1700s English Bell Harp Box Zither Music Instrument 1920s Ad Trade Card

Description

1700s English Bell Harp Box Zither Music Instrument 1920s Ad Trade Card
NOTE:
THESE ARE NOT POSTCARDS
THEY ARE TRADE/ADVERTISING CARDS.
THEY ARE MUCH SMALLER THAN A STANDARD POSTCARD
AND
THERE IS ADVERTISING TEXT ON THE BACK!
THE CARD DIMENSIONS ARE APPROXIMATELY
2 5/8 ” x 1 3/8 ”  or  6.5 cm. x 3.5 cm.
ORIGINAL 1920s TRADE – ADVERTISING CARD
BELL HARP
A type of wire-strung psaltery characteristically swung while being played. It is classified as
a box zither. Examples were produced in the early 18th century by John Simcock of Bath,
who may have invented the instrument. A modern form, known as fairy bells, was played
by English and French street musicians in the late 19th century and early 20th, and as a
domestic and convivial instrument in England. The player holds the instrument in both hands,
the left thumb plucking the longer strings and the right thumb, with a plectrum, the shorter
ones. At the same time he swings the instrument about at arm’s length, a technique that
produces an evocative, undulating sound. 18th-century bell harps were about half a metre
high and had between 14 and 24 triple or quadruple courses tuned diatonically, 16 being
the most common number. Many instruments had wooden lugs projecting from the sides, on
which the player could rest his wrists and thus help control the momentum of the swing.
THE REVERSE SIDE HAS TEXT ABOUT THE IMAGE ON THE FRONT SIDE
SEE IMAGES ABOVE
THE CARD DIMENTIONS ARE APPROXIMATELY
2 5/8 ” x 1 3/8 ”  or  6.5 cm. x 3.5 cm.
NOTE:
THE IMAGE ABOVE IS LARGER THAN THE CARD
TO SHOW THE DETAIL.
THIS WAS PRINTED IN THE 1920s
IT IS NOT PERFECT
THERE MAY BE CREASING – PAPER LOSS – SMUDGING – ROUNDED CORNERS
SEE IMAGES ABOVE!
1
WE COMBINE SHIPPING
BUY 1 TO 4 TRADE ADVERTISING CARDS AND THE TOTAL TO SHIP IS $2
BUY 5 TRADE ADVERTISING CARDS AND SHIPPING IS FREE
NOTE:
ON LARGER INTERNATIONAL ORDERS WE MAY REQUIRE REGISTERD
MAIL AND WILL SPLIT THE COST WITH THE BUYER.
INQUIRE IF CONCERNED!