William, the full contents of Harry Spratt's \u00a0Banjo Tutor (London, 1872) and Banjo Melodist No.1 (London, 1877) are on my photos page. I presume the cover a\/w have been farmed from this site by the hungry reach of googles octopus-like tentacles! Harry's father died in 1887 and Harry did not grow up without a father. Looking again at the census data, clearly this factual error stems from his father being absent from home on the 1851 census. But his wife Catherine is detailed as 'married' and not<\/span><\/em> a widow. Also the father reappears on all subsequent census until his death.<\/p>\n I did participate in the recent auction of that particular Spratt banjo and it's original wooden case at a Norwich auction house. But the hammer price went to insane heights. The pre-auction estimate was \u00a380-\u00a3120. With auctioneers commission of 34.2% and shipping it actually cost the buyer just shy of $8000. At that price I was out for sure, so unfortunately I didn't secure it despite a determinedly realistic high bid and I presume this banjo went to an American collector. It's a real shame because it's an interesting and evocative part of our early English banjo heritage and for historical and cultural reasons really ought to be available and on display here. For the record If I'd secured it I would've presented it on permanent loan to the V&A (with possibly the permission to record one or two of Spratt's tunes on it first). \u00a0The buyer hasn't declared on any banjo websites, so I guess there is an outside chance I'm wrong and it may<\/em> still be in this country. If it is I really hope the buyer can conceive of purpose beyond merely their own ego and it finds it's way to the archival care of the V&A.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote><\/div><\/div>\n <\/dd>\n