THE WASHINGTONIAN CHOIR, Original and Selected Music: with an Accompaniment for the Piano-Forte or Organ. Composed, Selected, Arranged, and Adapted to the Cause of Total Abstinence by Plimpton, J - 1843

Boston: Printed for the author and proprietor by Kidder and Wright, 1843. First Edition. Hardcover. Fair. Two parts in one, with an index. Job Plimpton (1784-1864) was an early American composer and organ builder who supplied the music at many gatherings of the Washingtonians, a temperance fellowship founded in 1840. This collection of nearly 70 songs features several of Plimpton's compositions, including "Come join the Cold Water Army," and "Oh, say, can you see thro' the dark mental night" with lyrics by Plimpton set to "The Star Spangled Banner." 79 p. Octavo. Original printed paper-covered boards over a brown cloth spine. The contents are lightly toned, with minor evidence of moisture. Mild creasing to the rear flyleaf. The front hinge is cracked and separated. The top half of the rear panel has perished, exposing the board below. Some general browning to the boards, which are showing along the extremities. Not in Sabin. Scarce, OCLC locates only five copies (UCLA, Trinity College, Boston Public, Oberlin, and Brown).