Description
Signed by William C. Handy, the “Father of American Blues,” a Souvenir Edition of the “St. Louis Blues” Piano Sheet Music.
Large octavo, 8pp. Full piece measures approximately 9.25″ x 12.25.” Original pamphlet, bound at center with twine. Solid text block, faint along margins, otherwise a fine example.
Inscribed by William C. Handy: “To Lionel A. Aucoin / with best wishes / from the composer / W.C. Handy / 2-13-1940.”
Housed in a custom presentation folder, blue cloth, title in gilt on black morocco label and on spine.
William C. Handy (1873-1958) was a prolific African American trumpeter, composer, songwriter, and self-proclaimed “Father of American Blues.” This pamphlet reproduces the music and lyrics of Handy’s classic blues song, “St. Louis Blues,” originally published in 1914. This Souvenir Edition was published 25 years after the original music publication, in tandem with the 1939 Paramount Pictures musical film “St. Louis Blues”. The film was a Mississippi riverboat drama loosely based on Handy’s song. The pamphlet features an illustration of Dorothy Lamour on the front cover, star of the “St. Louis Blues” film.
