With full page and text illustrations, ads, etc. (8vo), illustrated wrappers; housed in custom chemise and slipcase with printed paper label. First Edition.
A copy of Harper's New Monthly Magazine from July, 1855, featuring the first appearance of Lane's song, "The Lone Fish-Ball" (p.281). In 1855, while living at Cloverden in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lane wrote the song "The Lone Fish Ball"; After decades as a staple of Harvard undergraduates, it was modernized into the popular hit "One Meat Ball." The song is composed upon an old English folk song entitled “Sucking Cider Through a Straw.”
In 1944, the song was revived by Tin Pan Alley Songwriters Hy Zaret and Lou Singer in a more bluesy format as "One Meat Ball", and the recording by Josh White became one of the biggest hits of the early part of the American Folk Music Revival. Over the years, It was recorded by the Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby, Jimmy Savo, Lightnin' Hopkins, Lonnie Donegan, Dave Van Ronk, Ry Cooder, Washboard Jungle, Tom Paxton, Shinehead, Ann Rabson, Calvin Russell, and of Course Josh White, among many others.
Condition:
Fair amount of wear and soiling to outer case, with some split edges and a few tape repairs; some staining and edgewear to wrappers, splitting and some areas of loss at spine, rear wrapper nearly detached; interior with some foxing and dampstaining; overall about good.