The Social Orchestra for Flute or Violin: A Collection of Popular Melodies Arranged as Solos, Duets, Trios, and Quartets.
first edition
1854 · New York
by FOSTER, Stephen C.
New York: Firth, Pond & Co., 1854. Book. Quarto, color printed ornamental boards, cloth spine. Pp. 83, (1). Minor rubbing of extremities. A very nice copy. First edition of Foster's only collection of instrumental music, which includes original compositions by Foster, including two 4-part sets of quadrilles, along with his settings of popular airs and works by Donizetti, Mozart, Schubert and other classical composers. In typical fashion, a time-consuming, laborious effort for which Foster was paid a flat $150. proved to be very popular and went through many subsequent editions. This first edition is a rare book, with no copies located on OCLC (the single copy located turns out to be a facsimile and otherwise the earliest edition there is 1856), and none in the auction records of the past fifty years. A handsome copy.. (Inventory #: 1264)