publishing Company, 1930). 64 pages, paper wraps, 12mo (5" x 7.25"), very good condition with some minor cover stains. <BR><B><I>Kaser's Complete Minstrel Guide</B></I></B></I> by Arthur LeRoy Kaser (Chicago: The Dramatic Publishing Company, 1934). A complete guide to staging a minstrel show with a number of scripts for single and multiple performers, 152 pages, paper wraps, 12mo (5" x 7.25"), very good condition. <BR><B><I>Minstrel Parade</B></I></B></I> <I>A Complete Minstrel Revue</B></I> by Charles George (Minneapolis: T. S. Denison & Company, 1950). Jokes, routines, and musical numbers, 119 pages, paper covers, 4to (6.75" x 10.25"), fair to good condition with cover tears, ex-library.