Music & Songs for the Pianoforte. The Best Collection of Music Ever Published. Compiled Expressly for John H. Sparks’ Shows.
N.p. c. 1892. Folio, 9 ½ x 11 ½ inches. 17 pp. Pink printed newsprint wrappers with photographic portrait of John H. Sparks on the front cover. Covers detached, paper toned and fragile as typical of newsprint; fair to good overall. Item #List3690
An unrecorded music folio issued for the traveling circus of John H. Sparks in the early 1890s, self-described as “The Best Collection of Music Ever Published.” Sparks, based in Ohio, was building his circus during this period into a touring wagon show combining trained animal acts, equestrian performances, and sideshow attractions. Sparks toured widely, presenting afternoon and evening performances and like other traveling acts relied heavily on printed ephemera for revenue. Songs include “Waiting to Hear the Verdict” by Chales Osbourne; “Annie Reilly” by Johnnie Carroll; “Don’t Abuse the Old Folks” by Will H. Fox; “When the Sea Gives Up its Dead” by J.J. Nolan; “When Summer Comes Again” by James Thornton; “The White Squadron” by Arthur West; “Wait Till My Ship Comes Home” by John Walsh; “My Old Dutch” by Charles Ingle; and “Buy a Nice Little Home in the Country” by Ed. Barry. Several compositions are copyrighted by Frank Harding (1864–1939) at the Royal Copyright Office, which is peculiar, and suggest the possibility that this was for an English audience, though Sparks is not known to have toured England during this period. Harding was a New York music publisher who operated Frank Harding’s Music House at 229 Bowery during the formative years of Tin Pan Alley.
Price: $300.00