Printed sheet music with a cover designed by Edmund Blampied
Three pieces of sheet music with a decorated cover by Blampied have been found, all for the same publisher, Ascherberg, Hopwood & Crew of London. The company was founded in 1906 and is still active. The piece dated 1911 was probably one of Blampied's first commissions when he was trying to establish himself as an independent artist. The anugular type of signature used is uncommon.
The large pretty covers were designed to attract purchasers in a time when most people listened to songs played on the piano, and may have been quite expensive to print in colours. The price of 1/6d is equivalent to about £7.50 today.
I have looked in the British Library at the sheet music published by Ascherberg's but they submitted copies without the decorated covers, so the library only has the printed music scores.
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Glamour Valse by Amherst Weber: Ascherberg, Hopwood & Crew, London (1911)
Fancy Dress Waltz by Henry Coates: Ascherberg, Hopwood & Crew, London (1913)
Popular Duets for the Piano by various: George Newnes and Ascherberg, Hopwood & Crew, London [c 1913]