Bidspirit auction | Antique Phonograph Reference Books Grouping


Antique Phonograph Reference Books Grouping (4) - This collection of four early 20th-century reference books represents a specialized deep-dive into the dawn of acoustic recorded sound technology across American and British markets. The lot features The Phonograph and How to Use It (National Phonograph Co., New York, 1900), Lloyd Macfarlane’s The Phonograph Book (The Rider-Long Co., New York, 1917), W.S. Rogers’ The Gramophone Handbook (Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, London, 1931), and C.W. Noyes’ The C.W.N. Handbook (Ilsen & Co., Cincinnati, 1902). Three of these hardcover volumes feature a crisp, elegant blind-embossed owner stamp in the upper right-hand corner reading ”Duane D. Deakins”—the historic, pioneering mid-century discographer and author of the Comprehensive Index of Cylinder Records. The books present with an honest, uniform aged character, showing minor corner bumping, light shelf rubbing along the cloth and paper-bound boards, generalized edge wear, and faint interior foxing consistent with standard antique handling. H 2.25”, W 8.5”, D 6” . See photos for condition.