Subject: Music publishing

This postcard advertises the new opera "Virginia, or Ringing the Changes" by Henry P. Stephens and Edward Solomon, authors of "Billee Taylor, &c." The postcard lists prices for various musical arrangements from the opera, including Vocal Score ($1.00), Potpourri (75), Waltz (35), Libretto (15), Lanciers (50), and Galop (35). It states that "Virginia is a dainty and charming opera and has gained deserved and immediate popularity." The opera was published by Wm. A. Pond & Co. at 25 Union Square, N. Y. The verso of the postcard features a decorative "POSTAL CARD." banner with ornate scrollwork, and a printed U.S. Postage One Cent stamp design depicting a classical female bust.

A receipt in letter form from Jacob I. Cohen of Baltimore, Maryland, dated October 5, 1826, acknowledging payment to John Cole, a music publisher in Baltimore. The receipt details a purchase of thirteen musical items between September 1 and October 5, 1826, including songs, quartets, German church music, and parts from Weber's opera Oberon. John Cole also sold his own music arrangements.

This item is sheet music for "The Jew Broker," a song featured in the "New Entertainment of the Jew and the Doctor," with lyrics attributed to M. Bernard. The sheet music includes musical notation and song lyrics, and was printed and sold by R. Shaw in Philadelphia and T. Hewitt in New York, priced at 25 Cents. R. Shaw is identified as an "Importer of Music and Musical Instruments" at 15 South Fourth in Philadelphia. The verso of the first sheet contains a faint pencil sketch of a head. The piece is from Thomas Dibdin's 1798 farce, notable for its portrayal of Jewish characters, reflecting a historical trend towards more sympathetic depictions while still using broadly drawn dialect.

This item is sheet music for the song "She walks in beauty," from the collection "Hebrew Melodies." The words were written by Lord Byron, and the music was arranged by I. Braham and I. Nathan. It was published in New York by W. Dubois in 1815. The item features musical notation, lyrics, and an ornate title for "Hebrew Melodies," with prominent text attributing the words to Lord Byron and music arrangement to I. Braham & I. Nathan. This piece is part of a collaboration where composer Isaac Nathan (who initially studied to be a rabbi) and Lord Byron produced a collection of songs. Nathan claimed the tunes were derived from ancient Jewish temple music, though many were European folk songs adapted for synagogue services. The "I. Braham" credited is John Braham, a popular Jewish singer of the time, who allegedly lent his name for half the profits. The publication generated some backlash for Byron due to the period's prejudice against Jewish people. Notably, "She walks in beauty" was written by Byron prior to this collaboration, inspired by Mrs. Anne Beatrix Wilmot, and has no explicit connection to Judaism or Jewish themes. The document shows signs of age.