[Rarebooks] FS: Rare graphophone entertainment poster/broadside

[powersrarebooks at comcast.net]

I can offer... 




[Broadside.] Grand Graphophonic Talking Machine Entertainment. [Chicago: Sears, Roebuck & Co., ca. 1898] Measures appx. 21 by 14 inches, printed on pale rose paper in several fonts, with a large illustration which depicts a top-hat-and-tails host and a happy couple listening to a wax cylinder gramophone. The lower five inches are faintly, almost imperceptibly discolored; short closed tear along the left edge near the headline which, along with the left edge of the entire broadside, has been skillfully reinforced on the verso. Overall in near-fine condition. 



The text below the illustration reads: 



The Graphophone Talking Machine Is Truly One of the Most Wonderful Inventions and Never Fails to Charm ALL Who Hear it. It Talks / It Laughs / It Plays / It Sings. A Strictly High Class Entertainment will be given at which it will be rendered a high-class musical programme, consisting of THE LATEST MUSICAL SELECTIONS, as played by the best bands and orchestras of this country, VOCAL SELECTIONS, as sung by the most noted comic and sentimental singers, SPEECHES of our most noted men, DANCES with CALLS, Etc.” There is a short paragraphs that lauds the fidelity of the reproduction, and goes on to say “Special arrangements have been made for magnifying the sound so that all may hear the entire concert while comfortably seated in any part of the Hall.” At the bottom are blank sections for filling in ticket prices for adults and children and the location of the performance. 



This represents the infancy of the commercial recorded music industry—with the creation of the phonograph, music could be performed and disseminated without musicians actually being present. The lateral-cut disc record was introduced to the U.S. in 1894, and the Victor Talking Machine Company, which would dominate the industry, was created in 1901, so this broadside lies in that transition period when the new recording technologies were still in flux. 

$450 plus shipping 


http://home.comcast.net/~powersrarebooks/Graphophone.jpg 


Greg Powers 
Powers Rare Books 
344 Orange Street 
Manchester NH 03104 
603-624-9707 
powersrarebooks at comcast.net