1892-93 Premium List of the "Galaxy of Music"

Quarto, self wraps, 12.25 x 10 inches, (32) pages. Printed on light blue paper stock that has sunned to a greenish exterior, else Very Good+ with faint crease to the lower corner. Offered both as inducements for rounding up subscribers and direct purchase, each item has a monetary value and subscriber equivalent.

Ferdinand Trifet (1848-1899) was primarily known as a rare coin and stamp dealer who published  publications like The American Stamp Mercury and Numismatist from around 1867-1871. He was also a skilled counterfeiter of fantasy stamps associated with Samuel Allan Taylor's "Boston Gang," of forgers active ca. 1860-1890.

In 1879, he started publishing music and opened a storefront in Boston. The Galaxy of Music wstarted around 1887, offering subscribers a monthly supply of sheet music to keep up with "the latest and best popular compositions." As explained on the first page, this catalog represents the beginning of Trifet turning to a premium scheme: "...purposing to make this a memorable year in the history of his unrivaled publication, has explored the Premium Field in all directions, seeking the most appropriate and desirable articles." Premiums were available to any subscriber who could scare up a few others.

Full of both practical goods and fun novelties, the publication is like a toy catalog for grown-ups. A rare survival, it's also a useful catalog of cultural objects, from books and a choice of printing outfits, to racist products like the"Komikal Kus" disguise and "Plantation Darkey Savings Bank," a mechanical coin safe, "so arranged that when a penny or nickel is put in, the Banjo Player will 'Pick on de Ole Banjo,' and the other Darkey will DANCE A REAL BREAKDOWN in perfect time..." Available for $1.25, or as a "or given free for a club of two new subscribers."

Ref. John Lupin, "Ferdinand Marie Trifet." E-Sylum, periodical of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society, Volume 22, Number 1, 1/6/2019