October Legends and Americana Ending November 14th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2015
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 (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1936) 8vo, xiv, 242 pp., bound in tan cloth boards titled in red on front board and spine. Extra Illustrated with a letter by Ledbetter’s wife, Martha Promise Ledbetter (1904-1968), Autograph Letter Signed, “Martha & Huddie,” 2 pages, 5.75” x 9”, New York, October 26, 1948; French radio personality Arno-Charles Brunv (1898-1982), Typed Letter Signed, “A. Charles Brun,” 1 page, 5.5” x 8.25”, featuring a full-length image of Ledbetter with his guitar, issued by his managers, Marjorie and Austin Fairbanks. The volume bears some minor soiling to boards, first few pages lightly toned, The additional items, all of which bear the expected mailing folds and other light wear, have been tipped in the front pastedown, front blank endpaper, and opposite the half title and publication pages.
Of significant interest is the two page letter from Lead Belly’s wife, Martha promise who offers an update on her husband’s work including radio appearances as well as inquiring as to Marjorie’s son Austin Fairbanks (with her idiosyncratic spellings preserved): “Dear Mrs Fairbanks, How are [you] at this time fine I hope as this laves us ok Well everything is going alone [read, ‘along’] all right Now Huddie did his lst program on the air on W.N.Y.C. Sunday he is suppose[d] to start to work next week his leg is doing ok but he still hop one it other than that he is all right I however heard from your Son but I thonk [sic] we Will See him soon. Will how is everything over in France is that cale[?] stork barthering [sic] you I only heard about it over the air so Huddie and i would lke to [k]now if it is in your naborhood [sic] Well there is Nuthing here to talk about everything is sky high hereyet and don [‘]t look like anything going down. How are the boys Doing OK I Hope give them our love tell Clifton we are looking for that Letter from him as soon as we he have a spar[e] minute Will I g[u]ess you think this is a a[w]full short Letter but there is not much to say at Presetn if you don[‘]t have time to answer right away don[‘]t worry I am going to keep riting [sic] anyway, Love an[d] Kisses Martha & Huddie.”
The volume additionally features a piece concerning Ledbetters’ only European appearance in May 1949: a typed letter from Arno-Charles Brun, a well known French radio personality concerning his inability to attend Ledbetter’s May 9, 1949 performance at the Hot Club de France on 21 Boulevard Jourdan in Paris but offering the consolation that, his employer, Radiofusion Francaise would be recording the performance: “Les exigencies de mon service qui me retiondront au studio une partie de la nuite du vendredi 6 mai, m’empechent de repondre a l’invitation que vous avez ue la tres aimable pensee de me faire parvenir. II vous sera peut-etre agreeable de savoir que nos services enregistreront M. Huddie LEDBETTER au cours de la representation qu’il donnera le 9 mai. Veuillez trouver ici Madame, avec mes vifs regrets, l’expression de mes tres respectueux sentiments.
Also of interest is an extremely rare promotional flyer for Ledbetter produced b Marjorie Fairbanks. The flyer features a full-length image of Ledbetter with his signature 12-string guitar with a bold quote from the Saturday Review extolling him as “Quite probably the greatest living American folk singer.” The flyer also quotes folklorist Harold W. Thompson of Cornell University: “I regard Lead belly as not only one of the great creative artists of the United States, but also as the most authentic interpreter of Negro Folk music whom it has been my pleasure to listen to.”
Comes with letter of authenticity from University Archives.
This lot has a Reserve Price that has not been met.