A Treasury of the Blues: Complete Words and Music of 67 Great Songs from Memphis Blues to the Present Day (Inscribed by W.C. Handy AND Including a 2 Pg. TLS of His With Excellent Content)

New York: Charles Boni (Distributed by Simon and Schuster, 1949. Cloth. Very Good +/Near Fine. Miguel Covarrubias. A nice Association copy: INSCRIBED BY W.C. HANDY TO SAXOPHONIST MAX COLE on the front free endpaper. FURTHERMORE, THIS COPY ALSO INCLUDES A 2 PG. TYPED, SIGNED LETTER (WITH ITS VISUALLY-STRIKING "HANDY BROTHERS MUSIC CO." LETTERHEAD) FROM A 79 YEAR OLD HANDY TO MAX COLE, BLUNTLY SPEAKING ABOUT HIS RELIEF OVER THE 1952 ELECTION OF EISENHOWER, HIS OWN REPUBLICAN LEANINGS, HIS DISAPPOINTMENT TOWARD THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY OVER ITS SEEMING REJECTION OF HIS POLITICS AND CURRENT RACE RELATIONS. A very sharp copy to boot of this 1949 re-issue, which "expands and brings up to date an earlier compilation prepared by the same authors in 1926". Tight and VG+ (several tiny closed tears at the spine crown, just a touch of wear to the front panel's bottom-edge) in an unusually crisp, price-intact ($5.00), Near Fine dustjacket, with the slightest hint of light soiling to the panels. Quarto, illustrated (as was the 1926 original edition) by the great Mexican artist Miguel Covarrubias. Truly a collector's copy.