274 / 326
RARE SET
401
●
(MUSIC—MINSTRELSY.)
The “Cake Walk.”
Series of five chromolitho-
graphic prints, which went with a series of post cards bearing the same images, 17 x 17
1
/
2
inches, nicely and uniformly matted and framed.
Np, nd
[2,000/3,000]
402
●
(MUSIC—MINSTRELSY.)
Primrose and West, America’a Greatest Ologists.
Lithographic poster 20 x 26 inches; paper evenly toned, framed [
TOGETHER WITH
]
Yours
Truly, Primrose
and West, a 16 page, folio, brochure with songs from Primrose and West’s
shows.
New York: Carleston, Cavanagh & Co, circa 1897
[2,000/3,000]
A RARE POSTER AND SONGBOOK FROM AMERICA
’
S FIRST MIXED RACE MINSTREL COMPANY
.
George Primrose (1852-1919) and “Billy” West (1853-1902) were the headliners in this mam-
moth troupe, sometimes called “The Forty Whites and Thirty Blacks.” The Troupe was immensely
popular, and famous for the “Cakewalk,” a strutting dance. Early minstrels consisted of a minimum of
fifteen men on stage in “Part One,” arranged in semi-circle shaking tambourines as the curtain rose.
In the center stood an elegantly attired “Interlocutor,” while down stage, at each end were the gaudily
dressed comedians, “Mr. Bones,” and “Mr. Tambo.” The quick repartee between the two traditionally
made a fool of Mr. Interlocutor, whose duty it was to absorb their impudent punch lines to the delight
of the audience.” (Black Magic, page 27).
401