With so many items in archives it is hard to determine what to feature in the ABM’s news, but today I have decided to feature a Geo. C. Dobson’s “Victor” Banjo Manual. With a copyright of 1887 we believe this may be a first edition, published by White, Smith, & Co. This book contains the principles of music, examples, studies, and gamuts with diagrams and cuts illustrating the positions together with all of the author’s original compositions. Cost for the book in 1887 was $1.00.

 It is cited in the manual that Dobson was born approximately 40 years prior to the book’s publication putting his birth around the late 1840’s. Dobson mastered the banjo at an early age and drew attention from theatrical and concert managers in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington. It was in 1870 that Dobson moved to Boston where he was teaching and performing at the time this book went to print.

 Looking through the book I found a dictionary of musical terms, instructions on how to replace the banjo head along with how to string, tune, and hold a banjo. There are over 60 pages of music in the Geo. C. Dobson’s “Victor” Banjo Manual which includes; Blue Danube Waltz, Snowflake Schottische; Harry Polka; Thimble Waltz, Stratton’s Clog, Holiday Gallop, Banjo Fancy, plus many others.