Description:

Smith Samuel

Samuel F. Smith AMS of "America" or "My Country, 'Tis of Thee"

 

Excerpt of "America" lyrics inscribed overall and signed by Baptist minister and poet Samuel F. Smith (1808-1895) as "S.F. Smith" in lower right corner of cream colored stock card. Card is attached to larger sheet by 11 silver foil saw tooth edge stickers. Overall toning, and several darkened impressions of other stickers, else in very good to near fine condition. The card measures 4.25" x 3.375" while the larger sheet measures 6.75" x 8.125". Also includes an AMS and signature by American writers Louise Imogen Guiney (1861-1920) and Kate Sanborn (1839-1917) verso.

 

Here, Smith hand-inscribed the lyrics of the first stanza of "America", or "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", on September 17, 1894. The patriotic standard, with its hypnotic AABCCCB rhyme scheme, can be presented in either four- or five-stanza versions. Smith died the following year.

 

Samuel Francis Smith originally penned the lyrics to "America" in 1832, while he was a theological student in Andover, Massachusetts. Smith set his lyrics to Thomas Arne's arrangement of the British national anthem "God Save the Queen". The poet was so inspired that he supposedly conceived of the lyrics in just thirty minutes.

 

A beautiful handwritten excerpt of Smith's "America", penned around the time of America's centennial! Two additional autographs can be found on the back of the scrapbook page. Poet Louise Imogen Guiney signed and included the quote "'Sweeter than anything sweet / Is the art to lay it aside'" on a cream colored stock card, and also inscribed: "A line out of my own philosophy new copied for Mrs. Shepard on the eighth of November, 1894, at Auburnville, Massachusetts, Louise Imogen Guiney." Teacher and lecturer Kate Sanburn signed a card found below, writing in part "'Gooseville'" along the bottom; this undoubtedly referred to the fictional town of Gooseville, Connecticut that was featured in her novel Adopting an Abandoned Farm (1891).

 

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000