[WIGGINS, THOMAS, KNOWN AS "BLIND TOM"],SONGS, SKETCH OF THE LIFE, Testimonials From The Most Eminent Composers, And Opinions Of The American And English Press, of Blind Tom the Marvelous Musical Prodigy, the Negro Boy Pianist, whose recent performances at the Great St. James and Egyptian Halls, London, and Salle Hertz, Paris, have created such a profound sensation. New York: French & Wheat, n.d. [1867]. Pamphlet, in publisher's printed wrappers. Minor chipping to front wrapper, more substantial chipping with losses to the rear. A previous owner has written a date in pencil on the rear wrapper, under the heading: "Bind Tom's Concerts. Programme" -- "March 25th, 1868" -- and has made tick marks beside individual specific musical works on the list of "Bind Tom's musical repetoire. This appears to be a record of a specific concert played by Thomas Wiggins, and strongly suggests that this pamphlet was printed before March of 1868. The fact is noteworthy, since there are other editions of this text printed by a job-printing house in Baltimore, which include a Steinway piano ad mentioning that firm's having won a medal at the 1876 Centennial Exposition -- demonstrating that the Baltimore versions of this title most likely appeared about a decade after this New York edition. Thomas Wiggins, born into slavery in 1849 became the most famous piano prodigy in the 19th Century. In 1860, he played for President James Buchanan in Washington -- the first African American to give a command performance at the White House.
PROVENANCE: Estate of Jim Graham, former Washington, DC, Councilman Estimate $250-400
