Fitz, Asa. The American School Hymn Book. Boston: Crosby, Nichols & Co., 1857. Seventieth Thousand. [11014]
Dark burgundy cloth, blind stamped, title in gilt to front, small nick on the backstrip, 11.3 x 7 cm (4 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches), binding is clean, tight. Pale yellow end papers with publisher's adverts. 192 generally clean pp., some foxing. Very good. Hardcover.
"Stereotyped by J. E. Farwell & Co., 32 Congress Street, Boston" on verso of tp. The copyright date is 1854.
Words only, no music.
"All schools, so far as possible, should commence and close the exercises of the day with a song of praise. This would tend greatly to refine and educate the moral elements of character, of which the pupil stands so much in need, and which, at the present day, is so much neglected." - Preface.
Asa Fitz (1810-1878), b. Candia, NH; d. Watertown, MA. He was a hymn-writer, music teacher and publisher. He has been credited with introducing singing curricula to public schools. "In his books and lessons, Fitz advocated for singing instruction in public schools that was universally accessible, morally and spiritually sound, and enjoyable." - Introduction to the Asa Fitz Collected Papers, Watertown Free Public Library, Watertown, MA.
With a signed provenance card from the music collection of A. Merril Smoak, Jr., DWS.
