?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 500 - $ 750
(MUSIC.) Post, Levi. Book of manuscript sacred and patriotic music. [65] manuscript pages, almost all of them containing music, erratically paginated. Oblong narrow 8vo, original stiff wrappers, restitched to accommodate additional leaves; most leaves 4 x 7 3/4 inches, some leaves smaller, at least one leaf partially torn out, others possibly excised, repaired closed tear on second leaf, otherwise minor wear. Westhampton, MA, 1794 and undated
This volume was inscribed on the first leaf in 1794 by Levi Post, Jr. (1767-1837) of Westhampton, MA. Some sections may have been written out as part of an earlier volume and stitched in, possibly even by Levi Post, Sr. (1740-1830), who had served in the Revolution. Most of the pieces are sacred melodies written for two or four parts. Highlights include the songs "Liberty Tree" and the closing piece, "Bunker Hill, a Sapphick Ode." A tune titled "Balloon" may have been in honor of the first manned balloon flight in America in 1793. The 1785 Timothy Swan tune "Bristol" is almost the only one fitted out with lyrics--the words to the 1814 Star-Spangled Banner are written in. The two pieces are not normally associated.
