1.

The first Beadle's Dime Song Book⁽¹⁾ was published by Irwin P. Beadle (not Irwin P. Beadle & Co.) at 333 Broadway, New York.

It is a small booklet, 5 7/8 by 3 ¾ inches in size, trimmed, with buff wrappers, and contains 71 pages and one or more pages of advertisements. It was deposited for copyright April 19, 1859,⁽²⁾ and was apparently the first of all the dime booklets which, later, were to make the name of Beadle famous.

A second issue, also published by Irwin P. Beadle (not Irwin P. Beadle & Co.), now at 137 William Street, was deposited for copyright December 14, 1859.⁽³⁾ It was apparently printed before that date, however, for the firm name was changed to Irwin P. Beadle & Co. some two months earlier. Like the first edition, it is small in size, has buff wrappers and has 71 plus one pages.

Still later, No. 1 was issued by Irwin P. Beadle & Co., from 137 William Street. The covers, which carry the names of Ross & Tousey, Publishers' Agents, remain buff, and the number of pages of songs are the same as before, but there are now eight pages of advertisements at the back as well as advertisements on the back wrapper. One page is an advertisement of Firth, Pond & Co., dealers in music and musical instruments. It is very seldom that one finds advertisements other than Beadle's own in any Beadle publication. I have seen no copy of this songster issued from 141 William Street, either by Irwin P. Beadle & Co., or by Beadle & Co., although it is quite probable that the booklet was issued by the latter in small size and with buff wrappers. In 1867, Beadle & Co. issued Song Book No. 1 in the larger size, 6 3/8 by 4 1/8 inches, with orange wrappers, from 118 William Street. It then bore on the cover an illustration and carried the title Home Again Songster. It contains but 64 pages, and some of the songs of the first edition were omitted. It was again reprinted, much later, by Beadle & Adams, 98 William Street.

2.

Widow Machree Song Book, as it was called in later editions, was first issued by Irwin P. Beadle (not Irwin P. Beadle & Co.) with the addresses 137 William Street, New York, and 227 Main Street, Buffalo, on the title page.

The book was copyrighted July 14, 1859. At that time Irwin had not yet cut loose entirely from Buffalo, and his address was still in the Buffalo City Directory. The advertisement in the New York Tribune for July 27, 1859, reads:

A Dime! A Dime!
A Song Book for a Dime!
The Dime Song Book No. 2.
Ross & Tousey, General Agents.

The booklet is of the same small size as the preceding number, has 72 pages and buff wrappers. Later issues by Beadle & Co., 118 William Street and Beadle & Adams, 98 William Street, have orange covers with an illustration on the front, are of the larger size, and contain 64 pages.

3.

I Have Something to Tell You. Originally of the same small size as the first issue of No. 1, and with the same buff or cream wrappers, this book has 71 pages of songs, one blank page, and eight pages of advertisements of Beadle publications.

It was published by Irwin P. Beadle (no Co. in firm name), 137 William Street, and was copyrighted in 1859. Later editions are of the larger size, have cream colored covers and bear the imprint, Beadle & Co., 118 William Street. Still later editions have pictorial orange covers and bear the title given above.

4.

Stand by the Flag, as it was called later, also first appeared in the small size with buff wrappers and with no cut on the cover. It had 71 pages, one blank, and eight pages of advertisements. It was issued in November or early December, 1859, by Irwin P. Beadle, 137 William Street.

A later edition was issued by Irwin P. Beadle & Co., and still later one by Beadle & Co., 141 William Street. This has cream colored covers, and differs from the preceding only in the advertisements. In the later editions with orange wrappers and of the larger size, the contents were rearranged to some extent, and the final seven pages of songs were omitted, leaving but 64 pages. Beadle & Co., 118 William Street, and Beadle & Adams, 98 William Street, were the publishers' imprints.

5.

The Old Arm Chair. This song book, in the early editions, is still of the smaller size, has no illustration on the front cover, and has 72 pages of songs, plus eight of advertisements.

It was deposited for copyright March 30, 1860, by Irwin P. Beadle & Co., 137 William Street, but it must have been on the market considerably earlier in the year, for No. 6 was already on sale March 29. The later editions on larger paper and with orange wrappers, have but 64 pages, and bear on the front cover an illustration and the title. The songs in these editions were considerably rearranged.

