SMITH, SAMUEL FRANCIS. Autograph manuscript signed of the national hymn "America" ("My country 'tis of thee Sweet land of liberty Of thee I sing..."), 1877 [first published 1831]. 1 page, 4to, 28 lines in 4 stanzas, some age-toning, matted and glazed in a gilt-wood frame. An attractive fair copy of Smith's classic, neatly written out and headed "America." Although Smith habitually noted that the verses had been written in 1832, while he attended Andover Theological Seminary, they were in fact first printed in a rare broadside under the title "Celebration of American Independence," published by the Boston Sabbath School Union on 4 July 1831. The words (originally five stanzas) and the tune ("God Save the King") first appeared together under the title "America" in 1832. Smith wrote this song in just thirty minutes, after being asked to contribute to a song-book. "America" became the national hymn of the United States in 1832. See James J. Fuld, The Book of World-Famous Music , pp. 249-251.
SMITH, SAMUEL FRANCIS. Autograph manuscript signed of the national hymn "America" ("My country 'tis of thee Sweet land of liberty Of thee I sing..."), 1877 [first published 1831]. 1 page, 4to, 28 lines in 4 stanzas, some age-toning, matted and glazed in a gilt-wood frame. An attractive fair copy of Smith's classic, neatly written out and headed "America." Although Smith habitually noted that the verses had been written in 1832, while he attended Andover Theological Seminary, they were in fact first printed in a rare broadside under the title "Celebration of American Independence," published by the Boston Sabbath School Union on 4 July 1831. The words (originally five stanzas) and the tune ("God Save the King") first appeared together under the title "America" in 1832. Smith wrote this song in just thirty minutes, after being asked to contribute to a song-book. "America" became the national hymn of the United States in 1832. See James J. Fuld, The Book of World-Famous Music , pp. 249-251.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
