Negro Folk Songs as Sung by Lead Belly: "King of the Twelve-String Guitar Players of the World," Long-Time Convict in the Penitentiaries of Texas and Louisiana

New York: The Macmillan Company, 1936.

Price: $2,500.00

Hardcover. First edition. Small quarto. 242pp. Frontispiece portrait. Tan cloth lettered in red. A bit of foxing on the title page and facing frontispiece, and on a few leaves in the text, some rubbing and spotting on the boards, an about very good copy lacking the dustwrapper. This copy warmly Inscribed by co-author John A. Lomax: "To Ruth Evans, A sunshiny interlude in Washington, With grateful esteem. John A. Lomax. Washington, D.C. December 11, 1936."

Laid in is a Typed Letter Signed to Evans on WPA stationary from Sam K. Cowan, author of the bestselling biography *Sergeant York's Own Story*: "Mine Herr Doktor: We have learned with real regret of the trouble you have had, and rejoice in your improvement. To the youthful and inspired 'Doctor' John Lomax is left the expression of our regrets in verse (He'll know better when a little older, So forgive him.) You must hurry and get well. I am leaving for California the early part of next week, and cannot miss the promised farewell. With the best wishes to you - Sam K. Cowan." Cowan was apparently being facetious, as Lomax was nearing the age of 70 at the time. Also laid-in is an apparently unpublished Typed Poem entitled "Ruth" Signed ("John A. Lomax") with eight lines with hand-corrections.

An interesting copy. Inscribed by Lomax, the man probably more responsible than any other for preserving black and cowboy folk music at the time of his affiliation with the Library of Congress collecting songs, and while he was assigned as an advisor on folklore collecting for both the Historical Records Survey and the Federal Writers' Project.


Item #437103

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Item #437103 Negro Folk Songs as Sung by Lead Belly: "King of the Twelve-String Guitar Players of the World," Long-Time Convict in the Penitentiaries of Texas and Louisiana. John A. LOMAX, Alan Lomax.
Negro Folk Songs as Sung by Lead Belly: "King of the Twelve-String Guitar Players of the World," Long-Time Convict in the Penitentiaries of Texas and Louisiana
Negro Folk Songs as Sung by Lead Belly: "King of the Twelve-String Guitar Players of the World," Long-Time Convict in the Penitentiaries of Texas and Louisiana
Negro Folk Songs as Sung by Lead Belly: "King of the Twelve-String Guitar Players of the World," Long-Time Convict in the Penitentiaries of Texas and Louisiana