SACRED SONGS FOR LITTLE CHILDREN

1919. GAYNOR, Jessie L. SACRED SONGS FOR LITTLE CHILDREN FOR EVERY-DAY IN THE WEEK. NY: The John Church Company, [1919]. 8vo., blue-green cloth stamped in black; 102 pages. First Edition. Short, concise, and easy to remember songs, most in one verse, for children. Gaynor [1863-1921] was a very popular and successful American composer of children's music. Signed photograph of Gaynor (on nice, photo-stock paper) tipped to the front pastedown: "Compliments of the Author." Gaynor is knitting in the photograph. Also with an autograph, three-stanza poem penned by Gaynor on the front endpaper: "'Twas customary long ago, For grand-ma-mas to knit, so in that picture of old times, This grand-ma-ma will fit./ The fact that one wrties verse makes, One not a whit less fit, To be an old time grand-ma-ma, And knit- and knit- and knit./ This little book will bring to you, A world of love this year, And many, many wishes for, A season of good cheer. J.L.G." One can speculate that this was given to her grandchild. Autograph material by Gaynor is scarce in the marketplace and this book has a special charm with the photograph and the poem. Gaynor died two years after this book was published and is buried in the famous Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri. Very Good condition (contents clean & tight, small stain rear cover). $350.00.