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The Hippopotamus Polka.
New York: Published by W. Hall & Son, and Montreal: J. W. Herbert & Co., [ca. 1850]; Sarony, [i.e., Sarony & Major], lithographer. 4to (13” x 10.375”) sheet music, lithographic front cover. 10 pp., incl. cover and 3 final blank pp., a.e.g., disbound from larger volume. CONDITION: Very good, some faint toning at margins, one short tear to right margin of p. 7. The rare American edition of this fantastically-illustrated sheet music, inspired by the sensational arrival of the Egyptian hippopotamus Obaysch in London in 1850. A gift to Queen Elizabeth from Abbas Pasha, the Viceroy of Egypt, Obaysch made such a splash upon his arrival in England in the spring of 1850 that ripples of hippomania were felt across the pond. The sheet music offered here bears New York lithographer Napoleon Sarony’s replica of John Brandard’s image, published in London by Charles Jefferys. The cover depicts an attractive young lady with flowers in her shining dark ringlets, one hand delicately holding the chin of her dance partner, an enormous, sad-faced hippo in coat and tails. The music itself can be heard here. Beginning a decade later, American audiences would be treated to the real thing, when another hippo, Bucheet, was shipped from Hull, England and toured the United States and Canada beginning in 1860. The music itself begins “Meditatingly and Slow” and ends with a section titled “His Solo,” with direction to play “tremendo.” Composer Louis St. Mars is best known for his “Hippopotamus Polka,” though he published “The Newmarket Galop. A Racy Inspiration produced on the Spur of the Moment” during the same period. Born in Tarrytown, New York in 1796, music publisher William Hall began his career as a musical instrument manufacturer, forming a partnership with John Firth (1789–1864) in 1821, and in 1833 admitting Sylvanus Billings Pond (1792–1871) to become Firth, Hall & Pond. “In 1847 Hall left that firm and with his son James F. Hall formed William Hall & Son. James withdrew from the firm in 1870 to join the army. William Hall died on May 3, 1874 and his firm was acquired by Oliver Ditson & Co. of Boston. In addition to publishing and selling sheet music William Hall & Son manufactured and sold pianos, organs, melodeons, guitars, and woodwind instruments” (“William Hall & Son”). Napoleon Sarony (1821–1896) was born in Quebec and came to New York in his teens, where he joined Nathaniel Currier’s firm and established himself as a skilled lithographic artist. In 1846 he formed Sarony & Major with Henry B. Major, previously a lithographic printer with Currier. Sarony & Major were prolific producers of sheet music covers as well as large advertising posters, tobacco box labels, trade cards, illustrations for government reports, maps, views and more. In 1857, Joseph F. Knapp became a partner, the firm thereafter known as Sarony, Major & Knapp. Sarony remained head of the art department until 1863, but by 1866 had opened a photography studio on Broadway. In 1871 he relocated to more auspicious quarters on Union Square and went on to become the best known portrait photographer in New York. The lithography company continued as Major & Knapp until it was acquired by the American Lithographic Company in 1891. OCLC records just two holdings, at the University of Michigan and Johns Hopkins. REFERENCES: “The Hippopotamus Polka: A Royal Affair” at Images Musicales stories online; “William Hall & Son” at IMSLP Petrucci Music Library online.
Item #10569
Price: $475.00
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