This is very interesting and rare. 2-7/8x4.5” paper bound. 64 page book contains 14 wood cut style illustrations. Sewn together at the left edge. 43 titled songs, plus on back cover the “Miniature Biography Of Henry Clay.” The book was published in Philadelphia by George Hood as stated on the front bottom of the cover. The book does not have a copyright date but was issued in 1844. The book pages are numbered from 1 through number 62 and two additional un-numbered “Contents” pages are also present making the book complete with 64 pages and covers. The front cover shows a wood cut of Henry Clay. Also present are an additional 13 wood cuts throughout the book. One of most intriguing of the wood cuts show a large raccoon perched on top of a log cabin. The massive raccoon (almost as large as the log cabin) has the wording on its side “That Coon.” In front of the cabin, a flag is flying that has on it the words “Henry Clay” (see next item). One song is titled “Salt River.” Also see #18, a “Salt Marsh” 1863 ticket for Civil War Copperheads. The front cover wood cut of Henry Clay has age browning and shows small flaws at the corners and edges. The back cover shows age browning and some soil. Also, the back cover has numerous bumps, scuffs, wear and small flaws. The top left corner tip has a chip missing and the remaining piece present is frail and ready to lift off. When held to the light, we can see that there are a couple of small holes on the back cover. The back bottom edge has a bump which goes into the bottom edge of several pages. Ten or so of the interior pages have had the tip of one corner folded over for many years. All of the interior pages are brown from age but less so than the covers. All the interior pages are complete. An example of this rare and significant presidential campaign song book resides in the rare book and manuscript collection of the Carl Kroch Library in Cornell University. The Cornell example is in far lesser condition than the example we offer. The Whig Party was known for maintaining a high level of morality and religion, however, the Whig Party was the first political party during a presidential campaign to introduce minstrel themes in their campaign songs. The “National Clay Minstrel And Frelinghuysen Melodist" book holds a significant position in political campaign history as it was the first of the campaign songbooks to mention the word “Minstrel” in its title. This book would provide an historic addition to any advanced collection of early political items.