FATHER OF THE BLUES: An Autobiography - 1941

New York: Macmillan, 1941. First edition. Edited By Arna Bontemps, with foreword by Abbe Niles and frontispiece photograph by Carl Van Vechten. From the man who brought us "Memphis Blues," "Beale Street Blues," and "St. Louis Blues" -- his successes and struggles; his experiences traveling and performing while Black; his association with the literati of the Harlem Renaissance, and more. INSCRIBED BY HANDY to American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers editor Ted Livingston, "To Ted Livingston, with pleasure I add my signature after a most delightful chat. W. C. Handy, 7-8-1941." Livingston chose "St. Louis Blues" -- one of the most recorded songs ever written -- as the subject of a brief essay for an ASCAP booklet series on stories behind songs. The Handy booklet appeared in December that year. 8vo blue cloth boards lettered in black. Large, attractive, music-related bookplate of "Bill and Ted Livingston" on front endpaper. Second draft of Livingston's text for the Handy booklet laid in. Offset (from draft) to endpapers, cloth faded at spine and edges, otherwise very good; in good to very good dust jacket with long tear near spine fold repaired on verso with archival tape, corners chipped, and chipping touching tips of title lettering at head of spine. Scarce book, rare signed and even more so with an association inscription.