Mason, Lowell; Mason, Timothy B. The Sacred Harp: or Eclectic Harmony: A Collection of Church Music, consisting of a great variety of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, Anthems, Sacred Songs and Chants, original and selected; Including many new and beautiful subjects from the most eminent Composers, Harmonized and Arranged expressly for this Work. Cincinnati: William T. Truman, 1845. Enlarged, Revised, and Improved Edition. [8793]
Leather spine with printed cream paper over card, old fabric covering sewn over the binding, now split at the spine. We are leaving it in place and you can decide whether or not to remove it. The boards are worn and limp, the text block is pulling away from the spine, there is a 2 inch split at the bottom of the front joint. Oblong 14.25 cm (5 1/2 x 9 1/4 inches). Lacks the front free end papers and probably a page of recommendations at front (the title page is [3]). [3]-238, (2) pp. The last leaf (2) is the index. The only thing lacking is the probably recommendation page at front. Instruction and music texts are complete. Good. Hardcover.
"Revised, Improved, Enlarged, and Price Reduced!" at top of tp.
Most similar to Stanislaw 189. A four-note shape-note tunebook. "The publishers would further remark, that the 'Sacred Harp' is printed in patent notes (contrary to the wishes of the Authors) under the belief that it will prove much more acceptable to a majority of singers in the West and South." - p. iv.
With a signed provenance card from the collection of A. Merril Smoak, Jr., DWS.