Playford, John. (1613-1693). A Introduction To The Skill of Musick. London: Printed by William Pearson, for John and Benj. Sprint at the Bell in Little-Britain. 1724. Eighteenth Edition. An introduction to the skill of musick : in three books: by John Playford. Containing I. The Grounds and Principles of Musick, according to the Gamut: In the most Easy Method, for Young Practitioners. II. Instructions and Lessons for the Treble Tenor, and Bass-Viols; and also for the Treble-Violin. III. The Art of Descant, or composing Music in Parts: Made very Plain and Easy by the Late Mr. Henry Purcell. Small 8vo. Portrait; [i-xvi]; 1 - 170 pp; [advertisement]. Early ownership signatures to the front blank (verso with portrait) of "Sam Ellis" and "W.J. Freemantle." A fine copy, including the portrait of Playford and the prized engraved illustrations of viols in text as well as numerous diamond-shaped note musical scores printed from type. Original full leather boards, some moderate browning around the edges, a very nice copy.
John Playford was a famous publisher of music, a composer, and edited several valuable collections of music. "Playford was enough of a musician to compose many psalm tunes and one glee which became popular; and to write a handbook on the theory of music which, concise, plain and excellent, might well serve for a model today. It was the standard textbook on the subject for nearly a century". (Barclay Squire, "Catalogue of Printed Music before 1801, p. 280).
Though we have been unable to locate any exemplars of his autograph signature for comparison, it is an intriguing possibility that the present first ownership signature in this volume of one Samuel Ellis in an 18th century ink and hand, might be that of Samuel Ellis, namesake of the important New York immigration station, Ellis Island. Born about 1722 in Wrexham, Wales, he immigrated to America and in 1774, bought an island in the waters of New York area, then called Oyster Island. After he bought the island, he turned it into a picnic spot and after his death in 1794, his family was given the property, subsequently selling it to New York government. They named it Ellis Island, after Samuel, subsequently selling it to the federal government.
Playford, John. (1613-1693). A Introduction To The Skill of Musick. London: Printed by William Pearson, for John and Benj. Sprint at the Bell in Little-Britain. 1724. Eighteenth Edition. An introduction to the skill of musick : in three books: by John Playford. Containing I. The Grounds and Principles of Musick, according to the Gamut: In the most Easy Method, for Young Practitioners. II. Instructions and Lessons for the Treble Tenor, and Bass-Viols; and also for the Treble-Violin. III. The Art of Descant, or composing Music in Parts: Made very Plain and Easy by the Late Mr. Henry Purcell. Small 8vo. Portrait; [i-xvi]; 1 - 170 pp; [advertisement]. Early ownership signatures to the front blank (verso with portrait) of "Sam Ellis" and "W.J. Freemantle." A fine copy, including the portrait of Playford and the prized engraved illustrations of viols in text as well as numerous diamond-shaped note musical scores printed from type. Original full leather boards, some moderate browning around the edges, a very nice copy.
John Playford was a famous publisher of music, a composer, and edited several valuable collections of music. "Playford was enough of a musician to compose many psalm tunes and one glee which became popular; and to write a handbook on the theory of music which, concise, plain and excellent, might well serve for a model today. It was the standard textbook on the subject for nearly a century". (Barclay Squire, "Catalogue of Printed Music before 1801, p. 280).
Though we have been unable to locate any exemplars of his autograph signature for comparison, it is an intriguing possibility that the present first ownership signature in this volume of one Samuel Ellis in an 18th century ink and hand, might be that of Samuel Ellis, namesake of the important New York immigration station, Ellis Island. Born about 1722 in Wrexham, Wales, he immigrated to America and in 1774, bought an island in the waters of New York area, then called Oyster Island. After he bought the island, he turned it into a picnic spot and after his death in 1794, his family was given the property, subsequently selling it to New York government. They named it Ellis Island, after Samuel, subsequently selling it to the federal government.