The Father of the Blues An Autobiography by William C. Handy, 1944. Published by the Macmillan Company, New York. Octavo, 317 pages including index and illustrations, lithographed frontispiece, hardbound in tooled blue cloth covers with black lettering on front cover and spine. Inscription by the author reads "to J. S. Broon, Esq. with sincere affection W. C. Handy 11-8-44" on title page. Includes several magazine and newspaper clippings, an essay titled "Beale Street 'Where the Blues Began'" by Harry E. Goodwin, photographs, postcards, etc. related to Handy and his family collected by the previous owner. 8 5/8" H x 6" W x 1 3/4" D. Provenance: The collection of internationally known ragtime pianist and historian Johnny Maddox, Gallatin, TN. CONDITION: Overall good condition with fading, shelf wear, bumped corners, etc., to covers. Three newspaper clippings and two photographs pasted to inside of front cover with ink inscriptions by previous owner and back of frontispiece. Heavy foxing spots to first and last few pages including frontispiece. Majority of pages in overall good condition with few pencil inscriptions from previous owner.