Original sheet music for an 1880 spiritual-style song celebrating the abolition of slavery, in the original decorative wrappers featuring two small “slave” engravings on the front cover and large and detailed engravings for other songs on page 2 and the rear cover.  The song, with music by Samuel Butler and words by James A. Bland, is for voice and piano, with a four-part chorus, and is dedicated to the well-known African-American minstrelsy performer Billy Kersands. While the front cover cites another song, “De Golden Wedding”, this imprint is apparently complete as issued, being identical to the Library of Congress copy displayed online. 6 pp., including covers. In very fine condition with only slight wear to the edges and spine, and one colored pencil mark on the cover. 11 x 14 inches (27.2 x 35.5 cm).

Bland was the first famous African-American song-writer, though few of those Southerners delighted by that Dixie favorite, “Carry Me Back To Old Virginny” (1878), as well as his “Oh! Dem Golden Slippers” (1879) and “Hand Me Down My Walking Cane” (1880) were aware that he was black.  This song, dedicated to the leader of the all-black minstrel group that gave him his musical start in life, may be the only one he wrote which celebrated Emancipation and the end of slavery.  After that, he performed with minstrel groups in Europe and America, but never wrote another successful song and died in penniless obscurity in 1911.