signed first edition Hardcover
1927 · Garden City, N.Y.
by Finger, Charles J.; Woodcuts by Paul Honore
Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page and Co., 1927. Presentation Copy, SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR at dedication page in blue ink -"And now, Margaret, here's another of those books so gaily planned." CJF" . Tipped in at rear end page is the author's original manuscript in black ink of his recording of the songs Doo Me Ama and The Female Smuggler, which is printed in facsimile in the book at page 4, where Finger states at bottom page 3 and top of p. 4 "Such notes as I made were made furtively, and as this book aims to set forth things correctly by way of showing how I made my notes in places where blank paper was scarce, here is a facsimile." And indeed, the music for those two songs was written on the back of a letter, (6' x 7 3/4" with ragged edges) dated 10 Mars. (March) '90 (1890), presumably sent to Finger by an unknown writer, which includes part of the lyrics for the French folksong Les Trois Hussards. Additionally laid in is a publisher's 3 1/4' x 5 1/2' advertising card for the book The Incredible Marquis : Alexander Dumas by Herbert Goodman. In 1889, at age twenty Finger began to travel extensively, visiting first Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia. In Chapter One at ps. 15-20 he starts the book with his description of recording these two songs - "Aboard the three-master, "The Fairy Queen", ...Bill Curzon, who was a sailor of the old school, sang a song called Doo Me Ama, a ballad with a faint Rabelaisian flavour about it ". Bound in black cloth with gilt lettering and decorations front cover and spine, Near Fine, small rubs at corners, in a Very Good dust jacket, spine sunned, small chips at edges. A remarkable Presentation Copy of the First Trade Edition. While Finger is best remembered for his 1925 Newberry Medal Winner "Tales From Silver Lands", his contributions to folklore were also considerable and he numbered Carl Sandburg among his friends and supporters. . . SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR. First Trade Edition. Decorative Cloth. Near Fine/Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Presentation Copy.
(Inventory #: 009657)