I love to add to my collection. I am always on the lookout for beautiful sheet music from the early part of the 20th century (and the late part of the 19th). Ragtime and traditional music hall sheet music. I have a couple of them framed on my walls, and they look gorgeous. Here are some more I found. (Check these out too.)
WONDERFUL, Sheila! I have a great weakness for early silent movie tie-ins and theme songs. Particularly the ones, like your lovelies above, that mix LAVISH illustration with early photography. A unique art… Mabel Normand in MICKEY is a favorite.
Such lavish illustration Kent – there is just SO much going on here. The lyricists, the publishing company, the singer, the pictures, the illustrations – truly a lost art. I am so grateful for places like the Library of Congress and the NY Library for the Performing Arts that preserve so many of these things. There was a second-hand store in Chicago (it’s probably still there) that had a huge trunk full of old authentic sheet music – sold very cheaply. I bought a bunch of it- two have been in frames on my walls for years. I am running out of wall space now – but if I had a larger space, I would devote an entire wall to these images. Just beautiful. I love all the different colors too!
They are GORGEOUS! Another book for you, dear busy author!
Wonderful touchstones.
I love your comment. They are definitely touchstones.
I too collected antique sheet music, unfortunately they burned up in a fire a few years ago that also took my 1892 victorian home, complete with a turret and Juliette staircase. My heart still grieves that old home of mine! I do however have my antique books, you should see the illustrations done by Howard Chandler Christy, in James Whitcomb Riley’s, “An Old Sweetheart of Mine”. Such a lovely, silly, story with a sweet ending!!
Oh Lisa, I am so so sorry to hear about the fire. What a loss. I’m so sorry.
I love to hear that you collect antique sheet music too – the art is so superb, I think. I don’t know much about the whole business – I am sure there were artists known for this stuff, etc. Do you have any books/articles you could recommend on the topic?
No, I’m sorry to say I don’t, I probably shouldn’t have said I was a “collector”, as I only “collected” what caught my eye. I had them displayed on the old square grand in my music room. It’s a fun hobby though, a great inexpensive way to collect when out antiquing.
It’s amazing how cheap they are, right? The place in Chicago sold them for something ridiculous like a quarter each.
Isn’t it funny that you can buy a piece of history basically, for cents? I love to imagine the wild parties the music would have been played to. Think of all the fun they had laughing, dancing, singing along! Or, the stolen cuddle in a quiet corner with a love song playing. How fun!!
Lisa – yes, and rolling up the rug to dance! So much fun!