Asa Willcox's book of figures, 1793
Subtitle: multigraphed from a manuscript in the possession of the Newberry Library
Contributors: Newberry Library
Publisher: [s.n.]
Published: 1918
Place of publication: Chicago
Language: eng
Subjects: Dance; Country dancing; Early works to 1800; Handbooks, manuals; Instruction and study
Other titles: Book of figures
Description: Based on an original manuscript published in 1793 and located in Chicago's Newberry Library, this modern version notes that the "spelling, capitalization, punctuation and underlining of the original have been scrupulosly followed, occasionally at the expense of clearness" (pg. ii). The manuscript contains one- or two-sentence descriptions of figures for thirty-eight country dances (dances that consisted of a series of figures and danced by a column of men facing a column of women).
Notes: "The 'Book of figures' is a little manuscript that has recently been presented to the Newberry Library by the Librarian. The book appears to be a guide such as would be used by a fiddler or other musician in calling off the successive movements of dances. It was found some years ago in the attic of an old house in one of the smaller towns in Hartford County, Connecticut."--Foreword.

"150 copies multigraphed, October, 1918."

Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as facsimile page images and full text.

cat d:rlin:md 20031120 aab