Very scarce. A collection of sea shanties (chanties) sung by sailors and dockers to pass the time and ease the strain of manual labour, published shortly before the start of WWI. The book includes an appreciation by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (creator of Sherlock Holmes), who states with gratitude: "I fear in these days of steam winches that the old stamp-and-go of ten men on a rope is gone for ever. And yet your book will help to preserve it, and to those who know and can feel, there is a smack of salt spray in every line of these rude virile verses". In good condition with moderate age-staining to the boards, gutter starting just before music sheets, upper paper layer peeling at two corners, lower layer peeling at inner rear, and a faded ink stamp to the front free endpaper. Text block generally clean, perfectly useable. Bound in black cloth with illustrated paper boards, details in blue-black. A fascinating piece of musical history. 27.5 x 19 cm. Pp. [i], xviii, 35,[2].
