original 1952 HARRY SMITH Folkways anthology all 3 volumes 6 LPS & book
$
400
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Description
A very rare opportunity to own all 3 original volumes first pressings of the legendary ANTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN FOLK MUSIC edited and compiled by musicologist and American magus HARRY EVERETT SMITH. The story behind the creation of these 6 LPs make this first issue an important artifact. (A volume 4 that was planned and never published in Smith's lifetime would've had the first recordings of Robert Johnson to be pressed on 33 1/3 rpm.) It is perhaps the most sought-after set ever published by Folkways, and its importance as a source of music inspiration in latter half 20th century America is beyond measure. This release has been called the birth of rock n roll, and its hard to imagine where the blues and folk revivals of the 1960s would've happened without Harry Smith's work in this field.
All three linen gatefolds are worn but intact with no serious damage, and with perfect cover labels. The records are on thick vinyl and are VG and bright with exception to the discs of volume 2 which seem to have had more play and if I recall from 25 years ago when I laid these down on cassette tape, there was a skip on one of the tracks.. But I have never cleaned these discs, and I have seen professional cleaners do wonders on seemingly terrible records. And these are very bright with clean unmarked labels.
This set includes the intact first issue booklet of notes on the tracks, designed and pasted-up by Harry Smith. The booklet, in excellent condition, on its own is a bonafide rare book. Whats more is volumes 2 & 3 bear the store / price label of H Royer Smith, a Philadelphia seller who has the distinction of being the first music store in America, almost 200 years old when these records were on its shelves.
Shipping in the US is $8.00 media mail, $18 by priority. Outside the US ships through the Global Shipping Program only.
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