The
History of Music Sheet Covers
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It was the music hall that created the popular market for illustrated sheet music. Stars such as George Leybourne, Arthur Lloyd and other ‘swells’
were idolised like pop stars and the words and music of their songs were much in demand. In the 1870s, a popular song could sell 80,000 music sheet
copies.
By 1888, there were nearly one hundred music shops in London. The publishing of illustrated music sheets had become a very lucrative business with
relatively low overheads. The lyricist and composer might get just £5 per song, but since publishers realised that a good cover illustration
could sell thousands of copies, the artists could receive as much as £20. There were no copyright regulations until 1882 and music was often
adapted or pirated without any fee to the original composer or lyricist.
'The Palace Lancers'
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'The Palace Lancers' music cover celebrates the opening of the Palace Theatre of Varieties in London's Cambridge Circus. The theatre originally opened in 1891 as the Royal English Opera House, built by D'Oyly Carte to house Sullivan's serious operas. This was to placate him for writing the more lucrative operettas with Gilbert. When the opera house failed to attract business, successful producer Sir Augustus Harris took it over and opened it in November 1892 as a variety theatre. At the end of the 20th century, as the Palace Theatre, it became the home of the long-running musical Les Miserables. The image on the cover depicts the front of the theatre and Harris, who had received his knighthood in 1891. The cover design featuring roundels is a style that is typical of the illustrator H.G.Banks. Created: 1891
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