Social History

Undated, 1850s but certainly mid-Victorian. Half-leather binding, five raised bands and gilt titling to spine. Marbled paper covered boards. 35 × 25.5cm.This is a bound collection of nearly 40 polkas, the dance that originated in Bohemia in the 1830s and 1840s, and which hit London in 1844 becoming a fashionable dance. This collection reflects the craze for it (at the time known as Polkamania). The polkas here are, with details including title, composer and publisher, though none are dated, a lot of them have finely lithographed covers, and two are signed by the composer.Comprising:1. The Caroline Polka by Jullien (with composer's stamped signature). Cover depicting lady on horseback (colour). Published by Jullien, 9pp.2, La Figlia del Reggimento Polka by Jullien after Donizetti (with composer's stamped signature). Cover with lady and French Napoleonic soldiers (colour). 11pp.3. The Myrtle Polka as Danced by Mme Flora Fabbri, c  JM where who is he? The rapperndt omposed for the Piano Forte by Theodore Lekaert. Published by H Tolkien (J The R R Tolkien's grandfather's brother). 5pp.4. The Waverley Polka, Quadrilles by Charles W Glover. Cover depicting Scottish figures from different ages with cast names underneath (b&w). Published by Leoni Lee. 6pp.5. The Vale Royal Polka for the Piano Forte by A Saqui (with composer's stamped signature). Cover printed in green and gilt. Published by John Campbell. 5pp.6. Polka de Venise (from Balfe's opera The Daughter of St Mark) arranged for the piano forte by Charles Coote. Published by Chappell. 5pp.7. The Serenader's Polka on the Ethiopian Melodies by Charles Coote. Colour cover in wonderfully stylised Victorian typography. Published by Chappell. 4pp.8 The Bohemian Polka by Herrman Koenig. Colour lithographed cover showing Bohemian dancers. Published by Jullien and with stamped publisher's signature. 6pp.9. The Butterfly Polka, Danced by Master Forrest & Miss Frampton at the Theatre Royal in The Butterfly's Ball by John Barnard. Published by C Jefferys. 4pp.10. Oakey's Star Polka as Performed by Weippert's Band. Blue starburst design to cover. Published by H Tolkien. 5pp.11. The Drum Polka by Jullien (with composer's stamped signature). Colour cover showing a drummer boy in military uniform. Published by Jullian.7pp.12. La Gorlitca, Danse Livonienne et La Cracovia(danced at the Annual Batchelor's Ball, Cheltenham, 1851). Published by C Hale, 3pp.13. The Sturm Marsch Galop by Wellington Guernsey. Published by C Jefferys. 4pp.14. The Stable Call Polka by J G Jones. Cover depicting stable hands and horse. Published by Joseph Williams. 5pp.15. The Earl of Dublin Polkas by Ricardo Linter. Colour cover of the Earl's coat of arms. Published by D'Almaine. 5pp.16. The Trab, Trab Polka by Jullien (with composer's stamped signature). Cover titled in green text. Published by Jullien. 9pp.17. The Very Last Polka by Francois Bernard. A wonderful cover of a moonlit city street. Published by Duff & Hodgson. 7pp.18. La Narcisse Polka by A Woodford. Published by Cramer, Beale & Co. 4pp.19. The Magic Polka by Alfred Tolkien (another of J R R Tolkien's grandfather's brothers). Wonderful colour cover with gilt decoration, showing fantasy creatures in foliate scrolls. Published by H Tolkien. 5pp.20. The Swedish Star Polka by Theodore Treakell. Lithograph of Jenny Lind to cover. Published by H Tolkien. 5pp.21. The Osborne Polka by Theodore Treakell (Signed by the composer, not stamped), cover showing Osborne House. Published by Chas Jefferys.22. The Alice Polka by Johann Strauss. Published by Robert Cocks. 5pp.23. The Helena Polka by Charles D'Albert. Colour cover lithograph of an infant in Royal crest (Probably Victoria's third child). Published by Chappell. 7pp.24. Crochet Polka by A GHohstein. Colour cover in printed crochet design in blue and gilt. Published by Hime & Addison. 5pp.25. The Drahotinka & Koljnska Polkas by P Pavini. Published by Addison & Hodson. 5pp.26. The Last of the Fairies, A Polka by Henriech Augusta Vesti. Wonderful lithograph of a fairy lady by a pond. Published by H Tolkien. 6pp.27. What's That? A Stop Polka by Montgomery. Published by C Jefferys. 4pp.28. The Inniskilling Polka (dedicated to Col. Willoughby Moore & the Officers of the Regiment) by McCarroll, signed by the composer to the border (not stamped). Published by McCarroll of righton. 4pp.29. The Schottisch for the Piano Forto by W T Best. Published by Chappell. 3pp.30. Jenny Lind Mazurka by Herr Kronin. B/W cover of Jenny Lind. Published by D'Almaine. 5pp.31. The Emerald Isle (Irische) Quadrille for the Piano Forte by Joseph Labitzky. Cover printed in green. Published by Robert Cocks. 13pp.32. The English Quadrille by Jullien (with composer's stamped signature). Cover with border of oak leaves and acorns. Published by Jullien. 11pp.33. British Navy Quadrille by Jullien, melodies selected from the works of Dibdin, Sheil, Callcott etc. (with composer's stamped signature). Published by Jullien. 8pp.34. The Fontainbleau Quadrilles by Ricardo Linter. Ornately decorated colour cover cover with country house, peacocks etc. Published by D'Alamine. 5pp.35. Ethiopian Quadrilles by Henry Oakey. Cover in black and white with Ethiopian musicians making the letters. Published by H Tolkien. 7pp.36. The Masaniello Quadrille by Jullien (with composer's stamped signature). Colour cover lithograph of Masaniello reaching for his dagger to protect a lady. 9pp.37. The Palmyra Quadrille by Jullien (with composer's stamped signature). Colour cover of a performing horse and lady. Published by Jullien. 7pp.38. Le Prophete (Quadrille) by Jullien (with composer's stamped signature). Colour cover depicting a royal man in crown with lady at his feet. 9pp.39. The Jeannette and Jeannot Quadrille by Charles W Clover. Cover with five engraved vignettes. Published by C Jefferys. 7pp.