1822 An Account of the National Anthem Entitled God Save the King! With Authorities Taken From Sion College Library, the Ancient Records of the Merchant Tailors' Company, the Old Cheque-Book of His Majesty's Chapel

Description

First Edition, Folding Plates, Illustrated, Leather Binding, Signed Binding

The first edition.

Illustrated with four folding plates, and thirty-three plates, including plates of sheet music. 

Collated, complete.

Half-title is present.

Subscribers list to eight pages to the front, with subscribers including King George IV, other members of the Royal family, and the Duke of Wellington.

Smartly rebound in a modern half morocco binding, bound by Henry T. Wood.

A very interesting and unique history which focuses solely on the national anthem of Great Britain, 'God Save the King/Queen'.

'God Save the King/Queen' was appointed the national anthem in 1745, when George II was on the throne. Thus this history explores the anthem before it was a century old, as it was first published in the version that resembles the present tune in 1744, when it promptly became popularised. The author, Richard Clark, traces the history of the anthem back to the year 1607, after his escape from the Gunpowder Plot.

By Richard Clark.