6.

Bobbin' Around, as it was later called, was first issued in small size with buff wrappers and 72 pages of songs.

It was deposited for copyright the same day as No. 5, and was advertised in the New York Tribune, March 29, 1860,but may have appeared somewhat earlier. Irwin P. Beadle & Co., 137 William Street, were the publishers. The later, larger sized issue, in orange wrappers, contained but 64 pages.

7.

Nelly Bly. The original edition of No. 7 is of the small size and has buff wrappers. It contains 73 pages of songs and five of advertisements. Irwin P. Beadle & Co., 141 William Street, is the publishers' imprint.

The book was deposited for copyright on November 10, 1860, but it was already advertised in the New York Tribune on October 4, as "Ready today." My own copy has the name of Beadle & Co. on the wrapper but Irwin P. Beadle & Co. on the title page. Since the firm's name was changed from Irwin P. Beadle & Co. to Beadle & Co. early in October, it may be that the booklets were printed before this change took place, and the covers were added afterwards. Perhaps copies were issued with Irwin's name on both title page and cover, but I have seen none such.

Later editions, in the larger size, with orange wrappers, have a picture on the front cover and bear the words "Nelly Bly Songster," after the popular song by that name.

Nelly Bly! Nelly Bly! bring de broom along,
We'll sweep de kitchen clean, my dear, and hub a little song.
Poke de wood, my lady lub, and make de fire burn;
And while I take de banjo down, just gib de mush a turn.

As usual, the larger sized and later editions consist of but 64 pages.

8.

Old Black Joe. The first edition, of small size and with buff wrappers, was deposited for copyright March 8, 1862, by Beadle & Co., 141 William Street.

There are 72 pages plus eight pages of advertisements. As usual, the number of pages was reduced to 64 in the later editions with orange wrappers.

9.

Jockey Hat and Feather. This appears to be the last number originally issued in the small size. Beadle & Co., publishers, 141 William Street, New York, and 44 Paternoster Row, London.

The booklet was copyrighted June 5, 1862, and has 72 pages plus eight pages of advertisements. As usual, it was reprinted in the larger size with orange wrappers on which is a cut with the title given above, and the number of pages was reduced to 64.

10.

Who Will Care for Mother Now? Early in 1863, Beadle & Co. moved from 141 to 118 William Street, and thereafter issued their songbooks, dialogues, and handbooks in the same format as their dime novels.

No. 10, therefore, when it first appeared, came out at once in approximately 6½ by 4¼ inch size, but still with the buff wrappers of the earlier booklets. It was the first of the song books to have an illustration on the cover of the original edition. It has the title given above, and a picture of a dying soldier and his comrade. The number of pages is only 64 in the first edition, and thereafter that number was usual. The book was deposited for copyright September 18, 1863. Reprints have the usual orange covers.

11.

Gay and Happy. Beadle & Co., Publishers, 118 William Street and 44 Paternoster Row, London.

Deposited for copyright November 19, 1863. Original wrappers were buff, and the number of pages 64. Reprints are, as usual, in orange wrappers.

12.

The Vacant Chair. Beadle & Co., 118 William Street, but the London address is omitted hereafter, Beadle having sold that branch of the publishing house to George Routledge & Sons.

It was issued⁽⁴⁾ February 12, 1864, and deposited for copyright February 18. The cover was originally buff, and the number of pages 64. Usual reprints in orange wrappers.

13.

Come in and Shut the Door. Beadle & Co., 118 William Street.

This songster was deposited for copyright April 27, 1864. It has buff wrappers and 64 pages. Reprints on orange as usual.

Oh, do not stand so long outside,
Why need you be so shy?
The people's eyes are open, John.
As they are passing by;
You cannot tell what they may think,
They've said strange things before,
And if you want to talk a while,
Come in and shut the door.

14.

Tenderly, Lift Him with Cure. Beadle & Co., 118 William Street.

Deposited for copyright, June 16, 1864. Buff wrappers, 64 pages. Reprints, as usual, are orange.

15.

When the Boys Come Home. Same address.

Deposited for copyright December 31, 1864, but it was announced in Dime Fiction to appear November 4. Buff wrappers and 64 pages. Orange wrappers on reprints.

16.

Victory at Last. Same address.

