MINSTRELS

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.

Letter: 12mo, 3 pp. Bifolium. Text clear and complete. On aged and discoloured paper, with four pin holes to first leaf. Difficult hand. Discussing an article the proofs of which he has corrected. Poem: 8vo, 1 p. Headed 'David Harris (tom piscota) '. Five four-line stanzas, chorus, and footnote. Translation begins 'Of every sport thats in the world | Fishing is the best | And have to wind out of south | And to fish will jump on my hand'.

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.

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.

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.