The Book Shed

much wear to the paper covers which have been resewn and are creased, soiled, page corners creased, pages 19-26 loose, some pages dampstained, scattered foxing. Ante-Fire Imprints # 746. 1 score (60 pages) ; 17 x 25 cm. George F. Root, who wrote and published the first Civil War song three days after Fort Sumter, is said to have produced the most songs of anyone about the war, over thirty in total. President Lincoln once wrote a letter to Root, saying, "You have done more than a hundred generals and a thousand orators". This collection includes his perhaps most famous and certainly longest lasting creation, The Battle Cry of Freedom which was first published in 1862. This is likely its first collected appearance. George Frederick Root (1820-1895) was born at Sheffield, Massachusetts, and was named after the German-born British composer George Frideric Handel. Building on his talent for song-writing, Root would spend most of his career (when not writing, or helping to manage his publishing company) traveling and teaching at Musical Institutes that moved from town to town. He was instrumental in developing mid- and late-19th century American musical education. Root moved to Chicago in 1859 to work for his brother's music publishing house of Root & Cady. It became the most successful music publisher of the American Civil War and published many of the most popular songs during that war. Root & Cady dominated Chicago's music publishing industry until the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed $125,000 of the firm's inventory,leading to its bankruptcy within a year. Books and other items ship promptly with a tracking number and (generally over $15.00) jacket protectors if applicable. Clean recycled packing material will be used when possible. The Book Shed has a been a member of the Vermont Antiquarian Bookseller's Association since 1997. An online bookseller with a bookshop sensibility!