Deposited for copyright July 11, 1865. The Library of Congress copy with the date of deposit written on it has an orange cover, but presumably it was also issued in buff. It has 64 pages.

17.

The Finished Songster. Same address.

Copyrighted in 1866. Buff wrappers and 64 pages. It was issued February 20, 1866. Reprints as usual, have orange wrappers.

18.

Kiss Me while I'm Dreaming. Same address.

Deposited for copyright August 25, 1866. 64 pages. It is probable that this was issued originally with buff covers, but if so, it was the last so to appear. I have, however, seen it only in the usual orange.

The preceding eighteen Dime Songbooks were also issued in two bound volumes, nine songbooks to the volume, at one dollar each.

19.

Is That Croquet? Same address as preceding.

This and all succeeding numbers were issued only in orange wrappers. Deposited for copyright May 17, 1867, but announced as ready April 12. 64 pages.

20.

We'll have to Get the Style. Same address.

Deposited for copyright September 9, 1867. Orange wrappers, 64 pages.

21.

The Grecian Bend Songster.

With this number the cover design was changed. The title of the series, printed in one straight line across the top of the front wrapper, now became "Beadle's Dime Song Book Series," and the books thereafter were called Songsters. The change came, as such changes usually came with the Beadle firm, when they moved this time from 118 to 98 William Street, on May 1, 1868. It has the new address and was copyrighted in 1868. It was advertised⁽⁵⁾ September 26. The wrappers are orange and the book has 64 pages.

22.

Fifth Avenue Songster. Beadle & Co., 98 William Street.

Deposited for copyright December 16, 1868, but advertised⁽⁶⁾ December 5. 64 pages of songs of William H. Lingard, Maggie Mitchell, and Bobby Newcomb.

23.

Velocipede Belle Songster. Beadle & Co., 98 William Street.

Issued⁽⁷⁾ February 27, 1869. 64 pages.

24.

Mistress Jinks Burlesque Songster. Same address. Copyrighted 1869.

Advertised June 22, 1869. 64 pages.

25.

The Nobby Fellow's Songster. Same address. Copyrighted 1870. Published early in the year. 64 pages.

26.

That Gay Young Clerk Songster. Same address. Advertised⁽⁸⁾ August 13, 1870. 64 pages.

Oh! Augustus Dolphus is his name,
From Skiddymadink they say he came,
He's a handsome man, and he's proud and poor,
This gay young clerk, in the dry-goods store.

27.

Heathen Chinee Songster. Same address.

Advertised⁽⁹⁾ February 18, 1871. 64 pages. Bret Harte's "Heathen Chinee" (Plain Language from Truthful James) first appeared in the September, 1870, number of The Overland Monthly. Beadle's Songster, up to the minute, appeared either late in 1870 or early in 1871.

28.

Girls, Don't Fool with Cupid Songster. Same address.

Advertised August 1, 1871. 64 pages.

29.

Dexter Smith's, Now It's Bed Time Songster. Same address.

Advertised⁽¹⁰⁾ November 11, 1871. 64 pages, with a frontispiece portrait of Dexter Smith.

30.

Mollie Darling Songster. Same address.

Advertised⁽¹¹⁾ January 6, 1872. 64 pages.

31.

The New Dolly Varden Songster. Same address.

Advertised⁽¹²⁾ June 22, 1872. 64 pages. The heading reads "Copyright Song Book Series."

32.

Serio-Comic Songster.

On the first of July, 1872, the firm of Beadle & Co. again took the name under which the later numbers of The Home were published, namely, Beadle & Adams, and they continued under that name until their effects were sold to M. J. Ivers & Co. many years later. The "Serio-Comic Songster" was the first of the song books to be published under the revived name. It was copyrighted in 1873, and was advertised⁽¹³⁾ June 7, 1873. 64 pages of songs in the usual orange covers. The heading of the booklet reads "Copyright Song Book Series."

33.

Crusader's Temperance Songster. Beadle & Adams, 98 William Street.

Advertised⁽¹⁴⁾ April 18, 1874. 64 pages, orange cover.

34.

Centennial Songster. Same publishers and address as preceding.

Advertised⁽¹⁵⁾ June 24, 1876. 68 pages, orange covers. The heading is again "Beadle's Dime Song Book Series."