ROWSON, Susanna Haswell (1762-1824). "Orphan Nosegay Girl." Boston: Printed and sold by G[ottlieb] Graupner, at his Musical Academy [c.1803-1806].

First edition of a rare example of sheet music by Susanna Rowson. Actress, novelist, poet, and teacher Susanna Rowson was also an ambitious songwriter, authoring more than 35 songs, many of which were published as sheet music. Several were collected in Miscellaneous Poems (1804), including this one, as well as in various anthologies. In four four-line stanzas, "Orphan Nosegay Girl" visits a a familiar theme for Rowson, that of an abandoned child, "left wretched and poor," whose Father fell dead "in the Nations Defence," followed soon by the Mother—the destitute, lonely child implores, "Do pray buy my Roses for hard is my Fate, / My Parents to Heaven are Fled, / Bestow then a Trifle before 'tis too late, / My poor little Sisters want Bread." Gottlieb Graupner operated a music academy and store in downtown Boston and is listed in the Boston Directory between 1805-25. He was a prolific publisher of sheet music and taught music at Mrs Rowson's school at Medford. BAL 17055 (second printing with plate number 45 in lower margin).

Quarto (314 x 237mm). Single leaf (removed from larger volume, minor loss at margins, some spotting).