Published in 1806 by Archibald Loudon, A Selection of One Hundred and Forty of the Most Favourite English, Scotch, Irish, and American Songs compiles these lyrics into just 228 small pages. Though only the opening title page displays the full title, publisher, and publishing date, this leaves space for the immense number of transcribed songs within the book. Just 4.5 inches in height, 2.5 in width, and approximately one inch in thickness, the songbook is beautifully pocket-sized—and durable for travel, too, considering it is in one piece despite its age.

Image of the book’s red leather spine with gold decoration.

Image of the book’s front cover, showcasing its rounded corners and damage to the glossy finish.

Following the title page, A Selection opens with a table of contents that spans for six pages, listing the name of each song in alphabetical order and the corresponding page number. While the “Contents” are straightforward, the songs themselves in the book are listed in no particular order, and often with no specified tune. Occasionally, they feature extended titles: ones that provide hints towards the folks that compiled these “favourites,” specifying what makes the included song valued. For instance, the Marriage of Miss Catty O’ Donovan to Mr. Paddy O’ Rafferty is also included as “THE FAVOURITE NEW SONG OF TID RE I,” a unique title that makes the following lyrics feel novel in comparison to the surrounding transcriptions. Each song is separated only by a small, flower-like design, allowing each tiny page to be used to its fullest. Because A Selection focuses near-exclusively on the titles and lyrics of songs, with nothing but contents pages and the title page describing otherwise, the stories of the songs are front and center. Owners of this book may be expected to know the majority of the song tunes, or be left to enjoy the poetic musicality of the writing above the actual singing of it.

Image of the book’s title page, including the full title and publishing information.

This copy is unassuming and subtly stylish, paired with the charm of its wear-and-tear. The outside features a cover of glossy brown finish, still visible in small spots. Its spine is a thin, richly-red leather, with a decorative gold design of simple lines and elaborate flowers stamped in. “SONGS” is the only word on the spine: an effective description of the book’s contents, as well as a reminder of how it holds these works of art in such high esteem. Within the pages, song titles are centered and in delicate italics, while lyric lines vary in indentation, alternating placement in a way that enhances their musicality without use of sound. Emphasized words or titles are capitalized: for example, the first word of each song, or extended titles. Punctuation is used just as expressively; many lines end in passionate exclamation points or question marks. 

The damage done to the book is perhaps a testament to its pocket-sized role as a companion and its sturdy construction. The texture of the spine’s top is worn, and the middle portion sags from being cracked. The cover’s condensed layers of pasteboard separate at the rounded corners, causing a medium brown, splotchy binding. Bits of solid, brown food can be found close to the book’s center when opened, and all pages suffer from some extent of browned liquid staining. The majority of page corners are folded, curled, slightly faded, or torn—the title page, especially, is torn, with one section ripped out from its side. However, the damage fails to render any text unreadable, likely due to the pages being fabric-based, making them more resistant in comparison to wood pulp. The most concerning damage—the damage obscuring the lyrics which the book seeks to preserve and share—is one small mistake in ink, located on page 201, which blocks some of the word “cheer.” 

Image of page 201, including the partially blocked word.

A Selection appears to be well-loved in more ways than its sustained damage, as it contains curious writing on the inside of its covers as well as on its few blank start and end pages. I have not been able to make out the majority of the writing thus far, as it is significantly smudged and faded. In fact, some smudged handwriting on the back cover appears to have rubbed off from a separate paper altogether, with the book as a makeshift folder. Smeared ink covers one of the blank back pages. “Chas. H.” and an unclear surname is written above “Carlisle PA U.S.A” on the inside front cover. On the inside back cover: “George,” an unclear surname, “his Book 1838 song Book 1838.” George’s sincere ownership of this copy brings to mind a possible explanation for its damage—a long life alongside a person familiar with the compiled songs.

Images of the writing in the book’s inside covers: “George.”

“Chas. H.”

Though it has a long history stretching back to 1806, this copy of A Selection contains a significant air of mystery. The question of who compiled these lyrics, and why, weighs heavy on it. As I work to decipher the additional handwriting in its pages, including the surnames of its prior readers, I consider the mysteries of the book to be one of its best features. By pairing a genuine enjoyment of its music with curiosity, any reader like myself will discover an imaginative realm of possible stories of the life of A Selection.

Bibliography

A Selection of One Hundred and Forty of the Most Favourite English, Scotch, Irish, and American Songs. 1806. SC 398 87 S698. Dickinson College Archives & Special Collections.

Images taken by iPhone within the Dickinson College Archives.