Annals of Music in Philadelphia and History of the Musical Fund Society from Its Organization in 1820 to the Year 1858
Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1896. First Edition. Limited Edition of 620 copies. Octavo, 202 pages, publisher's original gilt-lettered and decorated purple cloth covered boards. Top edge gilt. Illustrated in black-and-white. This copy is enhanced with three original signed handwritten letters by Louis C. Madeira bound in, all addressed to Ferdinand J. Dreer, comprising one page, three pages, and two pages respectively.
Ferdinand J. Dreer was a prominent Philadelphia antiquarian and collector whose extensive library of Americana and manuscripts became foundational to major historical collections.
Annals of Music in Philadelphia and History of the Musical Fund Society from Its Organization in 1820 to the Year 1858 (1896), compiled by Louis C. Madeira, is one of the most important early studies of American musical life in the 19th century. The volume offers a detailed chronicle of concerts, performers, composers, and institutions that shaped Philadelphia’s emergence as a leading cultural center, drawing extensively on archival records, concert programs, and contemporary accounts. A central focus is the history of the Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia, one of the earliest musical organizations in the United States, whose activities played a major role in promoting professional music and supporting musicians. Blending narrative history with documentary detail, Madeira’s work remains a foundational reference for scholars of American music history and Philadelphia’s cultural development. Front hinge cracked through, some discoloration, slight rubbing and wear, spine slightly sunned, previous owner's inscription, else in good + condition. Item #208
Price: $1,500.00